Your living room is where your family relaxes after a day at school or work, but it is also the first impression visitors get of the interior of your home. You want a living room that projects a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere – but you also want it to be beautiful and eye-catching. This article offers tips and ideas for making your living room one that family and visitors alike will appreciate.
The easiest way to change the look – rearrange the furniture
The most obvious thing you can do to change up the look of your living room is to rearrange the furniture. Even if your living room is small, there are things you can do to give it a different appearance.
Create cozy spaces by arranging your furniture at angles instead of in a square up against the walls. If the room is small, move the furniture out about a foot from the wall, and place a narrow table behind the sofa, covered with plants or candles.
For larger living rooms, consider breaking up the space into areas designed for a specific purpose. For example, you may want to arrange a love seat and two chairs around an area rug to create a space for visiting with guests. If you have an avid reader in the family, design a special “reader’s area” in one corner by a window.
Use color to create a certain mood
Color has a psychological affect on people, and can change their mood. Warm colors such as golden yellow, green, rustic shades of orange and red provide a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Cool shades of blue and gray are relaxing and soothing. Bright orange and red combined with lemon yellow is energetic. Black and white combined with bold red and gold is elegant and sophisticated. Select your color scheme based upon the response you want.
Mirrors add space and brighten the room
This is an especially good idea if your living room is on the small side. A large mirror, when placed across from a window, reflects the light and brightens up the room. It will also reflect the items in the room, making it appear much larger than it actually is.
You can also create a “window” where there is none. Find an old window at a flea market or perhaps even in your attic. Clean it up, hang it on a wall, and hang curtains around it for a unique look that can be the focal point of the room.
Small furnishings create big impact
Small pieces of furniture such as a low sofa table or bench add a “lived-in” look to your living room without making it look cluttered. Floral arrangements, baskets, small plants and candles add warmth and ambiance to the room.
While adding a few accessories and personal favorites to the room adds warmth, avoid too much clutter which will just make the room appear messy.
Put these tips to use in your living room, and experience a total transformation that is quick and easy to achieve.
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