Living Room Decorating Tips

● In interior design, a focal point is important in every room. It could be a large window or painting or an interesting art piece. In your living room, arrange your furniture around a focal point. Put your biggest piece of furniture first (like the sofa) then continue with the smaller pieces of furniture down to your accent pieces. Arrange furniture to facilitate conversation and movement. Consider traffic flow and ensure easy access to seating areas, windows, and doorways.

● Choose a color palette. Pick colors that resonate with your style—whether it’s calming neutrals, vibrant accents, or sophisticated monochromes. Harmonize wall colors, floor, upholstery, and decor.

● Consider the size of your living room when you buy the furniture. Don't buy oversized pieces if your room is not that big. It will make your room smaller and cramped. And also don't buy tall furniture if your ceiling is low, they will make the ceiling appear lower.

● Also, the type, color and style of your flooring material should be considered in relation to the design style and size of the room. If the room is quite small, do not choose flooring with big bold designs as it will make the room smaller. Consider porcelain/ceramic tile flooring, hard woods and heavy duty types for living rooms and dining rooms if you expect heavy traffic on these areas.

● Many of us Filipinos tend to buy living room furniture "sets" with a sofa, two matching side chairs, with matching coffee and side tables. Be different, don't match the couch with the side chairs. In fact, in interior design, it is more fashionable to have different styled pieces put together like a modern sofa with classic or antique side chairs and different styled tables.

● If you plan to put several picture frames on the walls. it is a good idea to group them together by theme and arrange them inside an imaginary frame. They can be the focal point of the room.

● If your living and dining area is on the same room, you may use a different flooring material on the dining area to delineate the  space from the living area. Or you may put an area rug on your dining area for definition. A free standing screen is another good option.

● Avoid using fluorescent (white) lighting in the living and dining areas. Food looks more inviting under incandescent (yellow) light  and people's complexion too look better under yellow light. But if you really like to use fluorescent light, combine both white & yellow light at the same time.

● It is ok to put family pictures on the living room but don't put so many, specially school diplomas and trophies. They are better put in the den or your bedroom.

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