Living Room Designs
Guide To Planning And Designing Rich Living Rooms

Living room by definition is the life of the home. Living room designs which embody that aspect are not only successful but have a special character.

It is a place where our public and private lives intersect. It is where we spend the maximum time in our homes whether entertaining guests, watching TV, or just plain relaxing.

The place should be such that where you would like to sit for hours, with an ambience conducive for interaction.

It should have warmth, lots of natural light, good views to the soothing exteriors like a garden, if possible.

Do not make it dark and gloomy. Let their be a feeling of energy and lightness in the room.

Natural Light Gives The Room a Soft Laid-back Look

When designing the living room start with the style you want for your room.

What Style To Give To Your Living Room

It is better to design the room in a style that best reflects your personality. You should feel comfortable and enjoy its look and feel.

You can choose to make the design simple and elegant. It could be done in a modern and contemporary way. Clean lines and bold shapes are the hallmark of this design type.

Or the whole look can be in a vintage style. There are lot of possibilities.

Go to living room ideas for detailed information on selecting the overall style of the room.

Clean Lines With a Minimalist Look

Next, it is time to think about...

Planning And Designing The Living Room

Once you select the look and feel of your room, you have to work with basic design principles to design the room in a proper way.

First, you need to check out the things that cannot be changed, for example walls, doors, windows etc.

Next thing you need to do is plan the room in detail. Think about what type of activity would you like it to be used for, most of the times.

Is it a family gathering area? Or do you plan to use it for entertaining the guests? Maybe you want the home theater system to be the centerpiece of the whole room.

Plan the seating and other furniture accordingly.

Keep in mind several things like movement pattern in the room, focal point of the room, proportions of your furniture etc. while planning.

For more information, check out these principles and elements that give shape to the design of living rooms.

After finalizing the style and planning of the room, we need to consider...

Important Elements Of Living Room Designs

The elements of color, light and texture are crucial to making good designs. You can achieve a lot of effects by using these elements sensitively and in a creative way.

See living room design ideas for detailed information on the use of these elements in living room designs.

Furniture - The Centerpiece Of The Room

Furniture is one of the most important features of the living room. Due to its volume and usage, it has the maximum impact in the room.

Furniture Enhances the Living Room Designs

Go to the following pages for details on different aspects of furniture used in the living rooms.

• Living room furniture
• Modern living room furniture
• Living room sets

Modern furniture includes a variety of living room chairs like easy chairs, accent chairs, tub chairs apart from couches, love-seats, recliners, chaises etc.

Chairs Define User's Own Individual Space

Another very important aspect of furniture is the tables.

Living room tables come in all shapes, sizes, styles and uses. Apart from the more common coffee tables and sofa end tables, there are console tables, accent tables, occasional tables etc.

Furniture is incomplete without soft furnishings.

Use Soft Furnishings And Accessories For That special Touch

Soft furnishings and accessories add a lot of feel and warmth to the furniture. Cushions, cushion covers, pillows, rugs and throws etc. can give a special touch and feel to the living room design without much effort.

The colors and textures of the furnishings and accessories should reflect your moods, feelings and aspirations.

Sprinkle the Room With Soft Furnishings For That Special Touch and Feel

Accessories Give a Character to the Room

Now you have decided on the design and style of the room. You did the planning and chose the furniture accordingly. The colors and textures have been coordinated to enhance the look and feel of the room.

It is time to decorate the room.

Add Character To The Room By Decorating It

Decoration and displays impart a sense of personal intimacy and feeling to the room.

Using family portraits, personal and prized possessions, artwork, sculptures, vases etc. at the right places infuses life to the living room designs.

Having unusual and accent furniture is another great way of adding to the decoration of the living room.

Visit living room decorating ideas for more ideas and information on decorating the living room.

Displays and Decoration Add Life to the Room

Living room accessories are a functional and aesthetic way of decorating the living room.

Changing accessories periodically can infuse a new lease of life to your living room decor in a very affordable way. These can be soft accessories like cushions, rugs etc. and hard accessories like mirrors, vases, lamps etc.

Now that you have finished the decor and added displays and accessories, the living room designs are complete. Now is the time to invite the guests.

Read Related Articles:

• Kitchen Design Ideas
• Master Bedroom Designs
• Living-Room Design Ideas
• Living Room Ideas
• Living Room Furniture
• Modern Living Room Furniture