Designing for Dummies: How to Decorate your Living Room and Where to Begin?

Decorating your living room is easy as long as you know where to start. Set a budget, take stock of your current items, and get ready to put together a space that you’ll love to spend time in.

Here below are some tips on how to decorate your living room.

Start with Walls, Floors, and Lighting

Your walls, floor, and sources of light are the foundation of your living room. Before you start decorating, make sure that you like these elements of your space.

The color of your walls will impact the mood and design of your room. Although bright colors are tempting, they are not always the best choice. The article “8 Ideas for Your Modern Living Room Design” from Modern Digs Furniture explains that one of the easiest ways to achieve a modern look in your home is to keep the walls white and have any color come from the decor. You can also achieve this effect with light gray or another neutral color. If you have the time and budget, consider repainting any faded or yellowed walls to give the room a fresh appearance.

The floors aren’t easy to change, but you can still keep them in top condition. Wax wooden floors to give them an extra shine. Steam clean carpets and rugs to restore their color and original appearance. Use this time to get an understanding of the way your living room is laid out and where you might like to place decorations.

A well-lit room will make the furniture within it look amazing. Light bulbs are available in many different shades of white. Decide if soft white, warm white, bright white, or daylight bulbs will be best for your room. Consider how much natural light the space receives and whether you want to add a lamp or other light source.

Consider Your Furniture

Every piece of furniture in your living room is a decorative item. Catalogue the pieces of furniture you already own and decide which ones you like. Don’t be afraid to get rid of an end table that you hate; every element you use will impact your final design. Decide if your existing furniture has a theme. Do you own a set of antiques, or are your pieces suited for a more modern design? As you purchase more furniture items, make sure they go with your existing pieces to create a cohesive whole.

The way your furniture is laid out will change the way your living room is perceived. Make sure your couch, entertainment center, and coffee table are all placed well and that you can move around the room freely. Next, move bookcases, end tables, and other furnishings to enhance the shape of your room. The end result should look good, even if you don’t have any decorations out.

Match Fabrics and Colors

Matching items help a designer look complete and intentional. If you have a distinctive furniture item, consider using it as a base for your design. Otherwise, choose your favorite fabrics and colors and match those themes while you decorate. Colors don’t have to match perfectly, but they should be within the same general palette. Start with a plan for your color scheme and choose items that match it. Don’t forget about the metal and wooden items in your living room. If you have bronze feet on your sofa, choose bronze accents for other items. Patterned fabrics should fit within the same general theme and palette. Don’t mix bold beach stripes with an antique rose pattern, and don’t mix two floral items with completely different colors and designs.

You can also match textures and materials. Soft plush rugs go well with similar throw pillows. Woven rugs should be matched with curtains in a similar theme. Ultimately, matching is a matter of personal taste and intuition. It’s your living room; if you like two items, go ahead and use them.

Add Artwork and Decorations

Wall art, decorative sculptures, and antique items can all come together to finish your living room. Choose pieces that you love the look of or have a sentimental attachment to. You’re the one who will look at the art every day, so make sure you like it. Don’t forget to match your art with the rest of your items. The pink sunset of a painting may go perfectly with one of your throw pillows. You can also match frames or stands with the other materials in your living room.

Good placement will help you highlight artwork. Put focus pieces somewhere they are easy to see. You may even consider adding small accent lights to illuminate a piece you really love. Add smaller decorative pieces to neglected corners of the room. An extra spot on your bookcase is the perfect place for a small figurine.

The best living room design is one that makes you feel at home. Use furniture and items that you like, and don’t keep anything that makes you unhappy. If you practice a basic matching philosophy and decorate according to your intuition, you’ll love the final results.