5 Features of a Great Living Room

Living rooms are quite literally the heart of any home. This is the place we gather for movie nights, sit around and chat with friends, entertain those we love, or enjoy a quiet rainy afternoon.

Your living room is a great place to establish your personal style. After all, this is where you will bring your friends and family. When people see your space they should say “Oh yeah, this really suits them,” not “Umm…who lives here?” In other words it should show who you are and what you like.

While a living space should ultimately convey you and your family’s personal style, to be a design from paradise, it should incorporate a few key elements. Here are five features of a great living room to help you create your ideal gathering place.

#1 Comfy Furnishings

The living room is not only where you entertain guests, but it’s also where you should be able to relax and kick back. For the best experience, you should aim to find furniture that is both beautiful and comfortable. Your guests should instantly feel at ease when they sit down, and you should look forward to many a cozy night cuddled up with a good movie or a book. Look for materials that are soft but durable under wear and tear. Sofas should be deep enough for you to comfortably lounge on, but not so deep that you feel like you’re being swallowed up by the couch monster. Consider choosing chairs with cushioned seats and backs that are comfortable for long periods of time.

When selecting furniture, think of what function each piece will serve in your space. If something fits the aesthetic you like, but doesn’t seem practical for your purposes, keep looking.

#2 Varied Lighting

Living rooms are not made for just one purpose. At times they are meant to be filled with people, and at other times they are meant for peaceful family down time. Point being, there are many different activities to be done in a living room. Therefore, lighting is essential. In addition to overhead lighting, you want to have lighting for each task you plan to do in this room. For example, an avid reader might go for an arc lamp that hangs over a comfy corner of the sectional. Or, a board game lover might choose a beautiful table lamp for a well-lit gaming experience. Dimmable lights are also a great option for living rooms as they can be adjusted to fit the mood of the moment.

Think of what your space will look like at night with no natural light. From there, build your lighting plan by adding a light source for each task you wish to do in this space.

#3 Easy-to-Use Storage

Because of the multi-purpose function of a living room, there is likely to be anything from toys to movies to games that need to find a home in this space. Having aesthetically pleasing storage in your living room ensures that that “home” doesn’t end up being in the middle of the floor or on the now unusable coffee table. Achieve this with a cutely styled cube organizer, an entertainment stand with doors to hide things, or custom floor-to-ceiling cabinets.

Make your storage a statement piece in your living room by backing a bookcase with striking wallpaper, or emphasize shelving by placing it on a bold colored accent wall.

#4 Entertainment

Whatever you like to do in your downtime should find its way into your living room design. Painters should make space for an easel, board gamers should use their storage space to house their game collection (or even find a shelf to display them on like artwork), readers might even consider installing a bookcase. If you want to install a TV in your living room, but don’t necessarily want the “TV look,” consider a frame TV that becomes a beautiful piece of artwork when not in use.

If you are into games like chess, find a board with an interesting twist. It not only allows you to do something you love, but it can also serve as a conversation piece.

#5 Cozy Accessories

To give your living space that “finished” feel, add accessories that make it feel more like home. A couple of fluffy throw pillows, a warm blanket, some family photos, and fresh flowers in a vase can make a living room feel more inviting and personalized.

In the end, your space should look like a “Welcome home” and a hug feel. It should be warm, inviting, and uniquely you.

Incorporating these 5 features of a great living room will help you to create the ideal meeting place, lounging place, living place in your own home. With these five elements both you and your guests will feel right at home.

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