Pick a color to pull the living room design together.
Living rooms are for relaxing, entertaining and curling up with a good book. Often, living rooms are the central gathering place in the house, where everyone is drawn to sit and chat when they have a spare moment. Design your living room to reflect your taste, interests and quirks. The most important thing is that you feel at home there.
English Country
The English country style is characterized by classic, ornate wooden furniture, plush upholstery and botanical prints. This style is particularly versatile because it is meant to be slightly mismatched. Visit your local antique store for old wood pieces and floral fabrics.
For an living room, it is important to provide some solid colors to offset the prints and sculptural furniture. Pick a single color for a carpet, or paint walls and molding a solid, unifying hue.
Modern
The modern style of geometric shapes, primary colors and clean lines works well in almost any space. It is a sparse style, but that doesn't mean you can't add an unusual or unexpected item to the d cor. Start with the furniture. Look for well-known modern designers like Eames or Saarinen, and invest in a few key pieces. While pieces from these designers are pricey, you can design the entire room around them. A Saarinen tulip table, for example, is a slender and elegant piece that can function as a coffee table in a modern living room. Add a splash of color here and there with a throw rug or a bright pillow.
Living Room Library
For bookworms who spend most of their living room time nose-to-book, a bookshelf-lined living room is both attractive and functional. Displaying your book collection says a lot about your interests, and will impress your visitors, but it is also a clever design tool. Book spines are varied, colorful and engaging. Be sure to include some plush chairs and a warm throw rug. Old Oriental-style carpets work well with books, giving an intellectual, collegiate feel to the space.
Tags: living room, living room, English country