The living room is the most popular place in a house where families come together to enjoy a television program, play games, relax after a long workweek, end their days or for the entertainment of the guests. Regardless of its purpose, any well designed living room has a comfortable sofa or sectional, a coffee table and a focal point, such as a fireplace or entertainment center, or even both. This room sees a lot of activities taking place thus this room should be designed and made into a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere. One important thing to remember while designing a living room is that you should be comfortable in the room and like the style of the room as you will be spending a lot of your time in that room.

Clean, straight line methods of furniture will help make your room look expansive. Bulky furniture makes a room look smaller and takes up a lot of space. The modern contemporary look is the latest trend and is easy to maintain as well. Lighter furniture is again another new preference of the end consumer today.

Please find below some tips:

Set the mood with colour

The colours you choose for your living room will affect how guests feel in the space. Colors can energize or relax the space, depending on how intense they are and how warm or cool they are. Plus darker shades don’t usually work well. Lighter shades enhance the look of a space and its easier to set different tones with lighter shades. It also makes a space look expansive.

Finish the Walls and Ceilings

Traditionally, living room walls receive more elaborate or formal treatment than other rooms because the room is a public space. To make it a welcoming room that expresses your personality, choose wall coverings and wall papers or treatments that reflect your style. One can go for a traditional or modern contemporary look basis the various prints and patterns available in the market today.

Choose Stylish, Comfortable Flooring

In keeping with the function of the living room as a public space, choose a floor covering that provides comfort underfoot and makes a design statement as well is usually preferred and accepted all over. We have tiles that give a marble look today and are the easiest to maintain. Even the wooden flooring tiles are gaining momentum today.

Create a Focal Point

A focal point anchors the living room and helps draw you into the space. A fireplace is a natural focal point, symbolizing hearth and home, but in most living spaces, the television is the true center of attention. To keep them from competing, pair them up. A beautiful view or a stunning piece of art can also serve as a room's focal point.

Arrange Furniture for Conversation

Living rooms are gathering spaces, so use furniture arrangement to promote conversation and interaction. Pull seating pieces away from the walls and arrange them to face each other. If you have a large living room, break it into two conversational groups for a more comfortable, intimate feeling.

Plan for Inviting Lighting

Lighting in the living room should be geared toward creating a relaxed, comfortable mood. Aim for layers of light, and position light sources so they form roughly a triangle to ensure good distribution of illumination. Table lamps that focus the light down will encourage people to sit down and relax. The overlapping arcs of light illuminate the seating instead of the upper walls, sending the message to sit. Indirect or mood lighting is also very well appreciated and makes a room look warmer.

Dress the Windows--or Not

Although heavy window treatments are mostly a thing of the past, living rooms are the place for elaboration and luxury if you're so inclined. This combination of relaxed shades and floor-to-ceiling draperies is understated yet elegant. The elegance comes from the generous use of fabric in the draperies--they're not fancy, but the thick folds and puddling ends communicate luxury. The shades block light and provide privacy when desired. With the popularity of motorized window blinds, one can enjoy such user friendly products and compliment one’s design sensibility for a modern contemporary look.

Design a Media Center

If your living room is also your family room, watching TV may be the main use of the room. Whether you have the newest model or an older one, incorporate it into the room's design so that it's a feature but not dominant. In this living room, a built in bookcase is the perfect spot to accommodate the television. Also Book-shelves hanging on the wall can add an interesting element to your media centre. The same space can be used to store DVD’s for the television.

Accessorize with Art and Collections

Living room walls come alive when you use them to display art or collections that you love. Group items for impact, and hang them low enough to relate to nearby furnishings or architecture.

Prevalent Décor Styles:

Contemporary

Eclectic

Modern

Traditional

Asian

Beach style

Craftsmen

Farmhouse

Industrial

Mediterranean

Midcentury

Rustic

Transitional

Tropical