7 Ways to Enhance Your Living Room Design

Whether you want your living room to be a cozy retreat, an elegant and sophisticated entertaining space, or a mix of the two; the design elements you choose are going to majorly impact the feeling you are trying to create. Here are eight important components to pay close attention to when planning and deciding on your living room design.

Playing Up or Adding In Architectural Features

Depending on the style of your home, there may be some wonderful and original golden nuggets that come in the form of “architectural features”. When you walk into a house, look up. If there is anything but pure sheetrock (ceiling beams, tongue and groove, skylights, crown molding, tray or vaulted, etc.), you may have found a nugget. Additionally, look for arched windows and doorways, exposed brick, paneling in good condition, and hardwood floors. All of these elements can be highlighted as a focal point or an area of interest in your design. If you don’t have them, add ’em’.

Plentiful Storage

Storage solutions are vital to any good design plan. Everyone has stuff and everyone needs to be able to hide it. Clean and organized environments allow for mental relaxation, and that is after all, the function of most living rooms. TV units, custom built-ins, shelving, side tables, console tables, and sideboards are the most commonly used pieces for achieving that goal.

First-Rate Furniture Choices

If you do it right, choosing furniture takes a great deal of thought and consideration. Start with a general floor plan sketch in order to see how everything will sit inside your living room. Think about function, spacing, whether you want conversational areas or just a space to watch television. Next, choose a sofa/sectional that fits (TAKE MEASUREMENTS), is comfortable, works with the colors you have in mind, and is available in performance fabric (not required, but a nice option). From there, decide on accent chairs, bookshelves, end tables, or multipurpose pieces such as a storage ottoman that doubles a coffee table. Keep functionality and durability as your highest priority but don’t purchase unless it meets your stylistic and aesthetic criteria.

DramatizeYour Fireplace

Fireplaces add warmth to any space, both figuratively and literally. They can be refaced in a number of ways that will instantly elevate the look of your home. Wrap them in stone, marble, tile, brick, or paneling. You really can’t go wrong with neutral colors and fine craftsmanship.

Embrace or Add Natural Light

There’s nothing beautiful about a dark and dingy home. Natural light transforms everything about a room, including the vibrancy of that living room color palette you’ve been obsessed with. Talk with your designer or general contractor about the natural light in your living area. They will likely give you thoughtful and strategic recommendations on styles and placement of any new windows or doors.

Deliberate Lighting Scheme

Planning for lighting is all about how a homeowner wants to use their home. It is typical to incorporate three different types of lighting. Ambient or overhead lighting, task lighting such as a reading lamp, and accent lighting to accentuate artworks or to show off decor and accessories inside of nooks, cabinets and built-ins. Utilizing all three types of lighting helps to create different moods and uses for the space.

Personal Touches and Accessories

Family photos, an oil painting of your most loved destination, or the perfect mid-century, metal bird figurine from the antique store downtown; are all part of what makes a well designed house become your personal home. It takes time to gather what you love, but making an effort to fill your space in an intentional way is how you create a home that is unique to you.

*Bonus The Perfect Rug

Never underestimate the power of a good rug. Rugs create zones and definitions within a room. They tell your eye where to go. They are also extremely useful for tying together color palettes, and adding pattern and texture. You need to make sure that your rug fits properly. It is suggested that furniture be placed in a way that allows for one third to two thirds of the perimeter furniture to sit on top of the rug and the rest on the surrounding flooring. Additionally, be sure to look into machine washable options if you have kids and pets.