You might say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but the living room is probably where you spend most of your time – many of us eat there, relax there, watch TV there, and socialise with guests there, making it important to have a versatile space.
Here are 10 simple steps towards creating a living room that will serve you well, whatever you want to use it for.
1. Saving Space
A lot goes on in the typical living room, so make sure you have plenty of storage space, and consider wall-mounting your TV to free up the corner where it normally stands.
2. Paperless Living
Don’t lose yourself under a mountain of paper – magazine racks, coffee tables with hidden shelves beneath, and even a simple chest of drawers can give you somewhere to hide newspapers, magazines and other paperwork.
3. Room for All
How many people do you expect to entertain at one time? A decent-sized sofa and armchairs can cater for a small group, with scatter cushions and bean bags to provide extra comfort for anyone sat on the floor.
4. Accessorise
Colourful cushions, vases, candlesticks, paintings and pictures, and so on – the list is almost endless, so don’t be afraid to express yourself.
5. Bedding Down
If you’re short on sleeping spaces in your home, a sofa bed can add yet another valuable use to your living room – just fold it out once the day is at its end, and a guest can bed down in comfort until morning.
6. Scent and Sensibility
Keep your living room smelling sweet with spray air fresheners or plug-ins, fresh cut flowers for a more natural aroma, or scented candles for an olfactory hit as evening sets in.
7. Catering for Mealtimes
Do you eat in your lounge? We’re not judging! Consider a fold-out table or lap tray to give you a stable surface for your plate, and avoid tipping gravy down the side of your sofa.
8. Coasting to Success
Give the same consideration to your other furniture, too – coasters give you somewhere to put drinks down that will avoid spillages and the dreaded ring-stain on wooden surfaces.
9. Media Magic
Depending on how many DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, CDs and so on you have in your collection, different storage solutions might suit you better; for vast collections, putting them on display can actually make them a focal point, rather than looking like you’re simply enduring their presence.
10. Ambiance Amour
Create a romantic setting with dimmed lighting, candles (on a stable surface away from any flammable wall hangings, of course) and gentle background music, and you can feel loved-up even on a night home alone.
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