Beware the approach of a decorator ‘doing’ your room for you and marking position of where decorative items must be placed. It does happen! Rather do your own thing and make your own mistakes. You have to live here, not the decorator. Do you really care that much what other people think?

Admittedly it can all be quite confusing, for various reasons, not least of which is because living rooms also have different names, ranging from the drawing room to the family room. What they do have in common is that they are all intended for living! This might sound strange, but if you think about it, we all have different lifestyles. This means that there are a huge number of possibilities when it comes to decorating living rooms.

In the context of living rooms, the application of the term ‘living’ depends largely on how formal or casual the area will be. It also depends on function and sometimes on the style in which the room is to be decorated.

While many people spend a lot of time in the kitchen, with many families using this as a gathering point and place to eat, the living room is more commonly where most social activities take place. For this reason it is also the one room in the house that most people make an effort to ‘decorate’. But don’t over compensate in an attempt to get it ‘right’. Rather spend a bit of time working out what will work for you and your family.

If you are actively looking for decorating tips for a living room, you should first define the type of living room that you have or want to create.

Living rooms are often a retreat for adults, where they can sit, talk and relax away from children. It may be an entertainment centre where the whole family watches television or listens to music. But more usually this is a place where friends and family will instinctively gather.

Of course living rooms vary in size as much as they do in style, and in many ways a smaller room will be easier to tackle decoratively than big rooms. Another factor to consider is that many living rooms form part of an open-plan area which includes both a sitting and dining space. This is not only for reasons of space – often people simply prefer to have one area that is dedicated to living! There is, however, often some indication of a variation in function, which may be a different floor covering (even just a loose carpet in the sitting space) or perhaps a change in level.

Here are some examples of different types of living rooms and some tips on how to approach them.

The drawing room

People who entertain a lot and want a formal area for entertaining will often choose what traditionally was considered to be a ‘drawing room’ or sitting room. In the smaller house, this might result in the kitchen becoming used as a living room, so that the décor of the formal sitting room is preserved, and doesn’t run the risks associated with children and animals over-running the space.

Drawing rooms and formal sitting rooms should be decorated in a style befitting the area. This is a good place to display collections that have some value. Both alcoves and shelves, as well as old (preferably antique) display cabinets are ideal for this purpose. Ideas for display objects include blue and white Chinese-type porcelain set on gleaming wood surfaces or in period cabinets rather than on modern modular units, or glassware displayed on glistening glass shelves so that the objects can be seen from different angles.

The family room

We don’t all have the luxury of more than one living space, and not all kitchens are large enough to be used as a workable living room. So in reality, one living room in the house will usually become a multifunctional and reasonably casual room where every member of the family (including children, as well as canines and felines) is welcome.

This more informal living area is usually furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas that invite people to relax, which is why it often becomes a popular place for entertaining good friends. Often the television set is also located in the family room, and this can be disconcerting because the TV has a tendency to inhibit adult conversation. But it can work.

Living rooms should generally be decorated in a pleasantly homely fashion which will make everyone feel relaxed and at home.

In the larger home there is often a family room that is used for casual relaxation as well as a more formal room for entertaining. This offers the opportunity to decorate the two rooms in a completely different way. Any antiques or valuables should be kept in the more formal room, with books and memorabilia finding their place in the more casual room, where they will be used and admired or examined.

An extended living room

In addition to more orthodox living rooms, sometime people set aside areas for special activities including watching television, playing games like billiards or pool and ping pong, or even for music.

Sometimes rooms are designed specifically for entertaining. These include increasingly popular home pubs which should be decorated in a style that complements the general interior style of the home, but which offers a different character and appeal, drawing friends to the area.

Some general decorating tips for a living room

Having decided what sort of living room you want and can accommodate, you can get down to the task of decorating it. Whether the room is formal or casual, you will probably want it to look good and be comfortable. That’s what most people aim for.

Your color scheme will set the tone and mood of your living room and a theme will hold everything together. Physical comfort will help to make the room work as it should.

You can identify a color theme from something that you are going to use in the room, from a carpet to picture on the wall, or perhaps the upholstery used for the furniture you have chosen. Then use this color for walls or to establish other features, like collections, that will add interest to the room.

Probably the best advice is for you to use your imagination and to be as flexible as possible. Don’t let other people bully you into doing things with your living room that you don’t want to do.

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As you start this exciting project, the first thing you should do is to consider your likes and dislikes. The color of paint you choose should reflect your personality. What colors would you say are your favorites? A wise interior designer once said that if you are stumped by choosing a paint color, try looking in your closet. Here you will normally find the colors you enjoy and that create a good feeling. Your home is an extension of who you are, so choosing colors that please yourself will give you a good start.

Next, study the room. How do you want to utilize color? Your living room may feature its own specific elements and special architectural accents such as molding and trim. These must be taken into consideration. Look at the structure of the room. Pay attention to the way it is shaped and its size. What do you find attractive about the room? For example, does your living room have great windows? Well in that case, you would definitely want to accent the window area. A rule to remember when painting a room such as your living room, is that paint can accentuate a room’s special features or hide them.

The style and theme of the décor that you intend to use in your room, as well as personal taste, will determine the color of paint you choose. It will also depend largely on the function of the room. In this case, the living room, is normally used as a gathering place for family and friends. Using a warm paint color then, will give a more inviting and welcoming feeling than a cooler color. A lighter color may help a small living room have a more spacious feeling. If your living room is large, using a darker color of paint can help the room seem cozier.

Choosing a design direction is the next step. Do you have a certain decorating theme in mind for your living room? Or perhaps you are planning to use an existing theme and only paint the walls to give your room a more updated look. One way to choose a paint color is to focus on a favorite piece of furniture. Another way to choose a paint color is to base it on a beautiful fabric swatch. Perhaps this fabric will be used to make draperies or curtains for the windows in the room. Some may even make a color choice based on a lovely piece of art or a special painting. Once you know what decorating direction you want to go, it will be much easier to decide on a perfect paint palette.

A good idea when picking a living room wall color is to go to your local home improvement store and get paint sample swatches. They have hundreds and paint can be customized in any of the colors or shades that you end up choosing. There are seven actual colors in the color spectrum and from these seven, comes all the other different shades. The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Colors are either cool or warm in tone.

For a high traffic area such as your living room, a good choice for the type of paint you use, is paint with a satin finish. This will give a slight sheen to the walls and will be easier to clean than a room painted with flat paint. A satin finish paint will hold up to the active wear and tear of family life and may be wiped clean with a damp cloth or sponge. Satin paint comes in a variety of colors and is wonderful to work with. This water based satin paint tends to have less odor and is easier to clean up when your project is finished. Be sure to take your time when choosing a living room paint color and don’t buy on an impulse. Spend at least a couple of weeks making up your mind.

You should never buy cheap or low quality paint. Spending the extra money is well worth it in the long run. Paint of a higher quality will perform better. It will go on the wall in a smooth manner and visible brush or roller marks will not be a problem. Higher quality paint offers resistance to dirt and finger prints. Once you have picked your paint color, its always a good idea to purchase small quarts to use to test the color in your home under your own lighting. Various lighting types can cause paint colors to change from room to room.

While, the color white has been a popular living room paint color, with a contemporary feel, many home owners find it boring. There are others that like the color white because it is a “safe“ color choice. The great thing about the color white is that it can make an area, such as your living room, seem larger. The stronger and bolder the color of the large furniture items in the room, the better the chance white has of making a wonderful wall color. However, if your furniture and accessories are more in the neutral color range, you will probably want to opt for brighter painted walls.

Be confident and use paint colors that are bold and bright if you desire. For someone that is just starting out in life, and on a tight budget, with very little furniture, using a vibrant paint color in your living room will help you to create a look that fills the room until you are able to purchase more furniture.

Some of the most popular living room paint colors today are white, off white, beige, light yellow, burgundy, creamy golden, sautéed mushroom, and light blue. They comprise some of the top selling paint colors. As seen throughout this article, color choices really depend upon the person making the choice. When you find a color that you truly love, you’ll know it. You can then proceed full speed ahead, creating a fantastic living room to enjoy throughout the years to come.

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If you are unsure of where to begin, may I suggest that you purchase a color wheel from your local craft or home improvement store. Investing in this small object, will be well worth its weight in gold and could save you tons of money in the long run, by helping you to choose harmonious colors. That simply means, colors that look pretty together. The use of a color wheel will definitely make choosing the right combination of colors for painting your walls, adding accents, choosing furnishings and furniture and gathering accessories, a much easier task. If you are located in an area that doesn’t have a home improvement or craft store available to you, a color wheel may be purchased on line at a reasonable price.

Interior designers have found that using a light color for the background area of your room, such as a paint color for the walls, a medium color for major pieces of furniture, windows, doors and closets, and a dark color for the room’s accessories, seems to work well. Lighter colors tend to recede into the background and darker colors want to attract our attention immediately and seem to occupy more space. If space is an issue, using furnishings in same color as your walls, with colorful accessories works well. However, all that being said, this is your special area and you can decorate it as uniquely as you desire. Try to stick with the theory of the color wheel though for beautiful results.

Understanding The Color Wheel

Perhaps you don’t even know what a color wheel is. Its fairly easy to understand. The color wheel is shaped in a circular pattern and shows how colors are related to one another. In order to understand how to use the color wheel, you must first recognize some important terms pertaining to color.

Five Color Terms Defined

a. Hue sounds important but its actually just another word for color.
b. Tint describes a color to which the color white has been added.
c. Tone is a color to which the color grey (white and black combined) is added.
d. Shade describes a color to which the color black has been added.
e. Value describes the lightness or darkness of any color.

Pretty simple explanation, right?

How The Color Wheel Works

On the color wheel, there are three primary colors. These colors would include red, blue and yellow. Next, there are three secondary colors. They are purple, orange and green. We get the secondary colors by mixing the primary colors such as red and blue to create purple. Yellow and red to create orange. And blue and yellow to create green. There is a step further on the color wheel when a primary color is mixed with a secondary color to create a tertiary color. Here we would come up with colors such as red-orange, yellow-green and blue-purple or violet. When these colors are mixed with pure white or pure black, we end up with numerous tints and shades of the various colors. Sounds a lot like a rainbow, don’t you agree?

The Four Basic Color Schemes

Color scheme help you to determine the harmony between colors. This is especially important in home décor. When you are ready to begin your decorating project, you must first decide which room in your home, you are planning to decorate and what type of color scheme you want to incorporate. A color scheme is simply using a combination of colors that harmonize with each other in order to give your room a completed look that seems harmonious. You can choose any of the four color schemes listed below. However, the most popular color schemes in interior design, would be either a mono-chromatic or complimentary.

1. Mono-Chromatic Color Scheme
A mono-chromatic scheme would mean that you are using one color in your room, using this color in its various tints, tones and shades.

2. Complimentary Color Scheme
A complimentary scheme means you are going to use two colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel . Once again, you may add varying tints, tones and shades of these two colors.

3. Analogous Color Scheme
An analogous scheme simply means you are using three colors that are neighbors on the color wheel in your room.

4. Triadic Color Scheme
A triadic scheme is when your room will host three colors that are equal distance apart on the color wheel.

Once you have decided on your color scheme, visit your home improvement store and get cardboard samples of the colors you plan to use. If you keep these with you wherever you go, you’ll never know when an item for your room, just perfect in color, will pop up. Professional interior designers like to plan the room on paper by putting a sample board together containing the fabrics, colors and textures that are to be used. Picturing it in your mind may not be as easy as seeing it on paper.

Once you’re decorating project is completed, you’ll understand why the color wheel was a vital part of the project. Your hard work and diligence has paid off by giving you a space that is uniquely yours and showcases your colorful personality. Welcome to the world of color and beauty!

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Side tables

Side tables are a must have for any living room. Unlike larger coffee tables they can be extremely flexible in terms of placement enabling you to reposition depending on how you are using space at any one time. Also many side tables can double up as stools creating extra seating for when you have more guests than usual. If you don’t have room for a large coffee table why not cluster two or three small side tables together in front of your sofa or chairs. This will give the same effect and functionality that a coffee table does, but also gives you flexibility to move the tables when needed.

Rugs

Rugs bring many facets to a space. They can pull furniture placement together defining a space, add color, pattern and texture to an otherwise bland room. They can also cover up existing flooring that has seen better days. General things to think about when choosing a rug includes: shape; size; material; and style. You can’t go wrong with a rectangular rug, most spaces support this shape. However don’t discount square or round if the room can hold these. When defining a seating area it’s ideal to have at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs on the rug, this will make the rug feel generous and ground the room, but if you don’t like your flooring then go oversized taking it up to foot from the wall. If you’ve already got a lot of pattern and color present in your room choose something more textural with a neutral color. If your room is fairly neutral go for a color and be bold with pattern.

Flat weaves and intricate designs are good for high traffic areas and pets as they hide dirt. Whereas a shag, cut pile and loop piles are better for low traffic areas and are really comfy underfoot.

Occasional chairs

Occasional chairs are a large accent piece so can be used to create a focal point, or impact in a room. Again this piece should be light enough to offer flexibility and when needed (i.e. for social gatherings) easily repositioned within the room. If your room is big enough for two occasional chairs this is ideal. Placing two into your seating configuration will help add balance to your layout. Either positioning these opposite your sofa, or both to one side of your sofa will make conversation easy. If you only have room for one, this is fine too, make it a statement piece by choosing a pattered fabric with a defined style such as a contemporary wing chair accented with a bright scatter cushion.

Floor and table lamps

For a harmonious lighting scheme you need a mixture of light sources. Accent lighting such as floor and table lamps are fabulous for brightening up a darker corner in a room, or by placing a couple around the room these can throw out enough light for a whole space.
Placing a pair of matching table lamps either end of a console creates a classic, structured feel to a room. Splitting the lamps by placing one on a side table and the other on a console will create a looser look for a less structured room. Add in a separate floor lamp in a different style and you will get a good even distribution of light whilst creating more interest in your design.

Ottomans

Personally I love using ottomans in a living room, often replacing a coffee table with a round ottoman covered in a beautiful fabric. This is such a simple and easy way to continue your pattern and color theme into other pieces in the room. To enable items to be placed on the cushioned top add a wooden tray or two creating a more even surface. You can then add decorative pieces onto the trays. Smaller ottomans can also be used to sit on, or placed in front of your occasional chair as a foot stool. To maximise storage potential go for one that opens up with storage inside.

When combining all of the above pieces into your design try and mix and match a couple of styles and materials. To use pieces that are the same style and similar materials will feel uninteresting and have little impact. When mixing for instance a distressed tan leather chair, timber side table with a modern sectional sofa and a chrome floor lamp, essentially the earthy with a more urban look you instantly create a design that’s eye catching and interesting.

Now you’re ready to accent your living room, be brave and push the boundaries. Try something new and see what a difference it can make.

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Starting from scratch can be intimidating, but a modest, minimal look can grow into whatever takes your fancy. Starting with a mish-mash of collectibles and worn, perhaps unmatched furniture is simply frustrating, and far too many people end up by throwing a room together with whatever they have got.

So whether you are starting afresh or starting from scratch, consider the room the same way. Then make use of what you need and like, and get rid of anything you don’t like.

Since we’re talking about living rooms here, chances are it’ll be a family room of sorts, or even a room where you will entertain informally. Assess who will be using the room and then decide what furniture you need to make it work for everyone. Consider function, for example whether you will eat here and whether it will be used as a television room. Think carefully about colors and both wall surfaces and floor finishes. Consider style and decide whether you will follow a style or theme. Last of all look at ornamentation and items you may want to display. These may range from artworks to treasured knick knacks. These last items are those finishing touches that will give your living room a personal feel.

Most living rooms share a common purpose and so here are some of the most important aspects you will need to consider:

• theme and color scheme,
• seating,
• tables and other furniture,
• doors and windows,
• storage,
• wall and floor finishes, and
• finishing touches.

Theme and color scheme

For a plan to come together it should have some sort of purpose. Of course since we’re talking about a living room, this in itself is ‘purpose’, but it doesn’t relate directly to décor, so it isn’t enough.

When it comes to decorating a small living room, a well defined style often helps to pull the plan together. Another aspect is color, and having a color theme is always helpful. Your starting point may be the carpet you have chosen or perhaps the upholstery fabric or curtain material. Maybe your choice of color will be dictated by mood. For example yellow is a cheerful, bright color while pale blue is cool and subdued. Wanting a cheerful room you might go out in search of furnishings and accessories that will meet these needs.

So first of all decide on a starting point and have a sense of purpose.

Seating

Every living room needs seating, and it should be both comfortable and versatile. In a small room you won’t have the luxury of creating more than one seating area, and size will dictate on how much seating you can accommodate. Look at what you’ve got and what you want or still need.

A good way to assess layout of existing furniture, including seating, is to measure and draw the room to scale and then make template cut-outs of each item, drawn to the same scale. Be sure to accurately mark the position of windows and doorways – and which way doors open and close. Then position the templates on the plan. You should try to imagine what different layouts will look like. The templates will help to ensure that the furniture will fit – but still use your imagination.

Generally people like to sit in circles, so they can look at one another and talk. If the room is to be used for watching television, don’t let the TV set dominate the room. This can be a particular challenge in a small room, but positioning it to the side of the circle often works well. And think about positioning it in a cupboard of sorts.

Once you know what seating will fit, you can decide whether what you already have needs to be reupholstered or redone in any other way to fit the look or theme – or just to make it look bright and cheerful again.

Tables and other furniture

Tables are always useful in a living room, for drinks, paperwork, books, even for eating on. If you plan to use the room for eating, then a reasonably large table is a good idea, as long as it doesn’t dominate. Aim to separate couches and so-on from a dining (or eating) table. What often happens is that some people will group around the table while others sit more comfortably on couches. That in itself effectively creates two immediate seating areas.

If space really is at a premium, a nest of tables is a good idea. And a coffee table or even a chest that will double for storage purposes, is always useful in front of couches.

There isn’t usually much room for other furniture in small living rooms, but sometimes a decorative sideboard or drinks cabinet can find its place and improve the appeal of the décor as a whole.

Always remember your sense of purpose and make sure that what you choose will fit in and look good.

Doors and windows

Doors and windows improve the quality of light in any living room, especially when incorporating double internal doors. If there is a good view from one or more windows, this can become a focal point when you organize the furniture.

But decoratively speaking windows come into their own with window coverings, in particular, curtains and blinds. Consider style as well as pattern and texture when you make your choice.

Storage

Storage space is always useful in the living room, for anything from books to glassware, but it isn’t necessarily essential. Before you consider bringing in cupboards and cabinets, or even hanging shelves, consider what these will look like. If storage space is at a premium in your house or apartment as a whole, you might have to find storage space for books or other items in the living room. If so it often helps to make them a feature, rather than something with no other place to go.

If you are going to incorporate some sort of storage into the living room plan, don’t forget that it can often be used for displaying decorative items in the room. For example, a display cabinet may be used for storing glassware and ornaments, and plain shelves may be used for books and collectibles.

Wall and floor finishes

Both practical and decorative, wall and floor finishes can spell the success or failure of any living room décor. These surfaces really are the shell of the room, but they can do so much to bring it alive or make it feel cool or cosy.

Walls present the simplest way to introduce color to a room, while floor surfaces will sound-proof, insulate and add warmth to the room. Generally neutral colors are easiest to work with on the floor, but rugs can add a welcome splash of color and pattern.

Finishing touches

It is attention to the detail of finishing touches that often makes people feel like decorators. The rest to them is quite mundane. But when it comes to decorating a small living room, if the basics don’t gel, you’re going to find it difficult to successfully complete the decorative process.

Think carefully about what finishing touches mean to you, and remember that they really are those personal touches that only you can make. It might be the addition of a special painting on the wall, or treasured items displayed lovingly on the mantelpiece. Or perhaps you want to spent a little time stenciling a motif around the top of the wall or just add color and sweet smells with freshly picked flowers in a plain glass vase on the coffee table.

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Chairs are an essential fireside item and at least one good chair should be placed in front of it so that one may absorb its luxurious heat and truly bask in its glow.

 Groucho High-Back Aged Leather Wing Chair
A high wing-backed chair like this is perfect for solitary seating, providing great back support for reading as well as a cosy, enclosed sense created by the chairs ‘wings’. This example is an alternative to the traditional wing-back chair as, although it is very traditional in its design basis, it suggests a modernist/contemporary influence due to its angular geometry. Finished in sumptuous aged leather this chair exudes comfort and implores you to find a book and indulge in a period of relaxation.

When combined with the throw below one may truly lounge in the comforting and cosy feeling of being inside when outside is bitterly cold.

Antique-Style Paisley Wool Throw
This thick woollen example features a traditional paisley pattern, the rich reds of which contribute to a winter color palette and creates a warming addition to your living room’s décor.

Radnor Bay Wood Bedside Table
The side table is an essential addition to any reading corner or fireside, as it offers modest yet attractive storage for the variety of items that accrue about a reading chair. This piece features a sizeable shelf for storing papers and books and a small drawer for sundries such as matches, reading glasses and the seasonal sweet-treats that seem to arrive in abundance at this time of year. It also possesses a sizeable table-top for tea cups, light snacks and other accoutrements such as a reading lamp. Inspired by timeless eighteenth-century French design, this side table is finished in a deep Bay wood finish – the deep browns of which complement the warmer browns and reds of the aforementioned chair and throw.

 Classic Stork Bedside Lamp
Brass is the perfect material for the winter months, as its warm golden hue appears to absorb and store any light that hits it, emitting a warm sheen as bright as the bulb itself. This slender piece harks back to the functional gas lighting and its associated pipework of the Victorian era, all the while remaining modest enough in design to co-exist with items of a more modern nature. This lamp would sit perfectly on the side table mentioned previously, and its above average height allows for an optimum light level to be achieved for the avid reader, all the while contributing to the variation of a room’s lighting level through differing height and brightness.

Wrought Iron Scrolling Flourish Fireguard

This impressive wrought iron fireguard continues the traditional air and adds weight to the fireplace as a focal point. A fireguard of this size also adds almost complete protection from the spits and sparks that some varieties of firewood entail, protecting your hearthside rugs or carpeting. Decorative items may be placed on either side of this piece to really develop the hearthside as a feature and allow it to thrive as the room’s focal point.

Making a feature of your mantelpiece.

To increase the presence of your fireplace as a focal point, it is important to add items that compliment your room’s décor and add interest to the fireplace as a feature. Traditionally, a large mirror or painting was reserved for the chimney breast above the mantle, although a tapestry may serve just as well if it is in keeping with your room’s theme. Clocks also hold a pride of place on the mantle, and have done for a substantial period of time. When a clock or other item, such as a vase, is the central item on the mantle top then its presence may be accentuated by the symmetrical placement of other items. Using objects of differing heights also creates an interesting feature of the mantle. Tall candlesticks, small ornaments and flower arrangements encourage a viewer’s eye to move around the space of the mantle in much the same way that a viewer’s eye moves around the elements of a painting in order to absorb it as a whole. The key to attractively decorating your mantelpiece is to use objects cumulatively instead of, for example, having one very large vase that overpowers the visual space of the mantle.

This oriental inspired wooden clock is the perfect centrepiece for a fireplace’s mantle. Its ornate detailing implies a sumptuous decadence and the far eastern influence suggests a thoughtfully sourced item of exotic origin. It is small enough not to dominate the space visually but holds enough intricate whimsy to be of an aesthetic and functional value. The key to attractively decorating your mantelpiece is to use objects cumulatively instead of, for example, having one very large vase that overpowers the visual space of the mantle.

 Scallop Shell Bookends
These pieces are intended to be dark metal bookends, although they are very effective as decorative objects for the mantel-top. They could be placed flush against the chimney breast at either end of the mantle, serving as a sort of ‘visual brackets’. The space created in between these ‘brackets’ then becomes a prime area for statement piece, gracefully reinforced by the scallop shaped border on either side.

Iznik Lidded Jar
Such statements could with items such as the aforementioned clock or pieces such as this lidded jar with Turkish motif. Inspired by the Iznik pottery of the seventeenth century, the jar’s character and reasonably large size makes it a perfect statement object. Whilst it is inspired by a Turkish design, this piece is also reminiscent of early nineteenth century British reproduction-ware and would be effective in traditional décors of all varieties.

With the addition of a few strategically sourced and placed items, such as the ones I have suggested, one may create a cosy atmosphere around the fireside. Gathering around a warm hearth encourages socialisation and more creative uses for free time and detracts from spending hours staring at a screen. Make this winter a season to remember by making time to talk, read, or paint – whatever your passion is – and enjoy a nook dedicated to relaxation.

Article by: 
Matt Chappell writes on behalf of OKA Direct. He enjoys writing about interior design ideas, room optimisation and traditional décors.

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Young Family Living Room

Retired Couple Living Room

What are the secrets to having a living room that you can truly live in every day of the week? Material choices are definitely a key consideration. You don’t want to upholster the seating in delicate fabrics like silk, or easily stained and not easily fabrics like white cotton (unless they are removable slip covers). Fortunately we live in the era when textile choices that look great and perform great are easily found. We recommend polyester fabrics that look and feel like chenille fabric (soft to the touch) that wear well and clean up well. Outdoor fabrics are a fabulous option when you have pets or young children (or messy husbands). We often use Commercial grade fabrics in homes for extra durability.

Flooring is another element that will help determine how approachable and easy to maintain your living room will be. Skip the ivory colored wall to wall carpeting and opt for hard surface flooring like wood, cork or tile and then use fabulous area rugs to provide color, pattern and softness to the room.

Lighting is important so you can create a mood for your living room. Lights on dimmers help to make the room ambient and soft for entertaining, or bright enough to relax and read a book by. Make sure to have not only overhead lighting but table and/or floor lamps too.

About the author: Suzanne Lasky
Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID is the owner of S Interior Design. S Interior Design makes homes and offices harmonious, functional and beautiful for families with 2-legged and 4-legged members. Suzanne has an M.B.A. and an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design. Suzanne offers years of real world experience, giving her clients the peace of mind to know that their projects will be professionally handled from start to finish. She is an experienced residential and small commercial interior designer and is the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™ ‘Stunning Interiors with Pets in Mind’. Suzanne Lasky, All Rights Reserved, www.sinteriordesign.com

You have permission to re-publish this article as long as the Resource Box is included with the article. All rights reserved.

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Appropriate Subject Matter and Rendering

Art in a high-traffic area such as a living room should have far-reaching appeal. Many buyers prefer abstract art because it is modern and chic, and because abstract pieces represent something different for everyone. If you prefer representational work, ubiquitous subjects like landscapes and still life pieces are universally recognized and appreciated. Avoid pieces with heavy, dark subjects and content.

Be sensitive to the subtle uses of color that an artist uses to set the mood and tone of a piece. Paintings with soft, low contrast colors and symmetrical or traditional formatting help create a calm and comfortable atmosphere in your living room, while paintings with dramatic, bold, high contrast colors are more likely to create some feelings of drama or even tension.

If you prefer sculpture, three dimensional pieces may be less common for living room decor, but no less appropriate. Abstract sculpture has the same appeal of abstract paintings. If your tastes fall on the conservative or representational side, seek classical subjects like busts and studies of the human form. Note that the size of a sculpture and the texture of a sculpture will set the mood in a room much in the way that paintings do with color and contrast. Smooth textures and smaller sizes are subtle and calming, while a large, freestanding sculpture, or a sculpture with harsh textures will add drama to the atmosphere of the room.

The Right Piece for the Space

If you are buying wall art, measure the wall where the art will be hanging and designate an approximate size for the piece you seek. Common sense dictates that a tiny painting should not hang on a large, empty wall, nor will a massive painting look right on a relatively small or cluttered wall. Beyond choosing a painting that has appropriate dimensions, you will need to find a painting that fits with the room’s decor. Among your qualifications for the right piece of art should be a painting that displays the appropriate colors.

Although you should not seek a piece that matches the color of your decor exactly (it is possible to over-coordinate), your painting should fit somewhere within the color scheme of your living room while also exhibiting colors found nowhere else in the room. In this way, the painting will command attention and establish itself as a focal point or centerpiece. For example, if you are buying art for a living room that has been decorated predominantly in tones of brown, tan, and cream, you may pick a painting that includes some similar shades of brown, coupled with a vibrant shade of red, or large patches of blue-gray.

Three-dimensional pieces should have their own place to sit on display, whether on a table, a shelf or in a low-traffic place on the floor of your room. Like two-dimensional pieces, three-dimensional pieces should be left in an area free of visual clutter that may detract attention from the beauty of the art.

Whatever medium you choose, the place that you have designated for the piece should provide a safe space for your art. Antiques may be especially susceptible to damage from direct sunlight or humidity, but all original art should be treated with special care. Don’t place art near a front door or a steam heater. A painting should not hang on a wall where it may be frequently exposed to direct sunlight, and heavy canvases should be anchored to the wall where they hang. Sculptures and ceramics must be set away from the reach of small children or pets.

Art As Investment

Although art can appreciate over time, it is difficult to judge the value of what a given piece will be in ten, twenty or sixty years. Even pieces by established and historic artists can be susceptible to unanticipated increases and decreases in value based on changing moods and trends. An investment in artwork by an artist who is still establishing a career is an even greater unknown. In addition, art is surprisingly liquid. Should you ever decide to sell, finding the right buyer or auction for a valuable piece of art can be a difficult and slow process.

Even so, the word “investment” doesn’t have to mean a return in cash. True art should last for decades or even centuries, and may be handed down from one generation to the next as a valued family heirloom. Artwork passed from parent to child, whether monetarily valuable or not, will have personal and sentimental value into the future.

Buy What You Like

Whether you plan to hand down this art to your children or throw away the next time you redecorate, the most important thing is to buy something you like. Once you’ve made the decision to buy artwork for your living room, spend time researching artists. Go to local galleries, peruse museums, browse artist homepages online. Practice talking about art with family members and friends to gain a greater understanding of what you like and why you like it. Identify patterns in your tastes. The ability to express your preferences will also be useful when you speak with gallery owners and artists as you look for the right piece. More important, once you understand your tastes, you’re more likely to settle on a purchase that you’ll continue to love into the future.

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What does “pet friendly” mean?

A pet friendly home or furniture item can describe a couple of things:

• Your pet’s favorite definition is that a pet friendly home is one that takes into consideration the comfort and safety of your pet and provides as many amenities as possible to make your pet happy i.e. comfortable places to lay in the sun, plenty of spots to grab a quick snack, lots of floor space to chase a ball or a squeaky rat. You get the idea
• A pet owner’s preferred definition is one that certainly takes into consideration the safety and comfort of their pet but also includes concerns about keeping a piece of furniture clean, comfortable and attractive for the human occupants of the home and avoiding having to replace expensive items due to the wear and tear of the pets.

How do I make my couch or sofa pet friendly?

Now that we know the definition(s) of pet friendly how do we apply these to our own home décor? Here are a few tips that will, hopefully, keep everyone in the family safe, happy and comfortable.

• To keep your sofa looking as good as possible for as long as possible be sure to choose a fabric that is pet friendly. This would be a fabric that is not easily shredded such as one with a tight weave that will resist the snagging and pulling of your cat’s claws.
• A fabric that is easily cleaned is a must. Look for indoor/outdoor fabrics that can often be cleaned with a hose and a bit of soapy water and left to dry in the sun. A busy pattern will also hide some of those paw prints.
• When all manner of training, begging and pleading fail to keep Jake the greyhound or Muffie the kitten off of your furniture, keep plenty of washable throws or small blankets on hand that can be placed in your pet’s favorite spot on the sofa and thrown in the washing machine when needed. They can also be removed when company stops by.
• Maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your couch both pet and family friendly. Daily vacuuming and occasional cleaning will remove lots of dirt, grime and that ever present pet hair. For quick clean-ups consider using a dryer sheet like Bounce to remove pet hair from upholstery and a quick swish of a Swiffer will get the hair off of surrounding tabletops and floors. Don’t forget to remove the cushions and check for any little “surprises” your pet might have left under there.

Remember, you get what you pay for

We have all marveled at some point about a couch or chair that is being sold for an amazingly low price and some of us have even fallen prey to the temptation, only to regret it down the road.

A sturdy sofa that will stand the test of time, and of a rambunctious pet, will have a kiln dried wood frame that has been properly nailed and glued to hold together and not wobble every time someone sits down. The springs and foam used in the upholstering process will be of the highest quality. This type of construction takes time and time costs money. Therefore, it would be difficult for a furniture manufacturer to create such a sofa, sell it for pennies on the dollar and still make a profit.

The best advice is to purchase the highest quality sofa your budget can handle. And keep in mind that if the price sounds too good to be true, it is probably not the bargain you think it is.

The same holds true for the fabrics you choose. Select the best quality fabric and foam within your budget and you will avoid having to replace that worn out couch every year or so.

Pets are part of the family and deserve to be as comfortable in their home as the other members of the family. With just a little thought before purchasing a big ticket item like a couch or sofa, you, your pet and your sofa can peacefully co-exist.

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• How do I plan where my furniture needs to go?
• How do I pull a colour palette together?
• What needs to be considered to ensure I buy the right sized furniture for my room?
• How do I zone different areas in an open plan living space?
• How to create a focal point in my room?

To answer these questions, and many more that you may have, I’m going to take you through the design process that anyone undertaking a home décor project should consider. This will ensure that you have the confidence to make decisions, costly mistakes can be avoided, and finally that you are left with a room to be envied by others.

Step 1 – it’s all in the planning

Start your planning by taking inspiration from magazines, online interior design blogs and sites, or generally from anything around you that is a source of inspiration. Collect items that catch your eye because you like the colour or texture and start a file or pin board of all of the things that you collect.
Laying out your images and items will start to shape your design concept and colour palette. Pull out anything that doesn’t seem to fit, use your intuition here after all it is your home. Fix the items and images to a board (also known as a mood board) and have this in a place that you see daily. This will keep you on track with decisions that you make and help you stay true to your original design.

Step 2 – down to the details

Next think about how you are going to use the space; functionality is just as important as how it looks. Take a good look at what you currently have in the room and identify what fits with your mood board and how you will use the space moving forward. There may be some items that you can repurpose by painting furniture or reupholstering a chair or sofa.

Next you need to think about a focal point for the room. Without this the design will feel scattered and unresolved, so you need something to pull it all together. Generally this is something that creates the interest, it could be a piece of artwork that adds impact, a decorative rug or a feature wall in a beautiful wallpaper. This is your jumping off point. Everything from here will need to tie back to your focal point.

Step 3 – fitting it all in

Floor planning is important for many reasons. It assists with choosing the right size furniture for the room, to the best furniture placement and to help zone areas in open plan spaces. Take measurements of the dimensions of the room and note these down on a rough plan. Note the window and door placements and any electrical points and radiators. This will help you when buying new furniture. Try a few different furniture placements to see what works best, which will give you a good chance to consider flow and functionality in the space before committing to buying any larger pieces of furniture. If you are a visual person and struggle with making decisions based on floor plans, cut out life size pieces of newspaper as furniture templates and lay them in the room as you had planned to place the furniture. This will give you a better idea on scale, and how much space you have between each piece. Zone areas by using large rugs, the back of a sofa, a console or even a large shelving unit to create a wall.

Step 4 – tracking the costs

Make a list of the work that needs to be done, and the items that need to be sourced. Obtain quotes for the work and research the items on your list to gain an idea of cost this will allow you to budget wisely. If your budget is running over before you’ve even begun, then perhaps think about phasing the work/purchases, or work out what areas you would feel comfortable doing yourself such as the painting. Don’t forget to include a contingency of between 5% and 10% of the total. Keep a record of all of the quotes and everything that you spend so that you can manage your budget closely. It important to remember that choosing the cheapest quote isn’t always the best way to go. There’s a reason that the quote is cheaper than all of the others. My advice is to choose the one that is sitting in the middle and always try to get three quotes for each work item.

You’re ready to start planning, designing and budgeting. Take your time in this phase, as it will pay dividends in the end. Also ensure you take recommendation on any trades and services that you need to get your project completed. And most importantly have fun with it!
In summary here’s a checklist to get you started:

• Collate inspiration and ideas
• Decide on focal point and functionality
• Draw up a floor plan and include zoning ideas if required
• Decide on budget and track this carefully
• Ask for recommendations for trades and services
• Keep going back to your original mood board to stay on track

If you have successfully designed a room that you feel proud of we would love to hear from you. Feel free to send us your story.

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