Design tips for decorating a living room

It is easy for you to have an impressive, blended living

room. The design of a living room often dictates the feel

and function of the space. The elements of color, texture,

materials and arrangement all play important roles in both

how the space will be used and how one will feel in the

environment.

Find inspiration home decors already in the living room

that holds special meaning. Using the color scheme of the

home decor, you can design the other elements of the

living room. For example, an inspirational home decor

could be a blue throw with yellow and green highlights.

The less prominent colors in the item (yellow and green)

can lend ideas for the color of larger items in the room.

For example, the color of the walls, furniture upholstery,

floor rugs and curtain can be taken directly from these

shades. The predominant color in the throw (blue) can

function as a contrast burst throughout the room on items

such as pillows, wall hangings, vases and lampshades.

It is important for you to choose a design style for a living

room; you can set the tone for the look and feel of the

room before selecting its components. Some popular

styles are French country, rustic cottage, a taste of

Tuscany, and romantic comfort. Each distinct style relates

to a particular color scheme and style of furnishing. For

example, a French country living room often employs a

soft palette with white as the primary color used. Soft

grays, blues and creams also play an important role.

Furnishings are inspired by antique elements that might

have been previously used as other furniture elements at

a different time.

Magazine pictures often serve as excellent resource

guides to room design. Selecting pieces based on the

furnishings, colors, and accessories in the picture will

create a room that blends together well. Items can be

difficult (and often expensive) to match perfectly;

however, by following the size, texture and feel of the

items in the picture, you can create a similar look while

keeping the design original.

Living rooms with prominent architectural features often

make designing the room easier. Using the focal point as a

basis for inspiration, you can employ the colors and

textures of the item in other elements in the room. For

example, a large marble fireplace can dictate that white

should be a prominent design color. The cold, icy feel of

the marble can either be supported by the use of other

similarly severe elements such as leather couches or glass

tables, or it can be contrasted with the use of soft

elements such as overstuffed couches and cotton rugs.