Thursday, June 14, 2012

Seven Keys to Successful Living Room Design

By Vickie Daeley


Regardless of whether you are decorating your first apartment or regenerating your existing space, there are several points that you will want to consider before making your first purchase or rearranging your furniture. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a family room in addition to your living room, the living room definitely will become the heart of your home.

Designing the perfect living room depends upon many elements. Is the space going to be combined as a living-family room? Or will it be a living-dining room?

Before beginning any transformation, find your focal point. Usually the fireplace will be the first thing your eye moves toward. However, if you have no fireplace but you do possess a fabulous view from your windows, use that as your point of interest. If TV viewing is your most important usage of this room, then you are going to need an interesting cabinet that can conceal the TV when the room is used for other purposes.

If you have high, lofty ceilings, you may prefer to purchase fewer pieces of furniture but they should be larger in scale. Large rooms will simply appear overcrowded with dozens of tiny tables and miniscule seating areas.

Before purchasing or rearranging your furniture, it is always helpful to draw a chart to scale. This simply means that you measure each piece you are considering for your space and by reducing the size, create your own pattern for your room and furnishings. This will show you how to best take advantage of the flow of your space.

Color -- an expression of your soul. Are you comfortable in sky blue? Is your closet brimming with red? Your living room should be an expansion of your personality. If you and your family are comfortable with bright colors, enjoy excitement and adventure, then deep, vibrant colors may be the perfect choice. For a serene environment, consider neutrals or pale blues, greens or softer shades.

Don't forget that floors and ceilings are also important elements of your room. Whether you choose carpeting, tile or wood, they should be an integral part of your design. Consider painting the ceiling a color other than pure white. If you have beautiful wood trim around your ceiling, consider a color that will complement your walls.

If you need a calming atmosphere, pattern may not be a choice for you. But mixing plaids with florals or stripes can be a fun and interesting way to add variety to your room. Just verify that your colors coordinate perfectly and remember, a little goes a long way.

The "piece de resistance" of any room is the accessories. Whether family photos, a magnificent collection of antique Limoges boxes or leather bound books are your thing, be sure to display them with pride. This last touch will pull your living room together and give the ambiance of continuity. You now possess a gracious, charming room that should work well for the entire family.




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