Understanding the Living Roomโs Interior Makeup
Here is a common instance, which occurs on an almost daily basis. An average working girl invites her coworkers to dinner at her place. As they enter the humble abode, they are immediately shown to the living room where they are greeted with warm plush sofas, an inviting ambiance and a hostess providing refreshments and entertainment.
Many designers will most likely agree that the living room is the first area where guests are shown. It is the physical embodiment of the saying โFirst impressions lastโ.
A typical living room has a couch or sofa, a coffee table, armchairs, bookcases, an occasional side table, adequate lighting, media units and various accessories.
However, in this day and age, the living room interior design has grown to be either minimal in design or constrained with the areas. More often than not, they are integrated in other areas to save space. They also tend to become more monotonous in terms of arrangement, color and layout. This is true, especially in high rise apartments where the space is designed minimally.
What are some ideal living room interior design layouts that you can use in both large and small spaces? What are the designerโs tricks in achieving that sensational look?
Principle of Practicality
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Just because it is the first room guests are treated to, that does not instantly mean that the cost of construction should be either too costly or too low-priced. As a matter of fact, the living room interior design must play first and foremost to the budget of the homeowner and the practicality of the interior. When designers say practicality of the interior, it means the overall size and maintenance of the area.
If the living room area is too small, it does not make sense if the homeowner places two large couches and a coffee table.ย That will only take up too much space and potentially make the area look and feel a lot smaller than it already is. The same applies if the area is too big and only small couches are used. That will make the area look bare and almost a waste of space. Maintaining the area will also most likely take too much time.
The second factor to consider is budget. Many homeowners spend a lot for costly furniture and accessories that they can use in decorating their living room. As much as possible, designers insist that homeowners stick to the intended budget. One may never know how incredible a living room may turn out even if it is only constructed or renovated on a limited budget.
Small Space, Big Potential
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Yes, there are some living room interior design problems that cover this age old question. Does a small space equate to small living room? This is entirely half true. While having a small space gives that probable outcome, it is how the design is executed. As stated earlier, filling a small area with too many pieces can result to it becoming smaller than it already is, but filling it with the proper pieces will often produce a much better impact.
If you have a small space, you can opt for either a two seater couch or an L-shape couch. A two-seater couch gives you the opportunity to incorporate two armchairs for the classic approach. However, if the area is too constrained, an L-shape couch is more preferable, since it can give you more space to move.ย If you need a coffee table, you can opt for an ottoman that you can also use as a table, chair and storage. In modern design, having furniture, which also performs another function is another way to save space.
If you want to create an illusion of a bigger space, hang a mirror. You can also paint the living room walls white. That way, attention will be on the furniture, instead of the walls. It also gives the room a cooling effect. If you want a more natural feel, consider having potted plants. Their presence will allow fresh air to circulate in the interiors.
Integrated Units
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Designers often say that the best living room interior design solution is to integrate storage and media units in the overall interior. Because most free standing cabinets are quite cumbersome, many modern designers feel that it is both space saving and practical to integrate or have a built-in storage unit in the interiorโs walls. You can say the same for wall mounted ledges and cabinets. Aside from hiding the illusion of a hidden storage, it also allows the living room to be streamlined, thereby preventing the existence of clutter.
Colors and Tones
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Many homeowners hear designers say the words โpantoneโ or โcolor of the yearโ. Pantone is a company, which produces a wide variety of colors that you can use in interiors, graphics and fashion. Annually, they release what is declared as the color of the year. For most designers, incorporating the color of the year in the living room interior design indicates how progressive and open the homeowner when it comes to change and style. For the year 2016, the pantone colors of the year are rose quartz and serenity blue.
Homeowners can incorporate rose quartz and serenity blue in many variants, such as flower arrangements, throw pillows, frames, vases or even in upholstered statement armchairs.
Getting the Right Professionals
As much as possible, designers encourage homeowners to seek professional help in executing their living room interior design. Professionals, such as carpenters and contractors, can provide proper layouting, furniture allocation and costing. There are also those who can provide the same services, but it is best to hire the services of those who have been in the business for more than 5 years.
These tips and tricks are the simplest ones many designers suggest to homeowners when it comes to designing their living room. The most important tip to consider is to evoke the sense of hospitality and warmth to guests when they enter the living room itself.