In order to demystify the world of interior design I will break it for you by giving you tips you can incorporate, room by room. In the next couple of weeks, I will talk about:
· Formal Living Room
· Master Bedroom
· Bathroom
· Family Room
· Formal Dining Room
· Home Office
· Kid’s Bedroom
Today I will be giving you some tips about the formal living room.
- What is a formal living room?
I would describe it as a room in your home where you host guests, share the latest gossip with your best friends over drinks or a cup of coffee, and catch up on the latest news. It’s a place where you can read a book or talk about your day with your family. It is a very versatile space, and you want to make the most of it while also making it aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable because you will be spending a lot of time in it.
- What should your living room face?
One of the first things you want to consider in this room is your focal point. If you are lucky enough to have an amazing view or a room that overlooks a lush garden, you should seriously consider making this your focal point. You can always make one if that is not the case.
The fireplace is another great feature that can be used as a focal point. If you live in a place where a functional fireplace is not required, such as Dubai, there are numerous electronic substitutes that can add a sense of warmth and cosines to your home.
Another excellent focal point could be as simple as a TV. While some people really enjoy watching television and it’s almost unimaginable for them not to have it on in the background. On the contrary, we have recently seen some modern couples avoid having a TV in their social areas for a variety of reasons.
If you love to read and this is your place to unwind, then consider floor to ceiling book shelf that can be accessorized with pieces of décor that you collected over years to create some nice memories.
My point is that you should adapt your formal living room to your daily needs and make it usable.
- Did you consider your furniture layout?
Do you enjoy entertaining and hosting dinner parties? The first step in ensuring that your guests will come back is to have enough seating space and wine, but for the purposes of this article, let’s focus on seating space.
Purchasing furniture that is neither too small nor too large will be one of the first steps. If done correctly, adding comfy chairs will not only add seating area but will also add some interest to the design of your room. If you believe that extra chairs would be inconvenient in your daily life, look for ottomans or chairs that can be easily stored when not in use. There are many very stylish chairs available that your guests will not notice are not part of the design you were going for.
- It’s all about the atmosphere…
Lighting is essential for achieving the desired atmosphere. Sitting under a spotlight will not make you feel comfortable or relaxed. So, why would you do that at home? Indirect lighting is an excellent way to add layers and highlight different areas of the room. I discussed lighting briefly in Easily avoidable design errors (vol 2). Make sure to look into it.
- Time to go big…
The size of the carpet is something that is easily overlooked, but it can have a significant impact on the appearance of your living area. The last thing you want to do is give the impression of being stranded on a small island. This is exactly what will happen if you choose a too-small carpet that will float in the middle of the room. The carpet’s minimum size should allow the front legs of the sofa and chairs surrounding it to sit comfortably on it. The rule of the larger the better applies in this case. If your budget allows for a carpet large enough to accommodate all of your furniture, go for it. Take into account that the price of carpets increases exponentially with size.
- Right size curtains are you your friend.
Curtains will make your space look finished by adding layering and softness to your walls, which is one of the obvious reasons when it comes to aesthetics.
What you may not realize is that sheer curtains can save you energy by preventing direct sunlight from entering the room. This is especially true in places like Dubai, where the sun is abundant. Another significant advantage of having curtains is improved room acoustics.
There is one precaution here, and that is the appropriate size. Check out the video from BLAK Interiors to learn more about the proper curtain size.
For the time being, I’ll leave you with a few formal living room decorating ideas. I sincerely hope you have learned something new and will be able to apply some of these suggestions.
Stay tuned for next week’s post about the master bedroom.
