Living Room Interior Design Guidelines
Whether starting from scratch or working with existing furnishings, the following design tips will assist in creating the captivating and stylish living or family room that you envision. If you are unsure of the look you want to achieve or just need some inspiration, look at magazines, watch home design shows on TV, visit the show rooms of new homes, or hire an interior designer. When assembling all the various pieces and layers of a room, fundamental concerns to keep in mind are style, scale, hierarchy, color, and details.
Style: In broad terms, style is generally described in terms of Modern, Contemporary, Transitional, Traditional, or Eclectic. Yet, more descriptive definitions include the choice of a theme such as Traditional Georgian, Modern 60′s Retro, Contemporary Coastal, and so on. Keeping a consistent style in a room can make a strong statement about that particular style. On the other hand, mixing styles can add an interesting complexity to a room. Decide on a Style and Theme early in the design process so that you have a strong direction.
Scale: Whether furnishings are large and massive or small and petite, the entire ensemble should appear proportional, balanced, and harmonious. Typically, large bulky furnishings should have bold accents and accessories. If a room is small, very large furnishings can make a room look smaller. However, a few larger pieces are better than numerous smaller pieces. Conversely, small furnishings can become lost in a large room, especially one with high ceilings.
One design solution to address spaces with high ceilings is to use long drapes. This helps to define the scale of the room and can create a spectacular impression. If ceilings are low, stick with furniture that is lower in height to avoid making the ceiling look lower. To make a room look bigger, use mirrors. They give an illusion of more space.
If buying new furniture, it is a good idea to draw a floor plan to scale and add the furniture to the plan. This helps not only in understanding the scale, but also in whether the space will function properly. Is there sufficient space to move around, sit, and walk?
Hierarchy: Establishing hierarchy provides organization and focus to a room. When dealing with a living room, positioning the couch and chairs is of most importance. Identify the focal point of the room. This might be a beautiful view to the outside, a feature wall with a group of pictures, or a fireplace. Use the larger pieces of furniture to reinforce the focal pint. Then follow with other smaller pieces.
Use area rugs to identify and organize spaces. Rugs are good at visually tying the couch and chairs together. If your living and dining area is in the same room, a floor rug located in the living room will help delineate the two spaces. Also, a free standing screen is another good option.
Colors: Of course, color has a dramatic impact on the character of a room. Identify an inspirational piece such as a rug, fabric, or picture to determine your color palette. If your theme is coastal, you may want to incorporate shades of blue or neutrals. If your theme is traditional, strong reds, blues, or greens may be most suitable. Pale creams and beige color walls will give the impression of a more space. Warm colors such as reds and yellow can make a space appear smaller. Pale colors are typically more calming whereas strong colors are more stimulating.
When choosing a color from a swatch, go at least one shade lighter than you think you want. When the color is put in the wall it will appear more intense than when it was on the swatch.
For rooms in which you spend a lot of time, it is generally better to keep the colors neutral. Limit the use of strong colors to small areas. Stronger colors work better for rooms or areas such as a bathroom, hallway staircase, or bedroom which are in use for a limited time.
Details: A really great design concept can be ruined by clumsy execution. So, take the time to make sure the furnishings are in good shape and that the accessories blend well with the overall theme. There are times when the worn and weather look is desirable. But if it is worn out, it should be repaired, refurbished, or replaced. The accessories can be a different style than the furniture, but they should blend in terms of scale and color.
The table lamp is an important accessory because it is both sculptural and functional. Lighting alone can change the entire ambiance of a room. Make sure the size, color, and shape are appropriate for the location. In general, drum shades look more modern and conical ones look more traditional. In a traditional setting, changing the style of a lamp from traditional to modern or contemporary is one way to give a room a more updated look.
Interior designers will typically recommend using incandescent light bulbs because the light emitted is considered more conducive to creating an attractive setting. However, if you are seeking to reduce energy consumption, the compact florescent bulb is an affordable alternative to consider. The lighting quality has improved over the years and some people prefer them.
Place pictures at eye level to avoid making the ceiling look lower. Also, lower hanging pictures helps to visually unify the pictures with furniture located below – if there is any. Limit the use of family pictures in the living room. It is better to locate family pictures, trophies, diplomas in a bedroom, den, or office. If using several pictures to create a focal point, group them together as though there were an imaginary frame around them. Don’t spread them out.
Hopefully, this brief article has given you a few ideas in designing your living room. A room that is well-designed has an almost magical quality and can be inspirational. Most importantly, make sure the room reflects your style and personality.
Home Interior Design Idea – Simple Yet Effective Home Design Idea!
The latest trend in home interior design is the use of themes. Theme ideas range from sports to fabulously feminine and contemporary to eclectic. One of the most popular themes is the “Tropical Island” theme.
When using the Tropical Island theme idea, there are many directions you can go. From elegant to fun, you have a wide range of choices. You can use art work, painted murals, wall paper, textured wall paint or any combination of these materials.
Select colors that represent the tropics such as various shades of blue, dark turquoise and deep shades of green. Burlap fabric is a good choice for wall covering. For an inexpensive Tiki look, attach bamboo shades to the wall, than attach a chair rail above the shade using bamboo shafts.
Tropical plants are a must-have for the Tropical Island theme. You can use live or silk plants or sculptures of trees. Some craft and hobby stores have fake palm trees with strands of lights attached to them. Fake palm trees are fun and festive and provide a small amount of additional lighting.
Window treatments should be light and airy. Bamboo shades are a logical choice for this home interior design. Other options include brightly colored sheers or draperies made from bright, sheer fabric or an island print.
A wide range of art work is available to create any style of Tropical Island design. You might want pictures of sugar plantations or pineapple fields. Maybe you prefer oil paintings of cargo ships or fancy yachts. Perhaps your tastes are more suited for seagulls, pelicans, dolphins, turtles or other sea life. Regardless of art preferences, there is an abundance of art work depicting the beauty of the islands.
The Tropical Island home interior design can be used in nearly every room. It makes for an inviting living or family room, as it is bright and cheerful, yet relaxing. It is a calming theme for use in a bedroom and can easily be adapted for children or a nursery. Many children enjoy being surrounded by pictures of sea life and are calmed by the soothing colors.
Bathrooms are a natural setting for the Tropical Island theme. Accessories can easily be located in most retail and department stores. You can find everything from toothbrush holders to wall paper in a variety of island designs. A popular trend in bathroom designs is the use of glass bowl sinks. These are perfect for the Tropical Island theme and add exquisite beauty to the room.
Kitchens lend well to the Tropical Island theme. Bamboo kitchen tables and bar stools are quite popular. Another option is to use a picnic table or outdoor table with an umbrella. You could even go so far as to use a Tiki hut design umbrella to bring in the tropical island feeling in your dining room.
Laundry rooms and storage areas are usually boring areas within the home. Add a splash of tropical color or use a tropical island print wall paper border to breathe some life into a dull and boring space. Use wicker baskets painted in bright colors such as turquoise, orange or yellow, or paint shelves or walls in tropical shades.
The Tropical Island theme works well in the home office setting. It is inviting and friendly to guests and provides an uplifting environment in which to work. Use a variety of lush tropical plants and an aquarium or water fountain. Paint your office furniture white and add a tropical design for a fun and festive look.
Grab some home interior design magazines and catalogs and let your imagination go wild. Cut out photos of items you like and tape them to a piece of paper or foam board. Create a floor plan to help you determine what items you have room for, then go shopping.
Look for deals at your local thrift shop or visit yard or estate sales. You might be surprised at the great bargains available and you’ll probably find several unique accessories. Most importantly have fun and get creative with this home interior design idea and soon your tropical oasis will await you!
Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya
Living Room Interior Decorating
Inside your home, the living room is the busiest area. This is where your family and friends spend a lot of time, so you want to create a very comfortable and relaxing environment. In order to do this, there are certain steps you should follow.
Your living room design should depend primarily on your lifestyle and your taste. If you enjoy the warmth and comfort that a fireplace brings, you may want to rearrange your furniture around the fireplace to make it a focal point. Or if you enjoy the soothing music that comes from the piano, you can put your prized instrument at the center of your living room. Make sure, however, that the new placement of your furniture does not clutter up the room or disturb foot traffic in your house. Arranging your furniture in an off-square angle is highly recommended. Instead of placing the back of the sofa directly against the wall, you can move it a few feet forward and place a lamp or potted plant behind it.
Colors can be an inexpensive way to add warmth to a room. Depending on the colors you choose, you can inspire feelings of boldness and creativity or relaxation and serenity. Evaluate what mood you want a certain room to project. Play around with different shades and intensities of color. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
If you have a small living room and want to create an illusion of size, you can hang a mirror on one wall to generate a sense of depth. This makes the room look much more spacious than it really is.
You can also add elegance to a room by placing statues-especially those with marble finishing-on tabletops. If you don’t fancy statues, you can use lamps instead. They can keep surfaces from looking too bare.