Top Tips for Decorating Your Living Room

A new living room is typically the one space that is on the top of your priority list when it comes to updating your home. From binging Netflix shows to entertaining friends and family, it is the room that sees the most action. A well-decorated living room is important to draw you into the space, make you feel comfortable, and make it trendy at the same time. 

Whether you are updating your current design or going through a renovation, here are some top tips for decorating your living room. 

Pick a color palette 

The color palette you choose will entirely depend on your unique style but needs to be determined fairly early on as it will dictate the rest of the decorating you do, and keep it purposeful. If you don’t already have one in mind, you can head to Pinterest or your local hardware store, where you can look at, or take home with you, some color swatches. This will help you experiment with different ideas, and see how they will look in your home. Remember that different colors have different hues, and may well look different in your home, depending on how much natural light you have in the room, the color of your light bulbs, the size of the room, and the other furnishings. The right color palette may be a challenge to find at first, but it is important to remember there is no right or wrong, as the color scheme right for your home will be completely subjective. 

Alternatively, if there is a style of wallpaper you like or a piece of artwork you intend to hang, you can base your color palette around that instead. 

Incorporate a focal point of the room

Where do you want people’s eyes to fall as soon as they enter the room? Some rooms may already have a focal point incorporated into their design, such as a mantlepiece, floor to ceiling windows, or a fireplace. If you do not have one or want to create a new one, it is a good idea to start thinking about what you want this to be. It can be anything that suits the theme you are trying to portray, such as a classic piece of artwork, a piano, an oversized mirror, a sculpture, or a feature wall using patterned wallpaper, such as this one. Once you have decided what the focal point or statement piece of the room is going to be, you can start to design the fixtures and furnishings that will surround it. 

Fixtures, fittings, and lighting 

The fixtures, fittings, and lighting are often neglected when designing a new living room. Although they may seem like small elements of the room, they can play a huge role in pulling the theme and the decor together at the end. If you have cupboards, light switches, lampshades, plug sockets, and other fixtures within your living room, it is important to consider if they need changing or updating to suit the theme. For example, if you currently have chrome fittings in your living room, but are changing your decor to reflect a vintage/retro vibe, then the chrome will no longer suit the room and shatter the antique illusion you are trying to create in the room, instead, you would need to consider updating them to old gold and bronze style. You also need to consider the lighting, as that can also pull the whole look together, or hinder it if it is used correctly. Lighting can be used in many ways, for example, white bright lights for a spacious, clean, and open feel, or darker for a more vintage, cozy vibe. You can also layer different lights, and use accent lights to spotlight sculptures, artwork, or family photos. 

Finishing touches 

Once you have chosen your color palette, focal point, and fixture and fitting updates, you can start to work on the finishing touches. These are things like dressing up shelves and tables, adding mood lighting, incorporating plants, experimenting with textures by adding pillows and blankets around the room, refreshing your doors and windows, adding trim around the walls, mounting artwork and photos, hanging fairy lights, and much more. This is the moment where you can shine, and use the space to express your personality and make it your own. Your living room is more than a space to watch television, it is a way to put yourself into it. It is the little, finishing touches that can make a huge difference, and hold the power to complete the look you are trying to create. 

After you have the base colors and theme for your living room, go crazy and make it your own unique and special place.