LIFETYLE NEWS - The living room is where many a movie night is enjoyed, games are played, workouts performed, guests entertained and, thanks to technology, it can even be an occasional home office.
This room works hard – and even harder over the winter months when we prefer to cuddle up indoors rather than venture outside.
If your living room is looking more 'lived in' than you’d like, or you simply want to start decorating it from scratch, here are three essential tips to bear in mind....
Before you buy a piece of furniture for your living room, draw up a floor plan that takes into account the size of the space and the various ways in which you want to use the room.
If your kids play in the living room and you would like to be able to follow workout DVDs in the space, you may prefer to keep the floor space open. In this case, instead of one heavy coffee table in the middle of the room, opt for smaller side tables that flank the sofas and chairs.
Rugs can help make living rooms feel cosy - particularly when the floor is tiled or wooden. When looking for a rug, bear in mind that in a high traffic area, like a living room, a patterned rug doesn't show dirt as much as a plain coloured floor rug would. This is especially good to consider if you have kids or pets.
In a small living room, save space by looking for double duty furniture - pieces that serve more than one purpose.
For example, stools could be used as side tables and provide extra seating when you have guests. Storage ottomans are another favourite, because they offer a hiding place for extra blankets, DVDs and board games. However, if you can’t find a storage ottoman, take comfort in the fact that even regular ottomans are extremely versatile. You could use an ottoman to put your feet up on, as extra seating or pop a pretty tray on top and voila - you have a coffee table!
Happy decorating!
Article by Monique Warner, All4women
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