The Living Room of Today
The living room is a staple in a house. This is where guests are welcomed and served with refreshments. This area is also the first place that guests see, so its appearance could speak of the values and the kind of lifestyle the family living in it holds.
For example, some immigrants design their living rooms with relics and furniture that reflect their culture and heritage, most especially the art style that are dominant in their own country. Another displays different souvenirs they bought from other countries, showing their love for traveling.
You see, the living room builds an impression, one that either makes or breaks the perception of the owner. Thus, it is important that the area looks presentable and inviting so as to leave a good impression.
Living Room Interior Decorating Plan
In planning the interior design of a living room, you must consider these factors: the size of the space, the pieces of furniture to place, and the kind of activities you plan to hold there.
Step 1: Have a general look at the space you have
Take a look at the space provided. Where do you plan to put what? Should the sofa be put against the wall? Are you going to install some curtains in the living room? Do you want a center table or would you like this area open so you can sit on the floor? These questions are essential to know what specific furniture pieces and decorations you want to put in said area.
If possible, measure the size of your living room space. That way, you can scale your living room on a paper and draw the picture of your dream living room.
Step 2: Start with the light
The lighting in this specific area of the house has to be bright enough to illuminate every corner of the room. It will also help in setting up the mood of happiness and warmth, both of which speaks a welcoming vibe to visitors. Thus, choosing the right light is as important as choosing the right couch and center table. Choices range from the minimalist ceiling light, that look simple yet sophisticated, to extravagant chandeliers such as Cassio Light that resembles a royal crown turned upside down and attached to the ceiling.
The lights can also help create an illusion of space. To make the room look bigger, use bright lights. In contrast, adopting a dimmer shade of lighting will make the room smaller.
Step 3: Complement lighting with a Wallpaper
The color of the walls, along with the light, affects a human’s perception of space. By using light colors on both the lighting and wallpaper, the living room would look more open and airy, which makes it more inviting and welcoming for guests.
On the other hand, using darker hues may create an illusion of smaller space. BUT, it can enhance the mood of intimacy and elegance, especially if the room would only be used at night.
The general rule of thumb in decorating any room is this: use patterns in only one key piece. In this case, if you choose patterned wallpaper, the rest of the pieces, like the sofa, must be in solid colors, and vice versa. This way, the beauty (or distraction) of patterns would stay in one place.
Step 4: Choose the furniture
Here comes the toughest part: choosing furniture. What you decide on this part of the interior decorating plan can make or break the final look of your living room. There are two key furniture pieces that makes a living room a legitimate one.
Sofa
The sofa is practically the star of the living room. This is where house guests gather and converse with the other members of the household. And because the first thing a host does is make his or her guests rest on the couch, the chosen sofa must look inviting and comfortable to sit on.
A sofa set is not complete without cushions or throw pillows, which can add a pop of color and comfort to an otherwise flat and boring sofa. Cushions can complement the sofa and make sitting more comfortable.
Center Table
The center table is another must-have when designing a living room. You may prefer a decorative type which looks sleek and minimalistic. Or you can choose a functional one that has a large storage space underneath its glass top to hold books, magazines, or anything imaginable. A general rule of thumb when choosing a center table is that it must be large enough to occupy the gap made by the sofa set when arranged in a C-shape.
Some people may opt to make their center tables bare, specifically those who prefer doing their work in the living room or add a centerpiece at the top. The key in choosing the right centerpiece for every table is to keep it simple, minimal, and one that has to occupy a limited amount of space. After all, the center table is designed to specifically hold refreshments and other stuff that houseguests may need or have.
Remember the measurements you took earlier? This is the part where they can become handy. In choosing the furniture, you must be sure that the pieces can actually fit in the limited space.
Step 5: Add some accessories
Although this is optional, accessories, as mentioned before, can add emphasis to the theme of your living room. Oftentimes, accessories are the ones that are used to ramp up the overall vibe. For example, if you want to change themes, changing at least one or two accessories, like adding artificial flowers or a wall painting can do the trick.
Another choice would be a candle stand or holder, which can serve as additional light or another piece that can improve the ambiance of the room. Couples who want to cherish their late-night dates can use this to make the living room more romantic and set the mood for intimate moments.
Author’s Bio
Akshay works as an Interior Designer with Lalco Interiors and he is in love with his job. Thinking up interesting home décor ideas and helping clients implement them is what makes him tick. You can catch up with Akshay and his team and indulge in one of their beautiful home décor pieces for your home at Lalco Interiors showroom in Mumbai.
