May 30, 2020, 1:07 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The living room is the place at home where you spend most of your time. How comfortable you feel there depends on various factors. One of the most important is the decor, and there are five key things you should definitely consider.
In the living room, people want to relax, spend time with family and friends, or even host parties. In short, the living room setup must meet many demands. Interior designer Odett Schumann offers five tips to achieve this.
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1. An Authentic Look
When setting up the living room, it’s advisable to start small. It’s best to purchase individual furniture pieces, small furnishings, and accessories gradually. This way, the interior can come together cohesively. The two main guiding principles in decorating, which admittedly are not always easy to combine, are coziness and functionality. These two components should be optimally connected—without sticking too closely to a template. If successful, the result is an authentic outcome that feels comfortable.
2. Contrasts
A living room setup needs contrasts. Everyone should try not to combine things too monotonously. What does that mean? If a living room, for example, is entirely white—from the couch to the cabinets to the carpet—it creates a very sterile space lacking coziness. Additionally, differences between color shades can quickly become apparent, leading to disharmony. The best way to create contrasts is by deliberately adding (colorful) accents that break up the overall look. A good arrangement thrives on harmonious contrasts.
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3. Individuality Through Colors
It’s better not to experiment too much with paint colors. Some questions should be clarified in advance: How is the light exposure? What type of flooring is installed? What is the layout of the room? These factors significantly influence the effect of a color. If the living room is too small, for example, it might be a good idea to paint only half the wall. A section or a single area can also be an option.
4. Different Areas
The living room is a place that should serve more than one purpose: It’s where people relax, exercise, paint, play music, dine, or celebrate with friends. And therein lies the problem when it comes to furnishing the living room. Items like the yoga mat, musical instrument, or easel should not always be visible. This would affect the comfort level and could make relaxing more difficult. The goal is to cleverly conceal all these items, for example, behind a room divider.
5. The Right Number of Accessories
To avoid being overwhelmed by an abundance of living room accessories, it’s important to identify your own taste and style. Additionally, you must be aware of the spatial capacities to ensure the living room setup is successful.
The motto is: Less is more. This way, favorite pieces can shine and don’t have to compete with a whole array of other accessories. It’s especially advisable to thoroughly sort through accessories. If you can’t part with some items, you can temporarily store them in the basement. After some time, you can swap out the decorations in the living room—this also brings a fresh breeze to the setup.