Get A New Look For Your Living Room

The living room is arguably the most important room in the house. It is where the family go to relax, spend time together and watch TV. It is also the most used room in the house and for this reason needs to be practical. However, being practical does not mean it can’t be stylish too and here are a few hints, tips and advice to give your living room a whole new look.

Planning your room and choosing colour schemes

If you are planning to give the whole room a makeover then now is the time to change the colour palette if you so desire. Decide on your new colour scheme and remember to got go too bright and bold if you only have a small room.

Small rooms can feature bold colours but more as an accent, that way the room does not start to feel claustrophobic and walled in. Your sofa and furniture are the main pieces of this room and if you are looking to change the colour then you might want to consider new furniture covers. These are a more cost effective option than buying a new sofa and also give you the opportunity to choose your own fabric and designs.

Colour highlights can also be added by a few well chosen scatter cushions or by buying a new brightly coloured throw or rug. Colour creates the feel and ambience of a room and so you should choose a colour which best represents your character and mood.

In a family home you might want to consider the use of mid tones such as blues or greens which can help have a calming influence. Whites, creams and neutrals are a good choice for a contemporary and modern home and can also make a room feel peaceful.

De-clutter and create space

A cluttered home leads to stress and can be a nightmare to clean, especially if you lead a very busy life. There are many neat and clever storage tricks out there and lots of smart ideas when it comes to storage. Bookcases are a great place to store all those books, magazines and ornaments you might like to display.

Take a look around the room, is there any unused space which could be utilised for storage such as under the stair well. Any unwanted magazines and papers can be sent to the recycling centre and tidy away any toys, games consoles and CD’s to create a smooth flowing space where possible.

Lighting

Lighting is another important area. Lighting sets the ambience and mood of a room. It can help you to feel relaxed or it can be bright and practical for working or reading or cooking for instance. Think about the size of your room and what its main use is. If the living room is simply for relaxing then it is great to tone it down, add warmth and interest. Coloured light bulbs, directional lighting or uplights are all ideas which you might like to try.

If you have any tips or advice on deigning or improving your home then please feel free to comment in the box below.

Featured images:

• Image courtesy of Cheap photo stock

Nat Slater has first hand experience of recently redecorating her living room, opting to enhance her old Ikea sofa with some new loose covers.