Living Room Interior Design Guidelines

Whether starting from scratch or working with existing furnishings, the following design tips will help you create the captivating life style family room that you envision. If you are unsure of the look you want to achieve or just need some inspiration, look at magazines, watch home design shows on TV, visit the new exhibition rooms houses, or hiring an interior designer. When assembling all the different elements and layers of a room, fundamental concerns to keep in mind are style, scale, hierarchy, color and detail.

Style: In broad terms, style is generally described in terms of modern, contemporary, transitional, traditional or eclectic. However, more descriptive definitions include the choice of a theme such as Traditional Georgian, Modern Retro contemporary Coast, and so on. Keeping a consistent style in a room can make a strong statement about that particular style. On the other hand, mixing styles can add an interesting complexity to a room. Choose a style and theme at the beginning of the design process so that you have a strong direction.

Scale: If the furniture is large and massive or small and small, the whole should appear proportional, balanced and harmonious. Typically, large bulky furnishings should have bold accents and accessories. If a room is small, very large furnishings can make a smaller room. However, a few larger pieces are better than numerous smaller pieces. Conversely, small furnishings can be lost in a large room, especially with high ceilings.

A design solution to address spaces with high ceilings is to use long drapes. This sets the scale of the room and can create a spectacular impression. If the ceilings are low, stick with furniture that is lower in height to avoid the ceiling seem lower. To a larger room, use mirrors. They give an illusion of more space.

If buying new furniture, it is a good idea to draw a floor plan to scale and add the furniture to the plan. This not only helps in understanding the scale, but also works well if space. Is there enough space to move, sit, and walk?

Hierarchy: Establishing hierarchy provides organization and orientation of the part. When it comes to a living room, positioning the couch and chairs is of utmost importance. Identify the focal point of the room. This could be a beautiful view to the outside, a feature wall with a group of pictures, or a fireplace. Use large pieces of furniture to reinforce the focal pint. Then follow with other smaller pieces.

Use area rugs to identify and organize spaces. Carpets are visually link the couch and chairs together. If your living room and dining room is in the same room, a floor mat in the living room will help delineate the two spaces. In addition, a freestanding screen is another good option.

Colors: Of course, color has a dramatic impact on the character of a room. Identify a piece of inspiration as a rug, fabric, or picture to determine your color palette. If your theme is coastal, you may want to incorporate shades of blue or neutral. If your theme is traditional, strong reds, blues or greens may be most appropriate. Pale creams and beige color walls will give the impression of a larger space. Warm colors like red and yellow can make a space appear smaller. Light colors are generally more calm while bright colors are more stimulating.

When choosing a color from a sample, go at least a clearer picture of what you think you want to tone up. When the color is placed in the wall appears more intense than when I'm in the sample.

For rooms where you spend a lot of time, it is generally better to keep the colors neutral. Limit the use of bright colors for small areas. Bright colors work better for rooms or areas such as a bathroom, hallway staircase, or bedroom which are in use for a limited time.

Details: A great concept can be ruined by clumsy execution. Therefore, take the time to make sure the furniture is in good condition and that the accessories blend well with the overall theme. There are times when the worn and weather look is desirable. But if worn, must be repaired, renovated or replaced. The accessories can be a different style of furniture, but they should blend in terms of scale and color.

The table lamp is an important accessory because it is both sculptural and functional. Lighting alone can change the whole atmosphere of a room. Make sure the size, color and shape are adapted to the situation. In general, drum shades look more modern and more traditional tapered look. In a traditional setting, changing the style of a lamp from traditional to modern or contemporary is one way to give a room a more updated look.

Interior designers usually recommend the use of incandescent bulbs because the light emitted is considered more conducive to creating an attractive setting. However, if you try to reduce energy consumption, compact fluorescent bulb is an affordable alternative to consider. The lighting quality has improved over the years and some people prefer them.

Put your photos on the eye level to prevent the ceiling seem lower. In addition, lower hanging pictures helps to visually unify the pictures with furniture located below - if appropriate. Limit the use of family photos in the living room. It is best to find family photos, trophies, diplomas in a bedroom, living room or office. If you use multiple images to create a focal point, group them together as though there were an imaginary frame around them. Do not spread.