Designing Tips

Your living room is the place where family and friends come to sit and visit, so we know that it’s especially important to you to be able to create a comfortable, harmonious atmosphere. Usually this is the first room that you see when you enter a home. It is a room that needs to show well and in most cases perform more than one function, such as a playroom, office and even at times a dining room.

Before shopping for new items for your living room take a minute to measure the room and make a quick sketch of the ‘bones’ of the room. Your sketch should indicate the placement of the windows, doors, fire place, anything that will have to be taken into consideration when you place your furniture.

When you arrive tell your designer exactly how your living room space will be used. If it is your primary room for watching TV it is important that they know this so they can build your room around that focal point. If you would like to accent the view from your window, let them know so they can create a small seating area for you to enjoy your view. If you have small children that will be playing in the room your designer can suggest “kid proof” fabrics and pieces. The more information that you are able to provide your designer, the better.

Another aspect to consider when purchasing living room furniture is size and scale. If you have large rooms and tall ceilings a small sofa will look even smaller, awkward and out of place. On the reverse side, if your room is on the smaller side, a large sofa will engulf the room. Your designer will be able to tell from your measurements and descriptions of the space how to balance the visual weight of the pieces with the size and height of the room.

A neutral base cloth for major upholstery is an easy place to begin. You can bring punches of color into your room with coordinating throw pillows, accent chairs and art work.

You want your living room to be warm and inviting, and one of the warmest and most relaxing colors is green. Green has several shades and it’s one of the most flexible colors around. Don’t care for green, no problem, your designer can help with paint selections to compliment your lifestyle and new furniture.

A living room without an area rug can appear lacking in warmth and color, especially if you have hardwood floors or neutral-toned furniture. An area rug pulls the room together and groups seating areas in a natural, fluid way.

Don’t forget lighting! Lamps provide that cozy feeling that welcomes us home each night.

So grab your tape measure and your note pad and let’s get started on updating that tired living room today!