how do you design a living room furniture

What are the principles of designing a living room?

7 Principles of Interior Design You Should Know Before RenovatingBalance. Balance means creating visual harmony in the space by ensuring that the elements in there are evenly distributed. ... Unity. ... Rhythm. ... Emphasis. ... Contrast. ... Scale and Proportion. ... Details.

How do you mix and match furniture in a living room?

How To Mix And Match Furniture For The Living RoomKeep Your Base Colors Neutral. ... Choose Your Anchor Piece First. ... Keep the Style Coherent. ... Play with Patterns. ... Understand the Scale of Your Furniture. ... Use Repetition. ... Try a Theme.

What are the steps to designing a living room?

Here goes:Make A Budget.Create A Mood board.Choose Your “Springboard" (Inspiration) Object.Make A Room Layout Plan.Choose Foundation Furniture.Pick Paint Colors.Scale Up.Don't Over-Source Any Single Source.More items...•

How do you arrange furniture in a living room?

Eight Tips for Arranging Living Room FurnitureBegin with a Plan.Choose a Focal Point.Allow for Conversation.Scale & Proportion.Identify Traffic Flow.Selecting the Right Size Rug.Proper Lighting for your Living Room.Hanging the Right Size Artwork.

Should all living room furniture match?

The short answer is no, you don't need to match your furniture in your living room, and matching it all won't necessarily make it better. Want the long answer? Then keep reading! By the end of this article, you'll know how to create a cohesive space in your living room.

Should all my furniture be the same color?

Your tables, shelves, chairs, and other furniture don't even need to be the same colour or wood tone to coordinate. There may be different coordinating styles, finishes, and fabrics involved to make up a cohesive and well-designed room.

Where do I start when designing a room?

11 Steps to a Well-Designed RoomRemember Who Lives There. ... Do Your Homework. ... Keep Size in Mind. ... Create a Consistent Look. ... Start With a Signature Piece. ... Formulate a Plan. ... Shop Around to Create A Look That's All Your Own. ... Limit Trendy Pieces to Accessories.More items...

What color furniture goes with white walls?

With white as your base, adding neutral colours and tones to your home can create a more put-together, layered look. For example, shades of brown and light grey, green, or blue can play together to create a tranquil feel, whilst using black objects strategically can give the room an added edge.

How can I decorate my living room like an interior designer?

Now that you have the basics, here are some tips on how to decorate a living room like a professional.Mix Light and Dark Paint Colors.Contrast Neutral Colors.Play With Texture.Mix Your Upholstery.Choose Movable Furniture.

How do you layout furniture?

13 Rules to Arrange Living Room Furniture for TVs, Tables & MoreConsider Popular Furniture Layouts.Choose a Focal Point.Don't Push Furniture Against the Walls.Determine TV Placement.Create Conversation Areas.Find Balance When Arranging Furniture.Consider Traffic Flow.Use the Right-Size Rugs.More items...•

How do you plan a layout for a room?

How to plan a room layoutStart with a blank canvas. ... Keep function in mind. ... Consider focal points. ... Position larger items first. ... Remember the importance of empty space. ... Think about traffic flow. ... Consider sight lines. ... Bring things in from the walls.More items...•

Should a couch be against the wall?

Don't push all your furniture up against the walls. Pull your sofa (or other seating) out at least 12″ from the wall. It will make the space seem more inviting and cozy, instead of creating a big bunch of weird dead space in the middle.

What color should my living room furniture be?

As a rule of thumb, for a warm family-oriented living room, choose light-colored hues but avoid white. For a more formal looking living room, dark furniture may be an option, although stark white is often the color of choice for modern formal living rooms. There are exceptions to every rule, though.

How do you mix and match different color furniture?

How to Mix and Match Furniture Styles the Right WayHave a plan. It's easy to get dazed and confused when going for a mix-and-match strategy. ... Colors tie things together. ... Don't forget patterns. ... Introduce unrelated pieces. ... Make use of shapes. ... Utilize accents throughout. ... Make use of texture. ... It's all about balance.More items...

How do you make mismatched furniture look cohesive?

Color repetition is a secret weapon when it comes to making your mismatched miscellany look good together, even if you can't decide upon a basic theme for the room. Pick a color from upholstery, a rug or a photo and repeat it somewhere else in the room, such as on a lamp or even a set of placemats.

Can you put two different couches in a living room?

You can have two different sofas in your living room. You can mix and match the colors of your sofas. Use complementary colors from the color wheel. As long as you follow those rules while decorating, then your non-matching sofas will look great.

What is the first step in designing a living room?

The first step of designing a living room is the layout . It might be that you have a small living room with little flexibility for furniture positions, but there’s no denying that most of us, whatever the size of our spaces, work our living room design around one thing: the TV.

What to do with a larger living room?

If you are blessed with a larger living room, you can be more adventurous with color: try experimenting with a darker decorating palette, add a striking feature wall or get creative with bold paint colors.

What makes a room feel more intimate?

Uplighters on walls can make a ceiling feel taller; downlighters will make the room feel more intimate; spotlights can highlight a feature, such as large house plants, warmly-tinted lightbulbs will make the room feel cozier; daylight-mimicking bulbs will make it feel brighter.

How to save space in a living room?

Opt for living room cabinets that have both open and closed storage so you can hide stuff away, and still keep your most prized knick knacks on display.

How to choose a sofa?

Start by thinking about the size and shape of your room, how many people you need to seat, where in the room the sofa will go and whether a sofa bed might be a more useful purchase; then move on to whether you need removable covers.

How to create a reading space in a living room?

Sure, have a sofa that is just for TV worshippers, but also create a defined reading space by putting an armchair next to a window or table lamp; assign a dedicated workspace to a corner with a console table, desk or home office hidden in a cupboard; or separate a children's play space from the rest of the room with open shelving.

How to make a room look like it's been picked straight from a catalog?

We all love a clean aesthetic, but to stop your room looking like it’s been picked straight from a catalog, inject plenty of personal touches is a must-do. You can easily accessorize your soft furnishing with rugs, cushions and throws and add color with well-displayed artwork and photos or a gallery wall. Oh and let’s not forget indoor plants; they are a really easy way to add a splash of color and liven up a room.

1. How To Design A Modern Living Room Layout And Furniture?

The first thing while answering ‘how to design a living room’ is to be aware of what kind of living room layout you prefer. If your home already has an open design layout, you can go ahead and design the place with some open living room design ideas like a pastel colour scheme with modular furniture choices.

2. How To Design A Living Room Dining Room Combo? Add Partitions And Structural Breaks!

Most contemporary houses have an open living room area with the combination of a dining section. This can be both simple and difficult to plan. Simple because it allows you to maintain a uniform design throughout your living room and dining section. And difficult because it may require more time to plan the whole living cum dining room design.

3. How To Design A Modern Living Room? Choose A Theme That Goes With Your Style

Interior design gravely depends on themes. Even if you aren’t following any particular theme, there’s always an underlying motif that designers follow to plan the design for homes. Thus, you need to pursue a general theme for your living room to give it a personality.

4. How To Design Furniture In A Living Room?

Furniture is the backbone of home interiors. Therefore, pay attention to the quality and look of the furniture sets in your living room. A thumb rule is to not overwhelm the place with random furniture. Keep things minimal and impressionistic. So, choose furniture as per your living room area.

5. How To Design Lighting For A Living Room?

Living rooms are supposed to be bright and vibrant. So, place your seating arrangements by the window, from where you can enjoy a proper view and daylight. Windows will keep the place naturally bright and airy. In case your living room doesn’t get too much natural lighting, use ceiling light options to keep the place well illuminated.

6. Pay Attention To Living Room Ceiling Options

Ceilings can add drama to a place or make the entire interior fall flat. Therefore, don’t overlook the ceiling choices for your living room. Firstly, select a ceiling design that blends well with the theme of your living room interiors. If you are going with a vintage style living room, you can use the moulding ceiling design.

7. Choose A Flooring Type That Adds Space To The Living Room

Like the ceilings, the flooring choice can define your living room too. Therefore, go with the options that are the most suitable for your lifestyle and location. If you are in a more tropical region, go for marble flooring options. In case your home is in a colder region, you can select wooden flooring or carpet flooring.

What to put in a living room after furniture is in place?

Once the furniture is in place, it's important to think about where to place the accessories. No doubt you will have some window treatments and artwork, and maybe a television and some sconces. Give just as much thought to placing living room accessories as you do the furniture.

How to make a living room feel intimate?

Having all the furniture backs touching the walls is one of the biggest mistakes people make in the living room. Placing the pieces closer together, will create a more intimate setting. As long as the backs of the pieces are finished, there's no reason not to show them off.

How tall should a coffee table be?

Coffee Table - Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center of conversation areas. If you choose to use, one remember that the height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don't want to use a coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to achieve the same look. Just make sure they're not too small. People sitting around them should be able to lean over to put down or pick up a drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches should do the trick.

What is the focal point of a room?

In some rooms, the focal point will be an existing feature such as a fireplace or window, and in some, it will be something you bring in to the room such as a television. Use the furniture to create conversation areas. People should be able to comfortably talk to each other without straining their necks or shouting.

What is the most important thing to do when buying furniture?

Sofa and Chairs - These are often the big-ticket items, so it's important that they suit the space. The most important thing to do is measure the space before buying any of these pieces.

How many years has Lauren Flanagan been in the home decor industry?

Lauren Flanagan has more than 15 years of experience working in home decor and has written extensively for a variety of publications about home decor.

What is the purpose of a living room?

Living rooms serve different purposes for different people. In some homes, they serve as the main gathering area for family, while in others they're more of a showroom, used only when company comes over. Either way, there are certain issues that always come up when trying to arrange living room furniture.

What should a living room be like?

Whether your style is traditional or modern, relaxed or formal, bold or subdued, your living room should be a place where you can feel comfortable, let down your guard and spend quality time with friends, family or just yourself. There’s an art to decorating a room that looks great and works well for you. So b efore you dive into a living room redesign with your pro, arm yourself with a few designer tips and tricks. Here are some of my favorites.

How far apart should a living room be?

No matter how big your living room, there’s a limit to how large a seating group can be and still make sense for intimate conversation and cozy gatherings. A good distance between seats to facilitate conversation is about 8 feet, meaning if you have several sofas or a sofa and side chairs, the seating area should have a diameter of 8 feet, or 4 feet out from the center.

What makes a living room feel rich?

Beyond including some white and some black, decorating a living room with a variety of contrasting neutrals goes a long way toward making it feel rich and welcoming. In this example, the white walls, caramel leather, brass hardware, gray sofa and blue-gray cabinets all contrast with one another, which highlights their different finishes and undertones. This makes the palette feel rich even before other key elements, such as color, pattern and texture, are added.

How many seats are needed for a sectional sofa?

A huge, 12-seat sectional sofa may look great and be perfect for a party, but if you’re looking to create a cozy living room, it’s usually best to use fewer, smaller seating pieces and push them a little closer together.

What is a patterned rug?

Pattern is a powerful design tool, infusing a living room with energy and minimizing the appearance of stains or wear. A patterned rug brings these benefits to the “fifth wall” — the floor — simultaneously anchoring a seating area and giving the whole room a sense of life.

What is the best fabric for living room seating?

Speaking of upholstery, it’s especially important for living room seating to be not only comfortable but durable. What this means will depend on your family. You may have babies or small children, pets or not, and they may be messy or tidy. In general, mid-tone fabrics are the safest bet, as very light or dark shades will readily show soil and wear.

Why is texture important in a living room?

But it’s important for making a living room feel cozy, and that goes for plush textures that appeal to the touch and harder textures that add contrast.

What do plants do in a living room?

According to Arditi, plants make for the perfect finishing touch in any living room. "If you are tight on budget or live in a rental where you cannot invest much in your decoration, make sure to get some plants," she encourages. "The greenery adds life and freshness to any room without breaking the bank."

How much floor space between rug and wall?

All the furniture should be sitting on top of the rug and ideally, there should be about 10-to-20 inches of bare floor between the edges of the area rug and the walls of the room. 03 of 06.

What to consider when buying an area rug?

The most important consideration with any area rug is the size. When an area rug is too small it can make the entire room look disjointed so make sure you know the best size for your room and the way your furniture is arranged.

What is Arditi's advice for buying a sofa?

Arditi offers another key piece of advice, for buying sofas: "Always invest in the best sofa you can afford at the time," she comments. "We spend so much time in our living rooms and most of that time is spent on the sofa—make sure it is the most comfortable and the best one you can get. You won't regret it."

What is the problem with arranging furniture?

Furniture. A common problem people have is not knowing how to arrange their living room furniture. More often than not people push a sofa against one wall, a couple of chairs against another and that’s it. But arranging furniture is something that requires a little more planning.

Is there a one size fits all living room?

However, there is no one-size-fits-all use for a living area. "Personally, I knew our living room was meant for conversation and reading," designer Tracy Morris says of her own space. "So, I placed the furniture in a grouping that allowed maximum conversation and allowed me to read by the window." In other spaces, existing fixtures such as a fireplace or built-in shelving may affect the furniture arrangement from the get-go and ease the decision-making process.

Is lighting a part of living room?

Lighting. FollowTheFlow / Getty Images. Lighting is a somewhat complex element of any room. In living rooms, it’s less so than in more utilitarian rooms like kitchens, but there are still some important considerations that should not be ignored.

What is a living room?

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic called for work and school to take place at home, a living room has always been a family gathering space, location for entertaining guests, movie-viewing center and homework spot.

How many feet should a sofa be?

In a 20-foot-by-20-foot room, for example, the sofa should not be 18 feet. "You should have at least 4 to 5 feet around to be comfortable," Jimenez says. Before you order any piece of furniture, Magriñá says there's one more thing to measure: "Measure the width of your front door.".

Why do you want Netflix in your living room?

Even if you're watching a lot of Netflix in your living room, you want the space to encourage conversation between your family members, or between future guests who will spend time in the room as well.

Is there a perfect living room furniture arrangement?

No single furniture arrangement is perfect for every living room. "Every home is unique, so homeowners should feel inspired to take different approaches when deciding on a living room layout," Hicks says. "Your layout may depend on your personal style preferences, or simply the room size you are working with."

Do rugs help mark different spaces?

She adds that different, but complementary, rugs can also help mark the different spaces. While creating these separate spaces can give your living room the multipurpose feel you need, you also want to make sure it's cohesive with the whole space that the eye can see.

Can you have a TV with a sofa?

You can have your primary TV-viewing area with a sofa and chairs or loveseat, but you can also have a separate seating area geared toward conversation or reading. A desk setup at the window can make for ideal working or studying conditions. "The back of the sofa is generally a good divider," Magriñá says.

Can you walk behind furniture in a small living room?

Bringing your furniture in from the walls doesn't mean you have to be able to walk behind it, though, which can be tricky in a small living room. Harris says even a few inches away from the wall makes a difference: "This little bit of space actually makes rooms feel bigger.". [.

How to make a living room look good?

To create a space that’s social media or magazine-worthy, you need to create the right mix of furniture and arrange it well. Start by choosing pieces in your chosen interior design theme. They should complement and coordinate with each other, but they shouldn’t perfectly match; that’s boring. Your furniture should fit into the space with plenty of room to move around.

How to arrange furniture in a room?

When arranging your space, apply the rule of threes. Group the furniture and decor into groups of three. This odd number looks more balanced and is universally appealing. You should also consider creative lighting solutions. Try adding some light that’s purely accenting or decorative. This could be lighting hidden under the shelves of a built-in storage unit. Or you could hide LED strip lighting on your crown molding to illuminate the ceiling.

How to coordinate furniture pieces?

You don’t want them all boldly patterned. Choose one piece for the pattern, then choose other furniture pieces with a solid color to match.

What do you need to know before picking furniture?

Before you start picking furniture, decor, or accent elements, you need to choose your color palette. This gives you a unifying approach to everything in the room. Once you have your color scheme, you need to look for furniture that fits.

How to make a room look clean and airy?

Skip furniture on legs. It will make your room feel too open and airy. The furniture will also have a more sparse look that could be too bare. Look for a sofa that has structured cushions but isn’t perfectly upholstered to have that hard look. This makes it look clean and perfectly styled while also being comfortable enough for people to want to sit on.

How to make a room feel warm?

Start by putting an area rug down on the floor if you have hardwood flooring or tile. This keeps the cold feeling of the floor at bay and makes it softer for people to walk, and dampens the sound in the room. Then create comfortable seating by having throw pillows on the sofa. Add extra seating around the room, so there are plenty of options.

What is a traditional living room?

Traditional Living Room Furniture Ideas. Traditional living rooms have a fireplace. They’re typically either in the center of the main wall or positioned as a corner fireplace. If you want to have a traditional living room, the easiest way is by creating a formal living room space.

How to make a floor plan for a room?

First, draw a box, noting the measurements on all sides. Whether you create it on a computer program or hand draw it on graph paper, having a scale floor plan is helpful for space planning. Most of the time, converting feet to inches at a 1:1 scale is easiest. For example, a living room that measures 16 feet by 10 feet would convert to a 16-by-10-inch box. Then measure any furnishings that you’ve decided to include and create a separate uniquely-sized box for each piece. If drawing by hand, one idea is to create paper furniture cutouts (to scale) so you can play with different furniture arrangements.

What should be the last element of a living room furniture layout?

This should be centered in the middle of the main seating arrangement and extend a few inches beyond the sofa and chairs (or even further) to anchor the entire room. If the room is already carpeted, adding a thicker accent rug on top is a nice way to add warmth and encourage guests to relax and stay awhile.

How far away should a sofa be from a TV?

If the living room involves a television, note that the viewing distance for a standard TV is between 8 to 12 feet maximum, and the viewing angle is no more than 30 degrees. So the main sofa, couch or sectional should be placed facing that wall.

Do floor lamps take up the entire table?

There are some floor lamp designs that come with a table attached as well. Table lamps are self-explanatory—just make sure they don’t take up the entire table top.