When planning a design for a living room that is smaller in size, a special focus needs to be placed on making the most out of limited space and highlighting the room's design through the use of color.
These are some of the primary points that need to be addressed when planning a design for a smaller sized living room.
The proportions of the room. A tiny couch and a couple of rickety chairs won't make the room more expansive or bigger. These furniture choices will actually make the room appear to be unwelcoming and unfurnished. A better idea is to have around two or three upholstered furniture items that are are low in the back and arms but that are comfortable. Choose tables that have storage spaces and drawers as this will help to keep the room more organized and will add some substance to the room without robbing space.
Furniture Placement. Streamline your furniture placement by arranging it in a U shape which is typically done for entertaining. The chairs should be placed on either side of the couch and turned towards each other. The couch should be positioned against the wall. When someone wants to watch television, the chairs can easily be moved to face it. This creates a multi-functional use for the chairs which can be used for watching t.v. and for general socializing. Also, this arrangement allows for easy traffic flow and maximum usage of space.
Choosing accessories effectively. It is best not to overdo accessory items but rather use them to add visual interest and busts of color. Strategic placement of floor cushions, over sized pots, and vividly painted large canvases will add texture and bright dashes of color to the space. If you have a special collection of items, you should store them in a corner cabinet or a wall alcove.
How to use color. To liven up the room, you should choose vivid color schemes on both your fabrics and your walls. Highlight any special architectural details in your home such as an arched entryway for example. The best way to do this is to paint the inner portion of the arch with a different color than that found on the surrounding walls. If the color on your walls is lighter in tone, then add a darker colored paint on a side wall or liven up the windows by adding brightly colored curtains. Use fabrics that have patterns made up of strong colors and then solidify the color scheme by using monochrome fabrics that are in lighter colors.
5. Appropriate Lighting Arrangement. The purpose of lighting is to highlight the different shades and items of visual interest in the room. Place tall standing lamps on the tables that are on either side of the couch. Floor lamps that are similar in color and design as that of the table lamps should be placed in opposite corners. This allows the room to be filled with light while not being too bright. Make sure the lamps are all uniform in height so that there is an even amount of lighting throughout the room and for visual continuity.
How to use flooring appropriately. The primary use for the area rug is to make the room one cohesive space. Make sure that you pick an area rug that is big enough in size to encompass the whole seating area found in the room. This allows for definition of the seating area and will also create a feeling of having additional room existing outside of the seating area.
These are some of the primary points that need to be addressed when planning a design for a smaller sized living room.
The proportions of the room. A tiny couch and a couple of rickety chairs won't make the room more expansive or bigger. These furniture choices will actually make the room appear to be unwelcoming and unfurnished. A better idea is to have around two or three upholstered furniture items that are are low in the back and arms but that are comfortable. Choose tables that have storage spaces and drawers as this will help to keep the room more organized and will add some substance to the room without robbing space.
Furniture Placement. Streamline your furniture placement by arranging it in a U shape which is typically done for entertaining. The chairs should be placed on either side of the couch and turned towards each other. The couch should be positioned against the wall. When someone wants to watch television, the chairs can easily be moved to face it. This creates a multi-functional use for the chairs which can be used for watching t.v. and for general socializing. Also, this arrangement allows for easy traffic flow and maximum usage of space.
Choosing accessories effectively. It is best not to overdo accessory items but rather use them to add visual interest and busts of color. Strategic placement of floor cushions, over sized pots, and vividly painted large canvases will add texture and bright dashes of color to the space. If you have a special collection of items, you should store them in a corner cabinet or a wall alcove.
How to use color. To liven up the room, you should choose vivid color schemes on both your fabrics and your walls. Highlight any special architectural details in your home such as an arched entryway for example. The best way to do this is to paint the inner portion of the arch with a different color than that found on the surrounding walls. If the color on your walls is lighter in tone, then add a darker colored paint on a side wall or liven up the windows by adding brightly colored curtains. Use fabrics that have patterns made up of strong colors and then solidify the color scheme by using monochrome fabrics that are in lighter colors.
5. Appropriate Lighting Arrangement. The purpose of lighting is to highlight the different shades and items of visual interest in the room. Place tall standing lamps on the tables that are on either side of the couch. Floor lamps that are similar in color and design as that of the table lamps should be placed in opposite corners. This allows the room to be filled with light while not being too bright. Make sure the lamps are all uniform in height so that there is an even amount of lighting throughout the room and for visual continuity.
How to use flooring appropriately. The primary use for the area rug is to make the room one cohesive space. Make sure that you pick an area rug that is big enough in size to encompass the whole seating area found in the room. This allows for definition of the seating area and will also create a feeling of having additional room existing outside of the seating area.
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