Decorating Ideas for a Living Room

From LoveToKnow Interior Design

Decorating ideas for a living room are as varied as the people who are decorating them. There are several different factors that can influence the decorating decisions you make in your living room, and the only rule is that you end up with a living room that is truly you.

Living Room Decorating Basics

The first thing you have to decide when decorating your living room is exactly what kind of living will be going on in that room. For some people, living rooms are formal rooms that are used only when guests arrive. For other people, living rooms are the central room of the home, where the family hangs out and kicks back together. Which kind of living room yours is will have a major impact on the design choices you make.

If you have just moved into your home and your room is a blank canvas, then the sky is the limit with your decorating ideas. If you are simply giving your existing living room an overhaul, however, your decorating ideas will have to take into account the things in your room that you won’t be changing, such as paint colors or wallpaper.

Last but not least, keep the rest of your house in mind when decorating your living room. While bedrooms may be a good place for you to experiment with different design styles because they are relatively private from the rest of the home, your living room is in essence the public room of your house. There is a little less freedom to step outside of the interior design style you have chosen for the rest of your house.

Decorating Ideas for a Living Room

Put these design ideas into action in your home to create the perfect living room.

Go Eye Catching

Living rooms, especially formal living rooms, can feel a bit stiff and stuffy if you’re not careful. While the “lived in” sort of living rooms may center around a TV, living rooms that tend towards the formal work best where there is a focal point for the room. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in the living room, make that the focal point for the room and surround the furniture around it accordingly. If you don’t have a fireplace, play up other features, such as a large window. If there are no architectural features you can use as your central point, then go for a striking piece of art or a unique piece of furniture.

Wallpaper Magic

Paint is always a good way to inject a little life into your room, but consider livening things up even more with wallpaper. Wallpaper is especially at home in formal rooms and gives your room a real “wow” factor. Look for paper that compliments your décor - floral patterns can work well in English Country style rooms while a subtle, simple print will jazz up a room designed in a contemporary style.

Furniture Investments

If you have a formal living room, this is the place to show off your best furniture. Consider going all out and investing in some classic furniture that will last you a lifetime for your living room. If need be, you can add pieces bit by bit. When buying this kind of furniture, it is usually best to look for timeless pieces instead of furniture that is strikingly done in a certain style, as your tastes are likely to change over the years. If you don’t want to give up your flamboyant looks, you can have your cake and eat it too by experimenting with different fabrics on the sofas and chairs, but choosing solid, classic wooden tables and bookshelves.

Do Windows

Nothing pulls a room together more than window treatments. Go all out for your living room window treatments, having them tailor made for your room if necessary to get exactly what you want.