You have the furniture and the pictures and other accessories to decorate the living room.  So, it shouldn’t be all that difficult, right?  Wrong.  Not decorated correctly, a living room is not going to be inviting.  Something won’t look quite right.  But with these easy tips, you can create a spacious feel to even a smaller living room.

RUG SIZE

A tiny rug does not belong in a living room.  Instead, get a big rug all your furniture will fit on, including the sofa, coffee table, end tables, etc.  At the very least, all the legs of smaller furniture should be on the rug along with the front legs of upholstered furniture. 

FURNITURE

If a sofa or chair looks good but isn’t comfortable, what’s the point in buying?  After all, a living room is suppose to be a room you can entertain in but also enjoy yourself.  Even if you have a formal living room you use for guests only, think about their comfort.  Always test out furniture before purchasing.  

 

LIGHTING

about.com says every room needs to have three types of lighting:  “ambient, task, and accent.  Ambient provides the overall illumination, task directs light to certain work areas, and accent provides drama, highlighting specific objects.”  For living rooms, scatter various lights across the room and at different levels, starting at table height up to the ceiling.  

 

FOCAL POINT

Every room should have a focal point.  Whether it’s windows, mantles, a media unit, arrange your furniture around it.  Without a focal point, everything in the living room can look disjointed. 

 

MIRRORS

A decent-sized mirror is a must have in every living room.  Why?  about.com says, “mirrors reflect light, open up spaces, and just generally make a room look better.”  Before hanging a mirror, though, think about what you want reflected.  Look at what’s across from where you want to hang the mirror.  Unlike pictures that should be hung at eye level, mirrors can be hung lower or higher based on what is to be reflected.

 

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Whether its drapes, shutters, or blinds, all windows in a living room should have some type of treatment.  They’re great decorating tools and make a space look finished.  If you’re worried about light being blocked, there are plenty of options for window treatments that allow in light.