Decoration tips for living room
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Whether your style is traditional or modern, relaxed or formal, bold or subdued, your living room should be a place where you can feel comfortable, let down your guard and spend quality time with friends, family or just yourself. There’s an art to decorating a room that looks great and works well for you. So before you dive into a living room redesign with your pro, arm yourself with a few designer tips and tricks. Here are some of my favorites.
Urbanology Designs
1. Mix Light and Dark
When a living room is all white and bright, it can feel too “clean” and unapproachable. When it’s all dark, it can feel like a cave. But mixing dark and light colors creates a dynamic look that has depth and balance. The design of any space benefits from the inclusion of at least a little white and a little black.
Osborne Construction
2. Contrast Your Neutrals
Beyond including some white and some black, decorating a living room with a variety of contrasting neutrals goes a long way toward making it feel rich and welcoming. In this example, the white walls, caramel leather, brass hardware, gray sofa and blue-gray cabinets all contrast with one another, which highlights their different finishes and undertones. This makes the palette feel rich even before other key elements, such as color, pattern and texture, are added.
Shop for sofas on Houzz
Tamara Rene Designs
3. Play With Texture
Texture is easy to overlook when decorating a living room, especially since we don’t see it so much as touch it. But it’s important for making a living room feel cozy, and that goes for plush textures that appeal to the touch and harder textures that add contrast. Include leather, cotton, wool, metal, stone, glass, plant life and as many other textures as you can.
Find an interior designer to help you decorate your living room
Cohesively Curated
Pillows are a great place to start, especially if you’re decorating a living room on a budget. Look to other accessories and furnishings to add new materials to the palette, even in small doses.
Shop for decorative pillows
Johnson Squared Architecture + Planning
4. Work in Some Wood
We can’t talk about texture without talking about wood, one of the top materials for bringing a sense of warmth to a living room.
There are so many ways to add wood, any of which will make a space feel a bit more inviting. Consider wall paneling, side tables, movable stools, picture frames, sofa legs and carved pieces of art as just a few of the many options.
Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.
5.
Mix Up Your Upholstery
Sure, most furniture stores give you the option of purchasing an entire living room set in matching upholstery, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. In a formal seating area, matching upholstery can give a sense of maturity and order, but if you want a living room to feel cozy and welcoming, mix and match your upholstered pieces to give the design a bit more personality.
Lawless Design
One of the safest ways to do this is to mix leather chairs with a fabric sofa or vice versa, so the materials contrast in an obviously intentional way. It gives the living room design some diversity, which can also give members of the family different options to suit their seating preferences.
Croma Design Inc.
6. Choose Practical Fabrics
Speaking of upholstery, it’s especially important for living room seating to be not only comfortable but durable.
What this means will depend on your family. You may have babies or small children, pets or not, and they may be messy or tidy. In general, mid-tone fabrics are the safest bet, as very light or dark shades will readily show soil and wear.
KELLY + CO DESIGN
Leather is a great material for avoiding stains because it can be easily wiped clean when a spill occurs. However, it’s usually more easily scratched than most fabrics, so it may not endure animals as well. A leather that already has a broken-in look or a pattern can age especially well.
See how to clean leather furniture
VAS Construction Inc.
Denim and corduroy are two other materials that can be inviting yet durable. Plus, they add an unexpected twist compared with the typical plain cotton or wool upholstery you often see in stores. When choosing fabric for your living room furniture, look for a material with a blend of natural and synthetic fabrics to get the practical features of both, and if possible do a bend test of a fabric swatch to make sure the weave appears tight and doesn’t reveal the backing material.
A tight weave will be more durable than a loose one (which leaves lots of space for dirt to hide), no matter the material.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
7. Add a Dash of Color
While you can create a beautiful space without any vivid hues, adding even a little bit of color to a living room can go a long way toward creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
When in doubt, look to a cheerful blue — it’s a hue that usually everyone can agree on. It perfectly contrasts warm elements such as leather and wood, and it feels just neutral enough to work with basically any other future accent colors.
Shop for blue sofas on Houzz
Studio K Inredning
8. Add a Patterned Rug
Pattern is a powerful design tool, infusing a living room with energy and minimizing the appearance of stains or wear.
A patterned rug brings these benefits to the “fifth wall” — the floor — simultaneously anchoring a seating area and giving the whole room a sense of life. Even if you already have carpeting, consider adding a rug to your seating area. The first time you roll it up to go to the cleaners after a big spill, you’ll be glad you had it there.
See 11 area rug rules and how to break them
ML Interiors Group
9. Choose Movable Tables and Stools
Lightweight tables, stools, ottomans and even side chairs that can be moved around easily make a living room much more comfortable, giving you and your family lots of options on a daily basis for putting your feet up, setting a drink down or seating an extra guest.
Use a few smaller pieces, such as the upholstered footstools seen here, to allow for movement of pieces closer to and farther from the main seating as needed.
Katie Monkhouse Interior Design
10.
Consider Conversational Distances
No matter how big your living room, there’s a limit to how large a seating group can be and still make sense for intimate conversation and cozy gatherings. A good distance between seats to facilitate conversation is about 8 feet, meaning if you have several sofas or a sofa and side chairs, the seating area should have a diameter of 8 feet, or 4 feet out from the center.
A huge, 12-seat sectional sofa may look great and be perfect for a party, but if you’re looking to create a cozy living room, it’s usually best to use fewer, smaller seating pieces and push them a little closer together.
Imbuia Construction Inc.
11. Don’t Take It Too Seriously
A living room is a great space to embrace thoughtful disorder, such as through an artistic gallery wall, mix-and-match throw pillows, open storage baskets and fun furniture like this tepee-inspired tent.
Trying for perfect order will mean that anything out of place will stick out like a sore thumb, whereas accepting a bit of controlled chaos will mean the occasional dropped toy or draped blanket will look right at home.
Your turn: Have you decorated a small living room to make it feel more welcoming spacious? Or have you made changes to a big living room to make it more cozy? Please show us your makeover in the Comments!
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How to Decorate a Living Room in 7 Simple Steps
While the process of decorating a space as large as your living room may feel daunting, designing a space that will appeal to you and your family both in terms of form and function is easier than you may think. We spoke with experts who outlined the seven steps one must keep in mind when planning out a living room concept. Read on for their pro tips.
Meet the Expert
- Rozit Arditi is a designer and the founder of Arditi Design.
- Mia Jung is the director of interiors at Ike Kligerman Barkley.
- Mark Lavender is the principal designer at M. Lavender Interiors.
- Kate Lester is a designer and the founder of Kate Lester Interiors.
- Tracy Morris is a designer and the founder of Tracy Morris Design.
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01 of 07
Measure Your Space
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Before you can make any drastic decisions about decorating your living space, you'll want to have an accurate sense of its square footage. After all, designer Kate Lester notes, "Proper measurements will ensure you select the correct size rug, furnishings, and window treatments.
" And keep in mind that doing your due diligence ahead of time will save you both time and money—ordering and returning furniture and accessories because they don't fit into a space as you had hoped can be a hassle! -
02 of 07
Establish Your Intentions
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Determining the way in wish you wish to, well, live in your living room will significantly shape the decorating process. "It is critical to fully understand how you want to use your space before you begin the design process," designer Mark Lavender states.
However, there is no one-size-fits-all use for a living area. "Personally, I knew our living room was meant for conversation and reading," designer Tracy Morris says of her own space. "So, I placed the furniture in a grouping that allowed maximum conversation and allowed me to read by the window." In other spaces, existing fixtures such as a fireplace or built-in shelving may affect the furniture arrangement from the get-go and ease the decision-making process.
It's critical to be realistic about your intentions for the space, too, and not just base your design off of what you see in high-end design publications. "Make sure the room reflects you and your lifestyle—whatever your needs are at the time, make sure the room serves for that," designer Rozit Arditi states. "If you have kids, you do not need a glass coffee table or too many floor lamps that could be tripping hazards. Opt for a wood table and wall sconces instead."
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03 of 07
Focus In On Your Aesthetic
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Asks Lester, "Are you feeling modern farmhouse vibes, or more romantic and feminine?" Of course, it may be challenging to determine the direction that you wish to take with your living room design if you find yourself swooning over many types of decor styles. There's no need to commit solely to one particular look, but establishing a general scheme is important. "The space doesn’t have to be a total theme party, but determining and overall design direction will help when narrowing down selections for the space," Lester says.
Upon making this decision comes the fun part—turning to favorite resources for inspiration. Lester enjoys looking through design books, magazines, or Pinterest. "I like to have at least 10 images that help inspire a room design," she offers. -
04 of 07
Make a "Room Board"
Chris Bradley for M. Lavender Interiors
Before grabbing your wallet, you'll want to consider how your ideal furniture pieces will function in a space. "Gather images of the pieces you intend to use and make a small 'room board,'" Lester suggests. "See how all of the pieces interact with each other and play off of one another before you get them home." You may find yourself catching key mistakes—far before they're too late to fix, fortunately. "Oftentimes, this is when we see that we have pulled too many items with the same leg style or that a rug pattern may be competing with a drapery fabric," Lester explains. "It’s a great way to make simple changes and swaps and fine-tune the look before you place the final order!"
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05 of 07
Get Shopping
Greg Powers for Tracy Morris
Given that furniture can be quite pricey, you may wish to spread out your purchases over time.
If you're not sure what to buy first, think big—literally. "Start with the larger pieces to ground the room, like the sofa or the area rug, and build from there," Arditi says. Arditi offers another key piece of advice, for buying sofas: "Always invest in the best sofa you can afford at the time," she comments. "We spend so much time in our living rooms and most of that time is spent on the sofa—make sure it is the most comfortable and the best one you can get. You won't regret it."
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06 of 07
Address Your Walls
Michael Hunter for Kim Armstrong Design
By no means should the walls be left blank, either. Wall decor is essential. "Walls are always a great opportunity to add more character to the room," Arditi comments. Adds Lavender, "Artwork, pillows, and decorative items always act as the jewelry for the room. These pieces really add that next layer of panache to the space.”
Not sure what to hang? "Either a large piece of art—or a gallery wall, depending on your style—or a mirror to reflect the sunlight through the room are always great ways to decorate," Arditi adds.
You can always go the secondhand route, too, to source an artifact that will make your living room truly shine, notes Mia Jung, director of interiors at Ike Kligerman Barkley. "Having a special vintage or an antique piece and art will set it apart from the family room," she states. -
07 of 07
Don't Forget About Greenery
Kate Lester Interiors
According to Arditi, plants make for the perfect finishing touch in any living room. "If you are tight on budget or live in a rental where you cannot invest much in your decoration, make sure to get some plants," she encourages. "The greenery adds life and freshness to any room without breaking the bank."
10 Must-Have Apps for Serious Interior Design
Do's and Don'ts in Living Room Decor: Pro Tips - Roomble.com
Design and Decor
2022-02-25T09:47:52+00:00 2022-02-24T00:54:07+00:00 Do's and Don'ts in Living Room Decor: Pro Tips 2022-02-25T09:47:52+00:00 Turn the living room into an ideal room in terms of comfort and good taste? Easy if you use universal decorating rules Do's and Don'ts in Living Room Decor: Pro Tips nine0003
Turning the living room into an ideal room in terms of comfort and good taste? It's easy if you use the universal decorating rules
For many, the living room is the most important room in the house, and when it comes to decorating it, everything must be done flawlessly in terms of comfort, functionality and good taste.
What are you guided by when decorating and furnishing your living room? We can assume that the experience of past repairs and alterations, the advice of friends, examples from magazines and TV shows dedicated to design. nine0003
And rightly so. But this is not enough. Therefore, we have compiled recommendations that you should follow if you want to avoid voluntary and involuntary mistakes. Feel free to share these tips with your friends when their excitement about your perfect looking living room has died down.
How to make your living room more comfortable: 10 tips
Family four-room apartment with a fireplace area in a huge living room
So, what should and what should not be done when decorating the living room. Nine NO and nine YES to help you!
NO: Do not select paint color first. Paint is available in stores in a huge range, in thousands of colors and shades, and you can change your mind in the process of decorating a room.
What if the luxurious purple sofa doesn't match the green walls? Designers say this about paint selection: in most cases, it should be one of the last things you do when furnishing and decorating rooms. nine0003
YES: Choose your most expensive or favorite piece of furniture and build further decoration around it.
NO: Do not use a mat that is too small. This is the most common mistake of those who decorate the living room.
YES: make sure all pieces of furniture match the selected carpet. Ideally, all four legs of overall tables, chairs and chairs should stand on it, but if this is impossible to foresee and calculate in advance, place at least the front legs of the furniture group on the carpet. However, keep in mind: this rule does not apply to small pieces of furniture - they must stand completely on the carpet. nine0003
NO: Do not try to arrange all the furniture along the walls. Leave room so that you can, if necessary, go behind the back of the sofa or move it a little to the left or closer, improving the composition.
YES: group furniture away from walls whenever possible to create an area of some private communication.
Asya Bondareva, interior designer:
— I like to hide all the equipment to the maximum (TV, speakers, music center, set-top boxes, etc.). Make a niche for the TV - although the TVs are now flat, it is better to hide even a small gap from the wall in a niche. It is better to put all the equipment in the furniture, think over all the necessary shelves in advance. If there are columns, you also need to think about them in advance, find the right place for them so that they do not look superfluous. All these nuances require thoughtfulness, otherwise the most noticeable place, which will always be in front of your eyes, will begin to annoy. nine0003
bondarevadesign.ru
NO: Do not hang pictures, photos or posters too high on the wall. Many tend to hang them almost under the ceiling. This is a big mistake.
YES: Hang pictures at approximately eye level.
Of course, among your guests there can be both very tall and miniature people. But remember the rule: it is better to hang art a little lower than average height. nine0003
Our opinion:
— When hanging "visibility" on the wall, do not forget to find a conditional center, if it is a composition, and build all the other pictures or photos around it. Of course, this center should be located at the level of the eyes of a person of average height. Do not place specimens too close to each other, leaving at least 5 cm between them.
NO: Do not ignore the importance of light control. If possible, each lamp or sconce should have a dimmer.
YES: Combine different lighting scenarios in your living room. Add table lamps, floor lamps, sconces to the overhead light - whatever you like. This will provide more light, as well as make the room itself, and everything in it, more attractive. nine0003
NO: Do not use too many brightly colored pillows. And in general, do not overdo it with the pillows on the sofa.
Otherwise, you or your guests will have to put them somewhere to sit down.
YES: choose your pillows carefully - in number, size and color. Choose ones that will shade or accentuate the furniture and the overall look of the room. And do not be afraid to purchase expensive copies if they are of high quality. Even a couple of small but well-chosen pillows will have a big impact on the entire interior. nine0003
Asya Bondareva, interior designer:
— Decor for creating comfort in the living room is a must. The main thing is textiles, decorative pillows, blankets, curtains, it always brings a twist, sometimes textiles can change the mood of the interior. It is good to have several sets at once, for example, winter and summer.
The clock also works great in the living room as a decor, now there is such a variety of them! This is both a functional item and at the same time a wonderful wall filling. I recommend using one large watch or several different ones at once.
nine0003
bondarevadesign.ru
NO: do not choose items for the living room that will be located only on one level. Mix high elements with low ones. There are many great ways to save money, but this is not the case. Quality comes first, and size and shape can be combined in the most unexpected variations.
YES: Buy the best quality sofa. This is a piece of furniture in which you can and should invest a lot of money - it is chosen for a long time, and replacing a cheap and disappointing copy in the end will cost more. Remember that a medium quality sofa should serve you for at least 10 years, and a high-end sofa for up to 25 years. nine0003
NO: Don't get carried away by mixing geometric patterns in your living room. In general, do not get carried away with them anywhere. The ideal number for one room is three. Mix them in different scales, using one large, one medium and one small (or in some other combination, but always from three components).
YES: decorate the room with patterns. They add liveliness and character to the space.
NO: Don't let anyone tell you how to decorate or not to decorate. This is your home, and it should be comfortable for you first of all. nine0003
YES: Follow the basic maths for decoration. Yes, there are such rules. They exist to help you create a cozy and comfortable space that caresses the eye.
Our opinion:
— All tricks are invented by people. The best ideas become rules. But there is nothing immutable where, thanks to experience, fantasy and intuition, new, unexpected techniques are born. That is the future rules. Feel free to create your own!
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Decoration of walls, ceiling, floor and other interior elements
Living room is the business card of the house.
Crossing the threshold of the house, the first thing guests see will be the living room. She will tell about her masters more than one might think. Looking at the style of decoration, furniture design and decor of the living room, they learn about the tastes and preferences of the owner. Who is he: a lover of imperishable classics or newfangled trends, high technologies or romantic simplicity? Every detail reflects the style and rhythm of his life. nine0106
- Ceiling
- Walls
- Floor
Before decorating the living room, the owner chooses the design. Having decided on the type of interior, they proceed to the selection of colors, patterns, furniture, and decorative elements. All finishing materials and objects must fit into the chosen design.
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To enliven the living room and make it more attractive, you can use different types of decor. Any other interior does not accept going beyond what is permitted. An unsuitable piece of furniture, wormed into the atmosphere, can nullify all efforts. Correctly select every little thing so that the living room reflects the essence of the design direction.
A fireplace, a real hearth or a skillful imitation, will be a very effective decor for a living room
Classic style
Admirers of traditional values need to lean on pompous luxury. They cannot do without pretentious elements: columns, stucco, gilding, heavy curtains, wrought iron furniture. Classic design is always expensive, and the high cost can be seen in the details. To preserve the traditions of style, install a fireplace, put a solid sofa, buy figurines, candlesticks, chandeliers with pendants, paintings, mirrors in a carved frame.
Matching decor items for a classic living room are mirrors, paintings, moldings and a stucco fireplace
Modern
Minimalism and loft are no longer noisy, it's time for new trends: well-being and updated art deco.
Modern well-being calls for leaving behind expensive finishes and looking at natural materials, indoor plants, handmade decor. It is similar to a healthy lifestyle - everything is natural and for the benefit of a person.
Natural finishes, soft-touch fabrics and earthy colors are perfect for modern interiors
Glamorous Art Deco was presented in a new light. It can be identified by velvet in textiles, large ornaments on the walls, overlapping patterns on wallpaper, furniture upholstery, and curtains.
Art Deco provides an opportunity to combine different surfaces and textures in the living room interior
Modern
Modern - conciseness, simplicity, functionality. Any decoration carries a functional load. Not knowing how to decorate the walls in the Art Nouveau living room, choose large paintings. Do not forget about carpets, luxurious curtains, sofa cushions. Any glass or wooden accessory will do, as long as it has a complex and bizarre shape.
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Art Nouveau is characterized by an abundance of floral and floral patterns used in textiles, furniture and decoration
Decorative panel with a fancy ornament on the living room wall in Art Nouveau style
French country
Provence - rustic simplicity with French chic. In the living room, you can combine white walls with rough plaster, wooden ceiling beams and solid wood furniture. Textile accessories in Provence can not be counted. Buy sofa cushions, handmade dolls, knitwear, macrame, lace napkins; arrange caskets, candlesticks, photo frames to create a cozy atmosphere in southern France. nine0003
Provencal living room can be decorated with family photos, tea sets, caskets and other things that are typical for a rustic interior
Lighting
Use four levels of lighting:
- natural light;
- ceiling lamp;
- table lamps;
- wall lights.
Properly selected lamps can effectively decorate the interior of the room
There should be several islands of light in the living room, it all depends on the zoning of the space.
If it is combined with a kitchen or has a work area, you will need to connect lights above the dining table and above the desk. The zones that replace the dining room and office provide soft, diffused light. nine0003
An interesting decorative effect can be achieved using original lighting fixtures
Island lighting near the recreation area is made using wall lamps and floor lamps. The TV is framed with LED backlight. You can diversify the interior with the help of spot lighting and light modules built into the plinth or floor covering. They should have subdued lighting.
Warm and diffused light can be created with floor lamps and wall lamps
Which color to choose? nine0099
A house with a cozy living room invites you to rest and relax. Gain strength before the next working day in a room made in a soothing, neutral color scheme.
Cream, beige, light blue, light gray and pale pink shades suit the classic style. Accessories are matched.
A light color palette is chosen for a small classic-style living room.
In modern styles, the emphasis is on monochrome or a combination of three shades of the same color. Accessories choose contrasting, rich colors. nine0003
Thoughtful interior design allows you to harmoniously combine a TV, a false fireplace and gilding in the space of one room.
Natural, ashy shades prevail in modernity. It is suitable for decor to match the main color in the interior or decorations in a cold palette.
The color scheme for modernity is chosen discreet and calm, aggressive shades are not used
Rules for decorating a living room with furniture
Furniture is chosen according to the requirements of the chosen style, but first of all, they are based on the dimensions of the room and the goals pursued. When the room is small, they do not clutter it up and try to expand it. When they force a spacious room, they maintain a balance of proportions. In any case, the living room should be comfortable for all residents. This applies to moving around the room and accessing things.
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In a room of any size, you need to leave enough space for free movement
It is very fashionable now to use wood both for making furniture and as decorative elements
There is always a soft zone in the living room, where the TV rules. Households gather at his screen. Most of the furniture is located in the soft zone: a sofa, armchairs, a wall, a coffee table. But a dining area or a mobile dining room may or may not be available. If it is, then put a dining set. When there is no place for a set of furniture, the dining table is replaced by a bar counter at the junction of the living room and kitchen. nine0003
Solid wood furniture looks appropriate in the living room of almost any style direction
Living room decoration
A variety of colors and textures allows you to place accents on all surfaces of the room.
- Walls. Wallpaper of different colors is used to divide the room into separate zones: soft and dining. One of the four walls is painted or covered with wallpaper that is different from other coatings.
- Ceiling. Multi-level constructions based on drywall are a win-win choice. nine0106
- Floors. Popular - parquet board and laminate, which can withstand the high traffic characteristic of the living room.
The living room walls serve as an excellent backdrop for decorative elements
The ceiling in the living room can be both simple and unobtrusive, as well as complex - with decorative beams or arched elements
material
How to decorate the ceiling, floor and walls in the living room?
Decor in the living room is used absolutely everywhere, thereby making the room more original and turning its shortcomings into pluses.
Any plane in the room can be used to place decorative details
Ceiling
Stucco molding in the center of the room above a bulky chandelier will do, stretch ceiling system with lighting, modular multi-level design.
Without stucco on the ceiling, it is simply impossible to imagine a living room in a classic style
Walls
The main focus is on the empty wall opposite the TV.
