Beautify Your Living Room

 

the esd journal

Beautify Your Living Room

LIVING ROOMS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A WELCOMING HOME. AND A WELL-DECORATED AND STYLED LIVING ROOM PROVIDES A SENSE OF PEACE, RELAXATION, AND HOSPITALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON STYLE AND BEAUTY. SO WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATING A SPACE THAT SAYS ALL OF THAT WITHIN YOUR OWN HOME? I’VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF TOP-TO-BOTTOM DESIGN PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOMS I WORK WITHIN ARE THE LIVING ROOM AREAS. MOST CLIENTS HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF HOW THEY’D LIKE TO USE THAT ROOM, SO IT’S ENDLESSLY IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE PERSONALITY AND FUNCTION WITH EVERYTHING FROM DÉCOR TO FURNITURE. HERE ARE SOME KEY WAYS YOU CAN BEAUTIFY YOUR LIVING ROOM.

COLOR

CHOOSE A COLOR PALETTE FOR YOUR LIVING ROOM, AND USE IT THROUGHOUT THE SPACE. THIS CAN CREATE A COHESIVE AND HARMONIOUS LOOK. CHOOSE A DOMINANT COLOR AND USE THE OTHER COMPLEMENTARY COLORS AS ACCENTS, SPRINKLING THEM IN WITH LIGHTS, POUFS, PILLOWS, THROW BLANKETS, ART, AND MORE. OR, YOU MIGHT OPT FOR A MORE MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEME THAT CREATES CALM AND LESSENS THE PRESSURE OF SOURCING A VARIETY OF ITEMS IN DIFFERENT COLORS.

 
 

TEXTURE

TEXTURE ADDS DEPTH AND INTEREST TO A LIVING ROOM. THROUGH TEXTILES LIKE BLANKETS, THROW PILLOWS, CURTAINS, AND RUGS, YOU CAN EASILY ADD TEXTURE TO A SPACE. 

BLANKETS AND THROW PILLOWS ARE EXCELLENT WAYS TO INTRODUCE TEXTURE. CHOOSE PILLOWS WITH DIFFERENT FABRICS AND WEAVES, INCORPORATING CHUNKY KNITS AND SOFT VELVET, TO ADD INTEREST AND VARIETY TO YOUR SOFAS AND ARMCHAIRS. A COZY THROW BLANKET DRAPED OVER THE BACK OF A CHAIR CAN ADD COMPLEMENTING TEXTURE AS WELL AS A FUNCTIONAL ELEMENT TO THE SPACE.

RUGS ARE ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO ADD TEXTURE TO A DESIGN. LOOK FOR RUGS WITH INTERESTING WEAVES AND MATERIALS, LIKE SHAG OR BRAIDED WOOL, TO CREATE A SENSE OF DIMENSION AND HELP ANCHOR SEATING AREAS TO DEFINE THE SPACE.

IN ADDITION TO TEXTILES, ARCHITECTURAL TEXTURE CAN ALSO ADD WARMTH TO A LIVING ROOM. CONSIDER USING TEXTURED WALLPAPER OR PANELING ON THE WALLS, EMBRACE EXPOSED BRICK AND ORIGINAL PLASTER SURFACES. AND DON’T SHY AWAY FROM ADDRESSING THE CEILING, USING WALLPAPERS AND OTHER ELEMENTS TO DRAW THE EYE UPWARDS.

WHEN ADDING TEXTURE TO A LIVING ROOM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE OVERALL STYLE AND COLOR SCHEME OF THE SPACE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH DIFFERENT TEXTURES TO CREATE A DYNAMIC AND VISUALLY INTERESTING SPACE THAT FEELS INVITING AND ATMOSPHERIC WHILE ALSO REFLECTING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE.

 
 

LIGHTING

A VARIETY OF LIGHTING IS VITAL TO CREATING AMBIANCE AND ADDING WARMTH TO A LIVING ROOM. CONSIDER USING A MIX OF WALL LIGHTS, TABLE LAMPS, AND FLOOR LAMPS TO CREATE LAYERS OF LIGHT. MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER LIGHTS YOU CHOOSE, THEY SUIT WHAT THE ROOM WILL BE USED FOR. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE UNIQUE AND FIT ALL THE DIFFERENT DECOR STYLES, SO DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO A LITTLE OUTSIDE THE BOX.

 
 

ART AND ACCESSORIES

DISPLAYING ART AND ACCESSORIES CAN ADD PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER TO A LIVING ROOM. USE VARIOUS TABLETOPS TO SHOWCASE YOUR FAVORITE PIECES, SOURCE CUSTOM ART FROM LOCAL ARTISTS, OR DIG AROUND ANTIQUE STORES FOR VINTAGE PIECES. 

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COFFEE TABLES, END TABLES, AND EVEN BOOKSHELVES TO SHOWCASE YOUR FAVORITE PIECES. MIX AND MATCH OBJECTS, FRAMES, AND SCULPTURAL PIECES OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES TO CREATE A DYNAMIC AND VISUALLY INTERESTING DISPLAY.

ANOTHER OPTION IS TO SOURCE CUSTOM ART FROM LOCAL ARTISTS. NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY, BUT YOU'LL ALSO HAVE A ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE THAT ADDS CHARACTER TO YOUR LIVING ROOM. ALTERNATIVELY, UNIQUE PIECES CAN BE FOUND BY DIGGING AROUND ANTIQUE STORES OR FLEA MARKETS FOR VINTAGE ITEMS.

WHEN DISPLAYING ART AND ACCESSORIES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE OVERALL STYLE AND COLOR SCHEME OF THE SPACE. CHOOSE PIECES THAT COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING ELEMENTS IN THE ROOM AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH DIFFERENT STYLES AND MATERIALS.

 
 

SEATING

YOUR LIVING ROOM SHOULD BE A COMFORTABLE SPACE WHERE YOU CAN RELAX AND ENTERTAIN. GOOD FURNITURE IS OFTEN AN INVESTMENT, SO BE SURE TO SAVE A DECENT PORTION OF YOUR BUDGET FOR QUALITY, COMFORTABLE SEATING OPTIONS, LIKE A COZY SOFA OR ARMCHAIR. 

CONSIDER BOTH THE SIZE OF YOUR SPACE AS WELL AS THE OVERALL STYLE. YOU’LL WANT SEATING THAT FITS WELL IN THE ROOM, ALLOWS FOR EASY TRAFFIC FLOW, AND COMPLEMENT THE OVERALL AESTHETIC OF THE SPACE.

IF YOU HAVE A MODERN LIVING ROOM, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK FOR CLEAN-LINED SOFAS AND CHAIRS IN NEUTRAL COLORS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOUR LIVING ROOM HAS A MORE TRADITIONAL FEEL, YOU MAY WANT TO CHOOSE FURNITURE WITH MORE ORNATE DETAILING. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FUNCTIONALITY OF YOUR SEATING. IF YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN OFTEN, YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK FOR SEATING THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE A LARGER GROUP OF PEOPLE. SECTIONAL SOFAS, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN BE A GREAT OPTION FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO HOST GATHERINGS. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MORE INTIMATE SEATING ARRANGEMENT, A LOVESEAT OR SET OF ARMCHAIRS MAY BE A BETTER FIT. 

FINALLY, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE FURNITURE YOU'RE CONSIDERING. WHILE IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO OPT FOR CHEAPER OPTIONS, INVESTING IN HIGHER-QUALITY FURNITURE WILL OFTEN PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN. QUALITY FURNITURE WILL LAST LONGER AND MAINTAIN ITS COMFORT AND APPEARANCE OVER TIME. 

 
 

DECLUTTER

A CLUTTERED LIVING ROOM CAN DETRACT FROM ITS BEAUTY. KEEP THE SPACE ORGANIZED AND TIDY BY REGULARLY DECLUTTERING AND FINDING STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR ITEMS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE ON DISPLAY. SOME OF THE BEST OPTIONS ARE BOOKSHELVES THAT YOU CAN STYLE WITH NOT JUST BOOKS BUT OTHER DÉCOR PIECES, STORAGE OTTOMANS THAT HIDE ITEMS IN PLAIN SIGHT, AND DECORATIVE STORAGE BENCHES THAT DOUBLE AS EXTRA SEATING. 

EVERY AREA OF YOUR HOME IS IMPORTANT, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIVING ROOM THAT MAKES IT A FOCAL POINT FOR ALMOST EVERY ONE OF MY CLIENTS. BEAUTIFYING THE SPACE MEANS MAKING IT COMFORTABLE, INFUSING YOUR STYLE AND PERSONALITY, AND KEEPING IT A SPACE THAT SERVES ITS PURPOSE WITHOUT CLUTTER OR COMPROMISE. 

 
 
 

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InspirationElaine Santos