How to Plan and Decorate Your Living Room

Whether you dream of a full redesign or are seeking a quick fix, revamping your living room’s design holds the potential for an array of benefits that can go beyond a magazine-worthy setup. A good living room design that aligns with your lifestyle will not only serve as a stylish and efficient space, but it can act as a haven that reduces stress, reenergizes your mind and body, and improves social connections. All it takes is a bit of planning and a hefty dose of inspiration!

Ask the Big Question

Before you start your living room design journey, ask yourself this: “How do I want to spend my time in this room?” This key question will help you determine not only what the room needs to function for, but also the ideal feeling that the space should evoke. By keeping a living room’s functional needs in mind, you are influencing every other design decision to come. This simple question can be the difference between a mediocre design and the living room of your dreams.

Forget One Size Fits All

A few staples to consider for your living room: seating, tables, lighting, wall decorations—Yes, that’s it. We know it’s a vague list but living room designs are not one size fits all. While a spacious living room may benefit from the ample size and additional seating that a sectional sofa provides, a smaller dwelling may feel more comfortable with a cosy armchair and a couple footstools. Once you have identified what your living room needs to function for, what you should put into your space will become more apparent.

The 4 Secrets to a Perfect Living Room Setup

You can take some of the guesswork out of arranging your living room furniture using a few simple questions:

Measurements: Where can furniture fit, and will it fit?

Natural Pathways: Is there anything obstructing walkways? Can someone easily maneuver in, out, and around the living room without disrupting others?

Focal Point: What is your living room’s intended focal point? (fireplace, television, window etc.)

Purpose: What is your living room’s main purpose? Social space? Consider staggering seating around a central point, such as a coffee table.  Prefer to catch up on your favorite shows? Try to make sure that the majority or all seats in the room have a good view of the television—a method that also works well for homes that want to direct focus to a picture window. Crave more relaxation? Embrace unused corner space by adding a chaise longue and small end table.