Living rooms have many functions. This is a cozy corner where the owners spend time with friends or gather as a family. Some houses have formal living rooms that have been designed as playrooms or TV rooms. In any case, creating a comfortable space through proper planning is the key to making the most of your living room. Learn how to arrange and arrange furniture in the most effective and attractive way, how to arrange accents and decor items, following the rules provided in our review.
Where to begin?
To start the arrangement of the living room is from a place that is designed to have attractive power, to focus on yourself in a natural way. It can be a big picture, a plasma TV or a fireplace. The item will be the center of the composition; furniture should mainly be placed around it. Not all massive objects should be facing the central element, since the emphasis in this case will be blurry. In addition, it will look tasteless. So do not clutter up this corner too much and upset the harmony of the room.
On designer photos with kitchen and living room options in one zone, they are sometimes divided using a bar or a large table. Often, the kitchen area is the object of attention. With some layouts, it is still separated from the common area.
The object, installed in the center of the room, should be located near the so-called "focus". It can be a coffee table, ottoman or a group of chairs, it is important that it is immediately evident. In most cases, this is a coffee table. A very convenient option for the living room, you can put a book, a magazine, a chessboard on it or just put tea on it. If the room is larger, you can add a few supporting accents. For example, a coffee table at one end of the room and an additional chair at the other.
Furnishing Functionality
The layout of the living room in the first place should always be functional. Proper arrangement of furniture can be achieved taking into account how many people will use the room and what it is intended for. Then choose the style, size and approximate amount of furniture.
First you should buy and install large units such as a sofa, bookcase. In case one of the guests decides to stay, a great option is a living room and bedroom, combined together. Therefore, it is better to choose a folding sofa in such a room. To create a balanced interior, select furniture that is different in size and height so that it balances each other. A huge sectional sofa with 12 seats can look great and is ideal not for the living room, but as an option for a party. But to create a cozy room, it is usually better to use fewer small seats and place them a little closer to each other. When arranging furniture, you should also consider distances that are convenient for talking. It doesn’t matter how large the living room, places for friends, sofas should be in a convenient location from each other. Also, do not forget about the secluded corner for intimate conversation and cozy meetings.
When arranging a living room, it is important to consider the freedom in the movement of people on it. The arrangement of furniture should allow unhindered passage throughout the room, sit comfortably. Furniture should be roomy, but not bulky.
Decor Items
Although decorations are usually the last to be made when arranging a living room, this can also be the biggest problem. Do not forget or take lightly the decor items, they set the rhythm. Vertical mirrors increase the room in height, horizontal works of art on the walls visually stretch the room in length. When hanging pictures or decor, consider the distance from the edge of the wall and ceiling. You should not place them closely, just as a sofa is better placed at a distance from the wall or even closer to the center of the room.
Add a patterned rug. An ornament is a powerful design tool that fills a living room with energy and makes the appearance of stains or wear invisible. The patterned carpet gives such advantages to the floor, while fixing the rest area and revitalizing the room as a whole. Even if you already have a soft coating, consider adding a small similar element to your seating area.
Lighting
To ensure that the living room does not look gloomy, it is important to install several light sources. Even if there is a chandelier, it is important to add other types of fixtures. It can be table lamps on the side tables, floor lamps, wall sconces. Using LED strip or even candles, accent lighting is created on the bookshelves. One of the easiest ways is to allow the sun's rays to get into the room, and therefore not to clutter up the windows with furniture. After all, they are not only suppliers of natural light, but also provide the opportunity to enjoy the view from the window, sitting in an armchair.
Base colors
Mix dark and light shades. When such a combination prevails in a room, it may seem too clean and inaccessible. Conversely, the dark version of the design of the living room will look like a cave and guests in it will feel uncomfortable. But the right combination of tones creates a balanced and deep, dynamic look. The design of any space benefits from the inclusion of at least a few white and black details.
However, it also needs to be diluted. In addition to the inclusion of white and black, filling the interior with various contrasting or, conversely, neutral shades is of great importance in order to make the room look stylish and welcoming. White walls, a sofa upholstered in caramel skin, brass fittings, a gray armchair and blue cabinets. In this version of the living room decoration, objects contrast with each other, emphasizing its diverse structure and shades. This allows the colors to be richer and richer before other decorative elements, such as bright pillows, paintings and textiles, are added.
Bright accents
You can create a beautiful space without any bright shades. But living room interior options, even with a small amount of bright color, can make a difference in creating a relaxed and attractive atmosphere. For example, a rather banal spectrum of blue tones, but they are suitable for everything. Shades of saturated cold color, as in the living room version in the photo above, contrast perfectly with warm elements such as leather and wood. At the same time, they are pleasantly combined with any other accent colors.
You can add personality, uniqueness to the living room by mixing and combining patterns, colors and textures. Choose the main tone, different shades of which will be found throughout the room. After choosing a sofa in neutral colors, place it side by side with a patterned armchair. Courage in such decisions will make the interior more expressive, but do not overdo it.
Very interesting rooms look in which the emphasis is on one color. Especially if such a sunny yellow tint is chosen. Strict lines and metal details, sufficiently present in the furniture, calm him down.
Materials and their combinations
The texture of the items is very important. When decorating a living room, it’s easy to forget about it, especially when you consider that we don’t see it, but touch it. But this is important so that the living room is comfortable. Consideration should be given not only to soft objects trimmed with fabric that attract attention, but also to harder materials that add contrast. Indeed, wooden furniture, glass countertops, and mirrors with metal frames look beautiful in the interior. And already on top of them you need to add textiles, and as much as possible.
You can’t talk about texture without implying wood. This is the best material, which is one of the main options in the living room, to create a feeling of warmth. There are many ways to add wood in a room setting, any of which will make the space more attractive. It is worth paying attention to wall panels, side coffee tables, movable stools, picture frames, sofa legs and carved works of art. And these are just some of the many options.
Upholstery and Textiles
No need to choose boring, restrained upholstery resembling office furniture. Of course, in most specialized stores you can purchase a set of several options for a living room with the same textiles. But this does not mean that you should do it. If you want the room to be cozy and welcoming, pick up the soft elements yourself to give the design a little personality. One of the best ways to do this is to mix leather chairs with a fabric sofa or, conversely, so that the materials contrast clearly deliberately. A similar version of the design of the living room will bring some variety. It can also give family members and guests the choice of where to sit down according to their preferences.
Pillows are a great option for the living room, especially if you are decorating it on a budget. They should make color notes, beating the rest of the interior.
Practical fabric selection
It is important that the seats in the living room are not only comfortable, but also durable. If you have small children, pets and they may be messy. In general, grayscale fabrics are the safest choice, as dirt and wear are immediately visible on very light or dark shades.
Skin is an excellent stain prevention material because it can be easily wiped away if it gets dirty. However, it is usually easier to scratch than most fabrics. Therefore, the skin should not be chosen as an option for the living room in the presence of animals.
Denim and velveteen are two other materials that look attractive but last a long time. Plus, they look unexpected compared to the typical plain cotton or wool upholstery you often see in stores. When choosing fabric for furniture in the living room, look for material from a mixture of natural and synthetic fabrics to get practical characteristics of both. And, if possible, ask the store to bend a fabric sample to make sure that the weave looks tight and that the lining material does not shine through. Such weaving will be more durable than loose, regardless of material.
Useful little things
Movable tables and stools on wheels are very convenient. Lightweight ottomans and even side chairs that can be transported make the living room much more comfortable, providing you and your family with many options for daily movement, a change of scenery and comfortable accommodation for guests.
Symmetry will help create a well-balanced living room. Such a room seems comfortable and organized. Combine sofas, bedside tables and chairs on opposite sides of the room to create a symmetrical living space. In this case, your coffee table will serve as the center. Although not all living rooms should be just that. Symmetry in large interior items and complete asymmetry in detail. Miniature bedside tables, solid pouffes and lighting should balance each other, but for this it is not necessary to arrange them in a strict order. If everything is done correctly, a simple but amazing space is obtained.
Houseplants
Interiors with flower pots, vases with magnificent bouquets or other plants always attract. Creating a floral design allows you to dilute a dry interior or just add life to the atmosphere. Be it a small palm tree in the corner, a miniature bouquet on the coffee table or a wall stand, all lined with various pots.
At home, you can plant plants that do not require special care. Cacti give a special style and zest to almost any room. They can be very small and stand nearby in identical pots or occupy an entire shelf, giving an aesthetic touch to the interior. For the kitchen area, fruit bushes or dwarf trees are more often chosen. Lemon - can bear fruit even in winter, while not requiring care.
Fir branches or wildflowers will be an excellent option for a living room in a house outside the city. They do not have to be constantly bought, but greens will always give home coziness and pleasant aromas. Moreover, even from ordinary spruce branches it is not difficult to create an amazing bouquet.
Do not take furniture too seriously. The living room is a great place to make a thoughtful mess. Alternatively, hang pictures and photographs in different frames on the wall in the living room in a chaotic manner, casually throw pillows of various colors on the sofa, add open baskets for storing things and funny furniture.