5 Living Room Design Ideas
Let’s just start out and state that I am not an interior designer, but I try to pick up on design elements that really work. I must be getting better at design and decorating, because in the past year, I have had numerous people ask me to help them with their home spaces. The most common room I have been asked for advice is the living room. I would imagine this is because people spend the majority of their time in this room, and often it’s the first room guests see in your home’s layout. Definitely reason to design it well. So I have compiled 5 ideas to improve your living room from my favorite blogs.
1. Place your living room furniture parallel, facing each other.
This promotes conversation and demotes TV watching. It is really interesting how much easier it is to strike up a conversation and actually pay attention to each other when you are face to face. From a design perspective, this technique for furniture placement takes up more of the room, leaving less dead space that is awkward to make use of. It also often creates a better flow, depending on the room, as the sofas do not block the entry path just so they are facing the television.
This promotes conversation and demotes TV watching. It is really interesting how much easier it is to strike up a conversation and actually pay attention to each other when you are face to face. From a design perspective, this technique for furniture placement takes up more of the room, leaving less dead space that is awkward to make use of. It also often creates a better flow, depending on the room, as the sofas do not block the entry path just so they are facing the television.
2. Utilize the largest empty wall space to create a gallery wall
Often the large empty wall, above the couch, opposite the TV, or where ever it is in your living room, is a tricky dilemma for people. They get frustrated trying to think of how to fill it. A gallery wall is a lot of effort, but wow will it make a statement! You can incorporate it into your decor with color (through frames or in the actual photograph like below), yet it will still be stunningly sentimental and personal to your home. The source link below actually leads to a tutorial that shows you how to create a gallery wall for yourself.
3. Introduce color through replaceable items
Adding your own personality and style into your living room is not always easy. And it is daunting to invest a lot of money into something like a really stylish bright colored couch you might love this year and hate the next. Our tastes evolve and change through time and trends. This is why it is smart to pop color in your living room through replaceable items, like pillows, curtains, and decorative pieces. If you are really bold, incorporate one or two bright pieces of furniture and make them the showpiece of the room. A coffee table, TV stand, sofa table, or end table set are great pieces of furniture to bring in color without investing hundreds of dollars.
4. Place down a rug to define the space
It does not matter if you have hard flooring or carpet, you can add a rug to your living room! A rug is a way to add color, depth, variety, definition, and style to your room. However, it can be a large investment. Your rug does not have to be bold, it can be something to use time and again with various styles or even in various rooms of the house. I love the geometric rug below in a well designed living room layout. The rug is a showpiece of the space, but the pattern and color are not overwhelming.
It does not matter if you have hard flooring or carpet, you can add a rug to your living room! A rug is a way to add color, depth, variety, definition, and style to your room. However, it can be a large investment. Your rug does not have to be bold, it can be something to use time and again with various styles or even in various rooms of the house. I love the geometric rug below in a well designed living room layout. The rug is a showpiece of the space, but the pattern and color are not overwhelming.
5. Use mirrors to add depth and light to a small space
Mirrors are a really effective design tool. In your living room, they can be used to give the illusion of more space, brighten the room by reflecting more light, and even fill those awkward corners and spaces the ideal furniture layout may leave behind. For a more modern or relaxed look, try finding an over-sized mirror and leaning it instead of hanging it. Another tip is to build your own frame to a large piece of glass to save money over purchasing a ready-to-go framed mirror.
Mirrors are a really effective design tool. In your living room, they can be used to give the illusion of more space, brighten the room by reflecting more light, and even fill those awkward corners and spaces the ideal furniture layout may leave behind. For a more modern or relaxed look, try finding an over-sized mirror and leaning it instead of hanging it. Another tip is to build your own frame to a large piece of glass to save money over purchasing a ready-to-go framed mirror.
I hope you enjoyed reading my living room design ideas! Thanks for stopping by.
