There are many things to consider for living room decorating. The best place to start is to determine what you intend to use the living room for and then finish from that point. What you plan to do in the living room affects your choices when deciding on a design. To get the most out of your living room decorating, follow some guidelines when placing furniture as well as proper room lighting guidelines. Add some art and a few decorative plants to keep the living room symmetrical.
On the other hand, at home and when doing renovations, we focus a lot on our feelings and what we love without paying attention to the basics of design, so we find that the final result of the house is not satisfactory at all because some mistakes were made in the designs. So, we will also show some errors and DON’Ts that can be avoided during the house preparation.
Living Room Decorating – DOs
- Furniture arrangement
Define the function of the living room. Take some time to think about the primary function of the living room. Do you have children who need a space to play? Are you planning to host a lot of guests? Does your living room have a large window with a great view? The room’s function should be the main factor influencing how it is designed. If the living room has a natural focal point like a fireplace or a good view, redesign around that fireplace or that view. Position the seat towards this focal point so everyone can see the view clearly. And add two round chairs so you can easily fit into the room.
- Living room lighting
Layer your highlights, and don’t rely on a single light source to illuminate your room. Moreover, try to combine many layers of light from multiple sources. Use a combination of ceiling lights, desk lamps, sconces, and floor lamps to create light balance in your living room. Do not forget about the angles. If you have a lamp in one corner, put two more in the room to balance the light. Use hidden lights to give the impression of a higher ceiling. Install a dimmer since dimming devices allow you to change the appearance of the room at any time you want.
- Decorations for the living room
Hang a mirror to show the room. If you want to increase the visual visibility of your living room, add a mirror. This works well with small living rooms. If you have a small window in your living room, use a mirror to open it. And try to put a mirror on the other side of the window to give the impression that there are two windows. Get a big rug. Rugs can make a room more comfortable, as long as they are used correctly. Make sure your rug is large enough for the seating area. If the rug is too small, it will give the room a smaller and disproportionate feeling. Keep the edges of the rug away from entryways or walking areas, so your guests don’t trip over them.
- Take advantage of the free space on the wall
Take advantage of the empty area on the wall by hanging art on it. Buy some original artwork to add some beauty to your living room. Go to art galleries and find a painting that makes you feel something about it. There are a lot of stores that sell prints from simple pieces and produce them in large quantities. If you find a painting and feel it means something to you, use it, but avoid filling your home with the store’s collection of art. Original artwork doesn’t have to be expensive. Find high school art fairs in your area. And you may find some paintings you like at a reasonable price.
Living Room Decorating – DON’Ts
- Choosing the wrong carpets
The right rug can completely transform a space, but only if it’s the right size for your home, notes the designer, “I see a lot of living rooms where the rug is so small, it makes the entire space feel like it’s floating in the middle of the room.” Try to get a rug that covers the entire space so that the four legs of the sofa can be fitted to it, as well as any other furniture you put in the room. “If you have a rug that you like but is too small, put a second layer and a larger rug under it.”
- Placing tiny artworks
Just because you’re decorating a small living room doesn’t mean you have to opt for small-scale décor; if you have open wall space above the sofa, this is a great place to hang a large piece of artwork. Many people hang up a small artwork or get two small pieces too far apart to try to give the illusion that it’s taking up more space. Small paintings can highlight the apparent lack of space in the room. If you can’t find a piece large enough to span the length of two-thirds of your sofa, get a piece as large as you can, and then add smaller pieces to either side of the large piece, gallery-style, but make sure the artwork is “properly and uniformly spaced.”
- Not using shelves appropriately
When it comes to shelves in your living room, there is a right and a wrong way to decorate them. “You should make the most of the shelving space as possible, but try to avoid overburdening it, which can cause the space to look cramped.” She explained that the burden occurs when items that are too large on a shelf or bookcase protrude over the edge.
- Choosing inappropriate lighting
Choosing lighting fixtures is a practical part of the design process, and proper lighting is one aspect of living room decorating that people often overlook. If your living room doesn’t have good lighting, don’t sit there in the dark, wall sconces are a great way to add ambient lighting, and there are plenty of additional wall sconce options. If you have a side table, consider a small table lamp and just run the wire under the rug.
If you want to learn more about home decorations, ideas, diy project etc. you can read our other blog posts. Here are some of them: “8 Travel Packing Hacks & Tips: The Ultimate Guide” and “10 Bathroom Remodeling Ideas“