Our living room is one of the most important areas of our homes. However, many of us don’t make the best out of this part of our house or apartment.
Yes, the living room is the place where you put your TV and invite guests, but stop and think about the name for a moment. What does your living room mean to you?
Your living room should be a space with a comfortable atmosphere where you can spend time with friends and family but also do so much more.
Create A Homely Living Space
Creating a homely space takes a little bit of effort, but spending time making this area of your home special is worth it.
If you are not sure where to start, we have put together a list of our top tips for you.
Choosing A Colour
Colours have a huge impact on our mood and style. When you want to create a living space that you want to spend, it is important to focus on finding a colour palette which is right for you.
If you want a calm and relaxing space, you should opt for cool tones. The best colours for a calm living area include greys, blues and green. This colour palette is easy to match with neutral colours.
When you have a young family, you may want your living space to look more vibrant. Good colours to aim for are oranges, reds and yellows. These are all colours that you can mix and match to add interest.
Textures and Patterns
The importance of textures and patterns is easy to overlook. Both textures and patterns add interest, dimension and character to your living room. Depending on how you use them, you can make your living space feel vibrant or soothing.
Opt for using different materials, fabrics and accessories. Good examples of adding patterns and textures include cushions, rugs, throws, curtains and wall art.
Smaller accessories are important as well. To make your living area feel lived in and loved, you should add plants, lighting and candles.
Furniture Concepts
We have all learned from IKEA that furniture should be both comfortable and functional.
Choosing the right furniture is one of the most important concepts in your home. When you have a young family, having functional furniture that accommodates them is essential.
Perhaps your coffee table needs to double up as a craft centre from time to time.
When your family grows up, you will probably want to have somewhere you can store magazines, craft materials and remote controls. An ottoman is a great place to store throws and hobby materials.
You can also use tables and shelves to create different areas. This adds character to your living space and makes it feel more like a personal space.
Creating a Focal Point
Every room in the house needs a focal point. In your kitchen, the focal point is either your breakfast bar or the kitchen table.
Creating a focal point in the living room is sometimes slightly more challenging. These days, a large-screen TV is often the focal point in most living rooms.
But, there is no reason why the TV should be the focal point. After all, most of us are surrounded by tech all day.
If you want to focus away from tech gear in your living space and create a more homely area, you could try placing the emphasis on a plant, window or painting.
Think about what would add interest and work well with the available space.
Let There Be Light
Lighting in your living space should be easy to adjust. When you want to watch your big-screen TV, you probably want to turn down the light.
When you are not watching TV, and perhaps doing an activity, it goes without saying you need more brightness. Dimmer lights are great when it comes to creating an atmosphere.
You should also try to incorporate different types of lighting. Smaller table lights and uplighters are just as important as ceiling lights.
Don’t forget outside lighting matters as well. The way you let natural light into your living space can make it look more homely in an instant.
When you play with light, you can easily change the atmosphere or feel in a room. Perhaps you want it to be nice and cosy during the cooler part of the year and lighter during the summer.
Take your time and choose curtains or drapes in a colour that enhances the ambience of your living space.
Personal Touches Matter
Don’t forget that this is your personal living space. Personal touches are what make your living space truly yours.
Personal items are something that we often collect along the way. They are often things that reflect your personality or what you like to collect. Often they help you to remember special events.
Good examples of personal touches are photographs, souvenirs, art and books. There is a good reason why many of us like to incorporate bookshelves or display cabinets into our living rooms or family living spaces.
Knick-Knacks
To many, knick-knacks are another way of saying accessories. But, knick-knacks are not really accessories.
They are smaller objects that we hold dear. For instance, you may have a trophy collection you may want to show off. You could be an amateur pottery maker with a collection of pots and other ceramic items you have thrown.
If so, these treasured items belong in your living space – they make your living area uniquely yours.
Final Thoughts
Remember that there are no hard and fast rules. When you follow some of these tips and ideas, you can make your living room a place where your entire family loves to spend time.
