Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Decorate A Living Room Fit For A King

By Bill Rowland


Living rooms serve different purposes for different people. In some homes they work as the principle gathering area for family, while in others they're more of a show room, used only if company comes over. In any case, there are particular things that always appear when trying to arrange living room furniture. Check out the following tips for placing furniture in your living room.

Living Room Basics
There are some important things to keep in mind when arranging living room furniture.
Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around it. In a few rooms the focal point will be a current feature for instance a fireplace or window, and in some it can be something you bring in to the room for example a television.Utilize furniture to generate conversation areas. People must be able to comfortably talk with each other without straining their necks or shouting. If the room is very large you should create a few different conversation areas.Consider about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to walk around furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room to another.
Pull furniture away from the walls. Having all the furniture backs touching the walls is one of the biggest mistakes people make in the living room. If the pieces are closer together it will produce a more intimate setting. So long as the backs of the pieces are finished, there's no reason not to show them off.

Furniture Sizes and Placement
In regards to living room furniture, size matters.

Sofa and Chairs - These are usually the big-ticket items so it's vital that they suit the space. The most important thing to do is measure the space prior to purchasing any of these pieces. You don't want them to be too big or too small, so it's best if you draw up a floor plan ahead of time. Sketch out the room on a piece of graph paper using all the appropriate measurements. Try putting the couch and chairs in a few different spots and see the things that work best visually and in terms of leaving space to accommodate traffic flow.

Rug - Using area rugs is an effective technique to define seating areas, but the main mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that's too small. Do not forget that all of the furniture should be able to sit confortably on the carpet. If space doesn't allow it, be certain that at the very least the front legs of any large upholstered pieces are on the rug. (Small pieces like side chairs and tables ought to have all four legs on the rug.)

Coffee Table - Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often located in the center of conversation areas. If you decide to use one take into account that the height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don't want to use a coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to achieve the same look. Just be sure they're not too small. People sitting around them must be able to lean over to put down or pick up a drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches should do the trick.

Side Tables - Side tables tend to be an afterthought but they're actually important. The total amount you need will depend on how much seating you have. Everyone should be able to comfortably set down a drink without having to get up and walk over to a table. Try to have one on either side of the sofa (unless there isn't enough space - in this case people can use the coffee table), and between pairs of chairs. The key is to have enough surface space without overcrowding the room. The tables should be approximately the same height as the arm of the chair or sofa they're alongside.




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