The living room is a space for the family to get together and unwind in a style quite their own. It could be over a cup of tea, perhaps in front of the television and sometimes over a long chat at the end of the day. This is also the one place where you can entertain yourself. The living room allows us to prove our abilities as hosts and at the same time is a space to feel comfortable in. Decorating a living room requires much caution and care. From the right accessories to the right colors, every tiny detail goes into making the living room inhabitable. Thankfully, it can be achieved with a few calculated steps.
Complexity level: Moderate
Time Required: 24 to 48 hours
Estimated cost: $150 to $300
Resources Required:
- Furniture
- Lighting (lamps, overhead lighting)
- Accent pieces, for example, AV equipments, curtains, and wall hangings.
- Paint (optional)
- Cleaning supplies (optional)
Instructions:
1. Clean the room:
Sometimes what a room requires most is a thorough cleaning up. Cleaning is also a great way to reorganize. The first rule of decorating is to de-clutter as you go. Keep in mind that everything that doesn’t fit is usually an unwanted excess and can be done away with. You will be surprised by the change that a thorough cleaning can bring to a room. Aside from the daily dusting, make an extra effort to reach into nooks and corners, and use a generous portion of your cleaning detergents and clean it up if need be. Rearranging your shelves, moving around the furniture, and cleaning out the carpet are some of the things that can remarkably affect the looks of your living room.
2. List the items:
Cleaning your room will also help you get a clear idea of what is cluttering your living room. Moving across the room in such a thorough manner will help you realize that everything is in place. After having made a detailed list, decide what you want to keep within the living
room. Remember, the living room is a reflection of your personality and leaves a lasting impression on people’s minds.
3. Set a Theme for your living room:
A great way to decide what you want to do away with is to give a theme of your choice to the living room. This is a step that will help you to decide what you want to retain and what you may want to buy. You may have gone through this ordeal, just like the rest of the homemakers around the world, where you stand in a furniture store looking at myriad racks of lovely home décor, unable to decide what exactly you want to buy. Making a list and deciding a theme based around it is the quickest way to avoid this confusion. It also helps you stick to your budget.
4. Focal point in your living room:
Another way to give a coherent form to your room would be to select a focal point. Some options you could choose from are a gorgeous piece of furniture, or a great view that can be had through large bay windows, or even a fireplace. You could also use these to help you set your theme. A minimalist look with large bay windows or a warmly colored living room where you can relax near a fireplace can greatly enhance the aesthetic beauty of your living room.
5. Natural Light for fresh look:
It is essential that your living room gets just the right amount of light. While a dingy room could be a dreary experience for visitors and family members alike, an overtly bright room can be an equal damper. A good way to balance it out would be aiming to avoid direct sunlight as that could result in your room heating up during summers.
6. Curtains and drapes:
Not only they help in avoiding harsh sunlight and prying neighbors, these curtains and drapes contribute heavily in accentuating a theme. With the varied options that are available in the market these days, a large variety of curtain fabrics and designs can be found even within a constricted budget. To add a look of spaciousness, pick light colored fabrics. However, dark curtains add to a grandiose look and look best in large rooms.
7. Slipcover:
In case you want to refrain from painting, slipcovers are going to be your best friends. For half the cost and effort, slipcovers can transform your living space. Like drapes, they also add to the comfort and elegance of the living room.
8. Area Rugs:
Often while moving around furniture, you may find spots that are discolored. Area rugs can be used to cover these flaws. A damaged spot within the room can also be hidden using area rugs. However, remember that area rugs look best under a coffee table or near a sofa set. They are also a great way to add a pop of color to your room without going overboard. The best way to show off your area rug would be by placing it under glass top tables. Needless to say, an area rug can make for a relatively cheap and conveniently movable focal point.
Frequently asked questions:
How to decorate a small living room?
If you own a small living room, it’s ideal to make it appear roomy and spacious. These methods will help you achieve depth and height to a room:
- Painting your house in light colors can help greatly in achieving depth for your room. A common and highly effective trick is painting your ceiling lighter than your walls. It adds to the height of the room and helps it look like a less cramped space.
- A quick fix for a small room would be using tall curtains. They add to the grandeur of the room and help the ceilings appear higher than they actually are. Make sure that they are in a light color and drop all the way down to the floor.
- Mirrors make for a great way to add depth. By reflecting corners or particularly small areas within the room, they give it the illusion of being bigger.
- The most obvious and important step would be to retain very few pieces of furniture and accessories within a room. A stuffed living room, no matter how tastefully decorated will leave those occupying the room with a sense of being cluttered. While making a list ensure you select very few pieces of furniture, preferably a large one that can double up as a focal point.
Quick tips:
- Never try to fill up a large room with a lot of furniture to avoid it from looking empty. Adding accessories is a great way to avoid a large room from looking unfinished or plain.
- To keep your room fresh, add a plant to your living room décor, preferably one that doesn’t require too much maintenance. It need not always be a flowering plant; a touch of green can do wonders to the brightness of your room.
Things to watch out for:
- If you are unsure of which paint to use for your living room, try and come up with a shade that comes in the same color palette as the rest of your house. While a rather light room will quickly show stains and give your room a shabby appearance, a very dark shade will add to gloominess. Try and pick a warm and bright color that doesn’t tip too much to either side.
- Accessories add personality to a room. However, remember that too many curios within one room will make it appear more like a museum than a living space.
