Designing a living room is one of the most important stages
when we decide to renovate a house. The reason is simple: we will spend most of
our time at home in the living room, so it is extremely important to have a
space that suits our taste, so we can feel at home.
From furniture to decorations, lighting, and materials used
on the floor and walls, every element is important, so we need to pay attention
to the details.
The compartmentalization and design of this room start from
the interests and needs of each family, but one thing is certain: the living
room is the most frequently visited room in the house, so the design process
must include this distinct characteristic.
Furniture pieces needed in the living room
The centerpiece of a living room is the sofa. And it’s not
just a cliché from movies: you will spend a lot of time here, so this piece of
furniture must not only be attractive but also comfortable.
On the sofa, you will spend many evenings watching your
favorite movies, relax at the end of the day, or chat with friends. The most
important criteria for choosing a sofa are size, shape, and comfort.
If you have more space or an open living room, you can opt
for a sectional sofa.
In front of the sofa, you cannot miss the coffee table. If
you have limited space, you can opt for a coffee table with a glass top or even
a foldable one.
One of the main points of interest in the living room is the
television, so you need to have a TV stand. This also provides additional
storage space, so you can put TV accessories, a few discreet decorations, or
even set up a small library, a very trendy element lately.
The bar is the ideal element of connection when we talk
about an open living room. It can be made from the load-bearing walls
structure, in which case it is important to make sure it is in line with the
design style. This can be easily achieved with the help of accessories and
furniture pieces such as high bar stools or glass shelves and supports. You can
also opt for a bar table that you can integrate into the living room,
especially if you don’t have an open living room.
If you want a more intimate atmosphere, considering that we
live in a country where temperatures drop below 0 degrees Celsius, the best
idea is to have a fireplace in the living room. The fireplace fits any living
room style, and in recent years, more and more models can be found on the
market, so it is almost impossible not to find a model that fits your project.
Most of the time, the fireplace is a point of attraction in
the room, which is why it should have a dedicated wall or corner that has only
an aesthetic role.
The living room can also host a workspace. You can easily
transform a free corner into a simple, practical office that is in harmony with
the rest of the room’s elements. It doesn’t have to be part of the set with the
library, coffee table, shelves, or chairs. On the contrary, you can even
purchase a desk in a different color than the rest of the living room, so it
will represent a splash of color in the main room of your home.
You can also opt for a laptop table or a multifunctional
coffee table that can instantly become a workspace. These are ideal, especially
if you have a small living room.
Ideal decorations for the living room
In addition to furniture, decorations are essential for
personalizing a living room.
One good example of these is using wallpaper. This
represents a very affordable, easy, and quick way to decorate walls and can
offer that special element that enhances the focal points in the living room.
Choose a pattern that harmoniously blends and creates a unified space with furniture
and be careful not to unnecessarily clutter the space. A complicated pattern or
a more demanding color will limit options for furniture.
Another element that significantly contributes to changing
the decor of a room is a set of curtains or drapes. There are numerous modern
materials and patterns to choose from that aesthetically match the furniture.
Likewise, a rug can completely change the appearance of the
living room and provide extra comfort. Countless models are available on the
market, so you will surely have plenty to choose from. The rug must be large
enough for the furniture pieces in that area to be placed on it, or its sides
should not exceed the area delimited by the sofa and armchairs or sectional.
If you want to avoid monotony, you can opt for other
decorative objects such as paintings, vases, or mirrors.
Lighting in the living room can often be a challenge because
the living room is usually the largest room in the house. There are several
factors to consider when choosing lighting elements, such as how much natural
light enters the living room and what activities take place there. If you will
use the living room as a workspace, you need table lamps or floor lamps, and
their advantage is that they will easily create a welcoming atmosphere.
Regarding accent lighting, it emphasizes details such as
shelves, paintings, or other decorative objects. It is recommended to opt for
luminous wall fixtures that are practical but also aesthetic. In this way, you
can also complement with decorative candles, which will give you a feeling of
well-being and will create a welcoming atmosphere in your living room.
Using ceramic tiles in the living room
Most of us don’t think about the living room when we talk
about laying tiles, but it is important to remember that floor tiles can bring,
in addition to practical advantages, a chic look to the room.
If you are afraid that your living room may look like a
kitchen when you install floor tiles, it is good to know that there are
currently a series of models that perfectly imitate the warm look of natural
solid wood or even that of real stone.
Especially if you live in a warm climate, you can use tile
flooring in the living room to achieve more thermal comfort, and the space will
feel cooler. The tiles will be pleasant to the touch, but will not retain heat,
as wooden floors do.
Other benefits of floor tiles for the living room floor
include longevity, compatibility with pets, easy cleaning of stains (unlike
carpet), and virtually maintenance-free, unlike other materials such as natural
wood or stone.
Regarding the degree of wear, it is important to consider
the PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) classification, which measures the traffic
resistance of ceramic tiles.
Thus, there are five wear resistance indices, and the floor tiles
are chosen according to the degree of wear to which they will be subjected,
that is, the space where they will be installed:
· PEI I – for areas with light traffic (bathroom, bedroom)
· PEI II – for areas with moderate traffic
· PEI III – for residential areas with heavy traffic
(kitchens, hallways, stairs, terraces, pavements in yards, alleys)
· PEI IV – for commercial areas with medium traffic, such as
offices or even hotel rooms
· PEI V – for commercial areas with heavy traffic, such as
shops, pedestrian roads in cities, etc.
For this reason, it is extremely important to pay attention
to the materials we use, and we must be sure that they are the most suitable
for our home.