Your living room is the place where you entertain guests, watch movies with your family, or relax at the end of a long day. Making this room more inviting can make people who come to your home feel comfortable and welcomed. Put these tips into use to make your living room a warm and peaceful place to entertain.
1. Use soft, adjustable lighting.
Lighting the room with lamps instead of overhead lights allows you to add several sources of diffuse lighting. Put in dimmer switches so that you can change the brightness when you want. Have everything bright for daytime parties, and dim when it’s time to cuddle up and watch TV.
2. Choose your furniture carefully.
Having too many pieces of furniture in a room can make it feel over-packed and cluttered. Instead, place a few carefully chosen pieces like sofas, loveseats, and perhaps an easy chair in spots that allow people to move through the room easily. When you need extra places to sit, a few floor cushions and folding chairs can do the trick.
3. Add some color.
Whether you gravitate toward pastels in shades of yellow and blue, or deep greens and burgundies, color can add a lot of personality to the room. Add color through paint, throw rugs, pillows, and accessories.
4. Put in a rug to pull the room together.
An area rug cushions your feet, adds warmth, and is an opportunity to bring more color into the room. Choose a rug that communicates your personality and style. Most experts say to stay away from white and light colors, however. These can pick up stains easily and may be hard to clean.
5. Add pillows for texture and comfort.
Pillows in a few sizes and prints are both functional and fun. Use a mix of firm and soft, large and small. You can even swap out pillow covers a few times a year to change your decor with the seasons.
6. Put some art and snapshots on the walls.
A few well-chosen pieces of art add character to your space. They don’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of quality framed art prints available for reasonable prices. You can even create simple works of art yourself or add small works from local artists.
You should also pick out a few photos of people you love to add to your walls. These help remind you of important relationships and make your home feel more inviting.
7. Use scent.
Scented candles, potpourri, or scented-oil wicks can add a scent that makes you feel warm and cared for as soon as you step into the room. Vanilla is soothing and relaxing. Cinnamon is a scent that many people associate with pleasurable things like baked goods.
Many people choose to make their own custom scents by combining two or more. For instance, you can match a spice-scented candle with a floral room spray. You can also switch up your room scents throughout the year to add a bit of seasonal cheer. The pretty scents will be the first thing people notice when they enter your home.
8. Remove clutter.
Having too many papers, boxes, and knickknacks around can make your place feel stressful and unkempt. Do a sweep of the room each day to remove things that do not belong there.
When it comes to displaying collectibles, less is often more. Consider putting out collections of three to five items at a time and storing the rest. This allows you to continually change the look of your room while also giving your possessions a chance to shine.
9. Add large mirrors.
Hanging a couple of mirrors on the wall makes your space look bigger and brighter. The reflected light is diffuse and pleasant, especially if you reflect natural light from a nearby window.
Adding these small, personal touches makes it possible to have an inviting, stylish room with a look that is all your own. Experiment with different colors and accents. Change the room layout periodically to make things feel fresh and new again. The combination of nice scents, eye-pleasing art, and exciting color can come together to make a place that you look forward to returning to every day.
Sources
- https://www.bustle.com/articles/165672-13-ways-to-make-your-living-room-more-inviting
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/news/a51081/how-to-make-your-place-smell-amazing/
