The ideal contemporary living room should be both functional and fashionable. You want it to be a comfortable place for your family to get together and entertain guests, among other things. At the same time, you also want it to make a statement about who you are. With that in mind, here are five tips for designing a contemporary living room.
Consider the room’s function: Before you start getting ideas about how to decorate your living room, you really need to think about the room’s primary function. Will this mainly be a place for entertaining guests? Will it be used for reading? Watching TV? Thinking about these things ahead of time will help you make decisions going forward.
Consider your space: You need to think about how much room you have to work with. If you’re working with a tight space, you obviously don’t want an extremely large couch overpowering the room. You want it to be a comfortable place where everyone can sit and walk easily. If you don’t have a lot of room to work with, you might consider using shelves or drawers to keep extra items from taking up too much space.
Don’t go overboard on colors: If you use too many bright colors to decorate, it can come across as too busy or flamboyant. At the same time, strictly using neutral colors can make your living room seem bland and boring. You want to find the right balance. Use brighter colors for the handful of items you want your guests to pay attention to. This might be your couch or an interesting nicknack. For the rest of the room, stick with neutral colors. In general, you want to make sure all of the living room’s colors complement each other.
Using furniture: A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have enough places for the whole family to sit along with a few extra spots for guests. You’ll also want to take lighting into consideration so you’ll know where to sit when you’re reading. In terms of style, you want to choose furniture that complements the walls and floors. If you’re working primarily with earth tones, try using brown or beige colors. Black, white, and grey color schemes can also help create a classy, sophisticated look.
Making it all come together: It’s the little things that can really help tie everything together. A simple rug can really make your living room floor pop. A coffee table can prove to be a functional accessory while also blending with the rest of your furniture. Likewise, a table lamp can not only provide extra lighting but can also be a sleek centerpiece in its own right.
The most important thing to remember when designing your living room is to make sure every item complements the rest of the room. You don’t want anything to clash with your overall design. Following these tips, you can create a living room that’s both functional and stylish.