Description

A living room can serve many different functions, from a formalsitting area to a casual living space. As you start browsing livingroom decorating ideas for your home, think about the space'sdesired purpose and focus on a few staple items, such as acomfortable sofa and a coffee table, then choose the rest of theaccent furniture and decor accordingly. You’ll want to be sure toincorporate a variety of different furniture pieces to cover allpossible activities. When considering living room ideas, start withyour space. If built-ins aren’t part of your living room designideas, start with the big pieces, like an entertainment center orTV stand to house any electronics and accessories, or a bookcase tokeep books, picture frames and knickknacks in check. A place to putdown drinks or snacks, like side tables or a coffee table, is amust. If you have the depth for it, an ottoman or coffee tablewhere people can prop their feet up is always a welcome living roomdecorating idea, but skip out on this if the living room is on thenarrow side and go for a deeper sofa instead. Living rooms wereoriginally intended to act as sophisticated settings for hostingand entertaining, while family rooms were used for more casual,everyday activities, like lounging, playing or watching TV.However, many homes today will only have one larger room that actsas both an entertainment and primary living space. If yours is theformer, you’ll likely be utilizing it as a sitting room to havedrinks and good conversation with guests, without distractions liketelevision. As often shown in living room photos, a bar cart,formal furniture and an eye-catching focal point, such as asophisticated fireplace and mantel, will help achieve this look andfeel. On the other hand, if it's your primary living space itshould see more daily use, often functioning as a TV room, completewith sofa sectional, media console and gaming spot (that cleans upnicely for guests, of course!). In the end, think about your needswhen considering different living room ideas; after all, a familywith small children will likely need a playroom more than a formalsitting room. Don’t forget about the mid-sized living roomdecorating ideas, like rugs and curtains, which can double asfunctional and decorative when done right. Lighting is also animportant feature to consider when decorating a living room. Do youhave the ability to do overhead lighting, or will you need to usetable and floor lamps? Either one can be design features inthemselves, as well as putting the spotlight on other decor youwant to showcase. In your living room design, position lighting inaccordance to any art you want to illuminate, and remember to havea well lit spot for reading-related activities. You can also changethe light of the space by the paint color you choose; a room withlittle natural lighting will benefit from a light and airy color,while one with plenty of sunlight may have more leniency in colorchoice.