Entrance

Did you ever drive up in a car and wonder where the front door is? The entrance to a house deserves special consideration. It should be set off with some very attractive feature: a bright color, a different material, a wrought iron railing, or other special fea­ture to identify it definitely as the front door.

Some kind of door bell or chime is often desir­able. Or if you want to go all out, a telephone by the front door is a good thing. When people ring the doorbell you can ask them through the phone who it is and what is wanted. Then you can make up your mind whether or not you want to open the door. When a woman and her children are often alone in the evening, this is a good safety measure, which aids in keeping out undesirables.

Many good housekeepers feel that an entrance hall is of vital importance to a complete house. If people come right into the living room with their muddy feet, with no preliminary place in which to get ready to make their entrance, a happy result is difficult.

The entrance hall should have a good durable floor that can take a beating without a murmur. A floor of quarry tile, ceramic tile, slate, stone, or mar­ble will be found very durable and can be a beautiful part of the entrance hall. Snow, mud, water, and hard usage can’t harm it.

Carpet is hardly the best material for the entrance hall floor, unless you have a special piece, different from the living room car­pet, that can be changed every two or three years, or as necessary. But to have it a part of the living room carpet can be to invite disaster.

The entrance hall should be warm and cheerful, to give the guests the proper welcome to your house. It need not be large, but should be at least 5′ wide, and perhaps 1‘ long, and of course, a larger size will be more useful. Planning a house is largely a matter of finding the best use for the space. What­ever you use for the entrance, beyond the bare minimum, is just so much space taken from some other part of the house that may need it worse.

The Living Room

Another question to ask when looking at home designs is the following: when you pass from the hall into the living room, what kind of room do you like to be in? There are almost as many types of ideas as to the size, shape, colors, and uses of the living room as there are people. Some have the idea that a living room is similar to the old-fashioned parlor that was shut up all week and was opened only on Sunday, was usually musty, and generally unused and uncomfortable.

Others go to the other extreme and think of the living room as a place where the children study, where people lounge and read the paper or the latest magazine. A living room is to be lived in, isn’t it?

If a quiet corner can be found for a writing desk or if a well-lighted alcove with an easy chair and a bookcase can be managed, the livability of the house will be greatly enhanced.

The living room must not be the principal hall­way through the house, although careless planners often make it just that. Every living room should have a point of interest aside from the television set: a fireplace, a picture window, a mural, an interest­ing grouping of elegant furniture, a music center, or something that reflects the tastes, personality, or interests of the owner.

The living room should be spacious, well-light­ed, well ventilated, with durable floors and walls that can stand hard usage and still look presentable. This fact should be kept in mind at all times in se­lecting carpets, furniture, drapes, and wall finishes.

Proper consideration to the entrance and living room will make your home stand out from other home designs.

First things first you need to access your space. If you are short on room for a large coffee table a great option is a leather upholstered ottoman coffee table. Not only is it full of elegant and contemporary style but it can also double as a seat. And some even have storage space inside.

Another great option is bunching coffee tables which are really a matching pair of small, usually square tables. You can place them apart in different areas of the room or bunch them together to create the illusion of a larger table. These versatile beauties offer so many design options for your room you’ll never tire of them.

Once you know how much space you have to work with you need to decide the style you want. Perhaps you like the classic style of traditional tables or the sleek lines of modern ones. Maybe you want a sturdy wood table or a sparkling glass one. There are so many options available today that you can mix contemporary with country chic or traditional with a modern twist.

Another thing to consider is how you are going to use your coffee table. Do you have large art books you want to display? Do you want to set drinks or food on it? Do you want to put your feet up on it? When shopping for coffee tables you need to consider these things in order to find one that is of the right height and construction.

A good way to get an idea of the many types of tables available is to shop online. It is easy, convenient and you’ll get to see a large selection without subjecting yourself to those subzero temps in the dead of winter.

Creating the ideal living room for your home isn’t difficult when you are able to choose from the best variety of furniture on the market. Glass tables can add sparkling light to an otherwise dark room while round, oval or even boomerang shaped coffee tables can add much needed curves to a rectangular room.

Shopping for new furniture should be fun and easy. One spectacular way to furnish your living room is to buy a set of matching tables. Coffee tables are often sold in groups with end tables to aid in creating a complete look in your space. If you are more creative and adventurous you can pick and choose individual pieces to create a marvelous eclectic look to your room that really shows off your personal taste.

Also don’t be afraid to imagine the possibilities of changing the look of your table with a little paint. Switching from the Victorian look to something more modern? Don’t just toss that cherry table. Try painting it a vibrant orange or green for a wonderful burst of vibrant color. Whoever said living rooms have to be neutral and boring?

There are many decorating styles that you can choose from. The most popular are traditional, country, contemporary, and transitional. You probably prefer one style over another. If you don’t think that you have a style preference, look through some magazines and catalogs to see which ones you like. While you are looking, also look to see which color schemes you like best.

When I decorate a room, I try to mix and match furniture. I do not like to purchase furniture as a suite. I believe that this makes the room look boring and unwelcoming.

For instance, if you like the traditional style, choose pieces of furniture that can build that look for you. By choosing furniture a piece at a time, you will come up with a unique look that is all your own. Use your ingenuity and imagination to create a rare look that reflects your own style. This can be easily done on a limited budget.

Let’s talk about some of the different styles:

Traditional Style

Traditional decorating covers many periods and can include furniture designs from the very elegant to those of the more simple American tradition. You can find good reproductions that look as beautiful as the hard-to-find antiques.

Accessories are more elaborate. Portraits and paintings have double matting with carved or gilded frames. Tables are made of dark wood and have a good number of accessories and floral arrangements. Lighting in the room emphasizes the warmth and richness of the furnishings.

Country Style

Country decorating is informal and cozy. It can be more romantic, like an English cottage, or spare like a Shaker farmhouse.

Antique furniture is usually handcrafted and fabrics are plaid, tweeds and prints. Accents include quilts, old toys and dried flowers.

Contemporary Style

A contemporary style is more dramatic. The furniture is usually low profile and sleek. Simplicity is key in a contemporary living room. Low furniture arrangements are used to give the room and open and uncrowded feeling.

Room accessories usually include one-of-a-kind art pieces that are dramatic and colorful. Indirect lighting is deflected from the ceiling and walls and can add to the drama of the contemporary living room.

Transitional Style

Transitional decorating brings furnishings from different eras together. This creates a room with a unique flair and is usually not limited to just one style. Window treatments are more simple, and often, window treatments are not used at all. Furniture is larger and has simple, straight lines to compliment smaller pieces that have soft, curved lines.

Room accessories are limited to just a few outstanding pieces. Use recessed lighting to keep it low key and to feature architectural fixtures for drama.

Whether you are decorating the entire living room, or simply just sprucing it up, you need to start with a plan. Get your inspiration from books and magazines and by visiting different high-end furniture stores. Decide on your basic style and color scheme and go for it!

In order to get your wall art to make a good impression you should find out the right way to hang it. Individual pieces should be placed so the center of the piece is at eye level, not so that the bottoms or tops of the frames are even as many folks believe. If you have several piece to use on one wall, try arranging them on the floor first to come up with the right placement. The Asian decorating style can be enhanced by Colorful Asian prints that you should plan to display in bamboo, bright red or black lacquer frames.

Decorative pillows can instill a soft touch to your room décor. If you were under the impression that pillows were only for the bedroom, think again, they can bring a beautiful touch to any room including the living room, dining room, bathroom and kitchen. Pillows can be enjoyed in the bathroom and kitchen, imagine putting them in chairs, on the hamper or on shelves. In the bedroom, stack them at the head of the bed. To insert an Asian home decorating aura to your den or living room, adding pillows to your chairs or sofa can really work wonders. Buying pillows that are done in rich red and gold silks will help add an interesting touch.

You might also accessorize with an Asian room divider, Asian figurines in glass domes, and an indoor water fountain to build the ambiance of Asian influence. You ought to decorate with pieces that coordinate with your general design theme. Steer away from being too unique or the appearance you are attempting can become diluted.

When browsing for knick knacks for your theme be sure to purchase ones that round out your décor and also reflect your unique style. To round out your Asian home decorating, stick with accessories that have a colorful and exotic look. Arranging asian style figures on black lacquer shelves or placing simple flower arrangements in unassuming vases or bowls. This is where you can really make the design theme your own by acquiring items that mirror your unique style. You don’t need to spend a lot of dough to get fantastic items, try uncovering a consignment store near you and you’ll be surprised at the fantastic decorative items you can find for very little money.

Adding interest to your Asian decorating style with Asian folding screens, kimonos and painted lacquer accessories can help add appeal. Be certain you have a plan for what styles of decor to locate and stay with that plan. Also, keep in mind the sizes you are looking for that will help fill out the room decor. If you go with these rules, you’ll be able to accessorize your home with accessories that work perfect with each other.

If you want to create a formal living room in your own abode, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the basics of designing one. Make sure that you know what are the pieces of furniture to be used and the kind of fabric that will match these furniture pieces. And since they are all about symmetry of design, make sure that you know the proper placing of decors and other decorations to complete the space. The following distinguishing factors may help you to achieve the living room that will match your taste, style, and preference.

1. Formal yet friendly. Make sure that it contains elements of the traditional formal living that comes with more comfortable furniture pieces. To make the living room friendlier, try to use color combinations that are bright. Vivid colors such as blue, red, and khaki may do this.

2. Highlighting the positive. Make sure that the decors and furniture pieces are highlighted carefully. For example, a fireplace should be that main accent of the wall. This should be complemented with furnishings or draperies that come in rich and heavy trimmed fabrics.

3. Complementing colors. Color is very important. They should come in vivid colors to accentuate major furniture pieces. To make it more interesting and unique, try to intersect the colors to achieve an eye-catching effect.

Here’s a step-by-step procedure to create a simple formal living room.

1. Place the sofa where the fireplace and television are both viewed.

2. Near the fireplace, place a pair of chairs flanks that come in shades of green.

3. Place an antique grandfather clock on one corner and a tall plant in one corner to balance it.

4. Put a stepstool beside one of the chairs that will serves as a side table.

5. Place a floor lamp beside the other chair to balance the stepstool.

6. On the mantel, place at least two model ships to exude an intense statement.

7. Use vibrant window treatments and make sure that these colors are above an average person’s eye level.

With some minor changes and a lot of inspiration, you can turn your living room into something you’d actually live in! Here are some possible uses and design tips to help you get started:

Home office - Home Office means different things to different people. It could be a place to pay bills and file paperwork, or a place for kids to do homework, or you may run a business out of your home. Whatever your definition, focus your design around the function of the room.

• Provide a clear surface on which to work. It’s easy for a desk or table to become overrun with “stuff” resulting in no place to actually work. Tight for space? How about a table that drops down from the wall when needed (like a Murphy bed)?
• Add a comfortable desk chair that is adjustable and doesn’t squeak (trust me on this one!). If your room has carpet, consider a plastic floor protector to help you wheel around easier.
• Add lots of hidden storage, but be sure to clearly label your storage units so you know where to find things.
• Lighting is key! You will need overhead as well as good task lighting. If there is no overhead light, add some up-lighting.
• Select functional accessories that add personality by do not cutter the space. But be careful not to make it too institutional - it’s still your home, after all!
• Keep the palate light and bright to inspire energy.
• Minimize and secure cords as much as possible. Go wireless wherever possible.

Library - Love to read? Have a great book collection? Turn your living room into a cozy place to curl up with a good book! It’s like having your own coffee house.

• Add lots of shelving. Rather than just adding bookcases, consider customized bookshelves built around a window to create a window box seat. Not only will you get additional storage, you’ll add a wonderful focal point to the room.
• Instead of a traditional sofa or loveseat, opt for two or three comfy club chairs (depending on space). Gather those chairs around a round glass-top coffee table with a wood shelf underneath to show off some of your favorite coffee table books.
• Provide task lighting for each reading chair. Pharmacy lamps are great for this. Make sure you also have enough lighting to see the books on the shelves.
• As a library, you can comfortably use darker paint to create warmth.
• Accessories - add a warm toned rug, soft throw blankets, and pepper the walls with black and white photography to create a coffee house feel.

Toy room - A toy room can be a great compromise between parents and kids in the eternal battle of toy clutter!

• Opt for shelving with attractive bins that can hide the clutter inside them, and allow for pick-up in less than 5 minutes. Open storage looks messy, even when the room is picked up. Avoid a collection of mis-matched toy organizers - they look tacky!
• Make sure the room is comfortable for grown ups as well as kids -add a comfortable chair or loveseat.
• Add a kid-sized table and chairs. Tip: put a machine washable rug underneath to survive craft time!
• Keep the room bright with cheerful colors, but avoid “cutesy” - save that for their bedrooms.
• If your kids enjoy movies, add a TV and DVD player.
• Set clear rules for cleanup, and stick to them!

Media room - Do you enjoy watching movies? Create your own movie theater in the comfort of your own home!

• Add French or pocket doors and light-blocking shades to create a dark, quiet environment on demand.
• Add a large screen TV with surround sound.
• Add a dimmer switch to better control the lighting. Add task lighting to allow for discreet multi-tasking while watching a movie.
• Depending on how many people will be watching the movies, add enough comfortable seating. Tip: use two loveseats angled at the corners of the room opposite the TV, and toss a couple bean bag chairs behind them for extra seating when necessary.
• For decor, just frame a few of your favorite movie posters and hang them on the walls.
• Don’t forget the DVD organizer and a handy remote control holder!

Mud Room -Depending on the layout of your house, you could convert your living room into an oversized “holding cell” to accommodate coats, back packs, shoes, calendars, cleaning supplies, dog bed, pet food and much more. You get the idea!

• Assign a “locker” to each family member (don’t forget the family pet). Lockers provide vertical storage that makes good use of the space while hiding its cluttered contents. It’s a great storage solution for jackets, purses, backpacks, and more. Lockers can be wood or metal, whichever you prefer.
• Add wall hooks for guest coats, umbrellas, etc.
• Add a shoe rack for wet or dirty shoes. Place vinyl placemats underneath to protect your floor.
• Create a mail box for each member of the family to control mail flow.
• Add a credenza or file cabinet to file all that mysterious paperwork that wanders into the house.
• Create a message center by painting a wall (or part of a wall) with magnetic and/or chalkboard paint. Make it “pop” by adding a large empty gold leaf frame!
• Add a colorful rug. Rather than get one large rug, opt for a couple smaller rugs that are machine washable.
• How about a small drop-leaf table and a couple chairs for small projects, or for putting boots on?

Stag room - What can I say? If you must have one, here are some ideas:

• Add a pool table, and a dart board (if room).
• Include a bar and some bar stools.
• Opt for a darker paint color that won’t show wear and tear.
• Display your favorite neon bar sign, deer head, or other prized possession.
• Add a juke box in the corner if you like.
• Don’t forget the traditional “dogs playing poker” print!

Overwhelmed? Call an Interior Re-designer in your area. They specialize in making rooms work using what you already have. It’s a very cost-effective way to bring new life to your old room.

It’s time to start actually living in your “living” room!

Painting your living room with more artistic ways can change the look and feel of your home completely. Newer techniques can make your rooms more stylish and modern with the correct use of colors. The best way of giving your rooms a dramatic effect is by using decorative paint styles. Decorative painting can simply refer to creating a wallpaper look by painting designs through a stencil. Stenciling the wall with your chosen designs can give the impression of a fake wallpaper effect. Wall stencils can also be used to design other rooms such as creating cartoons for your kids’ bedrooms. Other effects can also be produced on the walls by simply using a sponge instead of a normal painting brush. A sponge or even a rag can be used to dab the paint to give it a more different and textured look.

Another kind of effect which is very popular with interior decoration ideas, especially for the living room is the ‘light’ effect. Playing with the colors so that it gives the wall the impression of a shadow, or a shimmery effect can be done at ease by using two different shades for the coats. For a shadowy look, start painting one side of the wall with a dark shade then continue painting the rest of the wall with a shade lighter and so on. The shimmery effect can be achieved by painting the wall with a dark or bright color of your choice, preferably 3-4 coats and then giving a last coat with a golden shimmer or bronze shimmer paint. This lends luster to the wall. The latest popular trend in decorative painting for the living rooms is creating a fake effect of popularly known as faux effect. You can achieve a brick like appearance to your walls or even a marble look. More creatively, the paint can be used to produce an artificial, yet real looking leathery or suede textures that give a very sophisticated look to living rooms. Now-a-days there are kinds of paints that do not require any extra effort, but produce the effects of the textured look. These paints, although cost a bit on the higher side than the normal paints, create the basic texture look on which you can create more elaborate effects.

The only thing that one must keep in mind before going for decorative paints is the color scheme. Only painting the rooms cannot produce the desired effect, proper co-ordination and accessorizing, the right furniture, lampshades and other such things are necessary.

• Is the seat and arm height right for you?

• Does the sofa cushion sag when you get off?

• Are the seams straight and well-finished?

Fabrics

Find out the fabrics available and in what price categories. Ask about the durability and how easily they can be cleaned. Generally, each fabric has its cleaning code label that tells how to deal with spots and stains.

Frame

In my opinion, a good construction uses hand-tied coiled springs as it minimizes the chances of warping. But other constructions are also good. The key thing to look for is stability. Sofas should be heavy and solid. You should also make sure that the frame is kiln-dried hardwood that’s both glued and screwed together.

Cushion

Traditionally, cushions were filled with down which requires constant plumping. Now, a filling of synthetic and down is common with the benefit of ensure the shape is retained longer compared to all-down filling. It’s also softer than all synthetic filling. Cushions for the seat should be 24 to 26 inches deep though you should be prepared to offer a pillow to tall people to rest their back.

Costing

The best deals come from going semi-custom. This means choosing a sofa from a large retailer, catalog or the internet, then pick a fabric from one of several offered by the manufacturer in a range of prices. With custom sofas, you get furniture tailored exactly to your dimensions and finishes, and you can use any fabric you like. However, they cost more than off-the-shelf pieces and generally take much longer to deliver, sometimes up to several months.

Is your living room a place for show, only used when you’re entertaining? Living rooms, as their name suggests, should not only reflect who you are to the outside world, but they should also be lived in. Here are some suggestions for making your living room warm and inviting for guests as well as functional and comfortable for family members.

If your living room is large, divide it into smaller areas through the positioning of furniture. You want the “conversation pit” to be cozy — a couch and loveseat and a couple of chairs around a large cocktail table will seat many people, yet they’ll all be able to hear what the others are saying. A great place for family meetings as well as for entertaining. Make sure all seats are within reach of a table — someplace to set down those drinks and chips!

Face the couch to an architectural focal point, such as a fireplace or a large window that looks out to your garden or the city lights. If you don’t have an architectural element to work with, create one by hanging large pictures or a mural on a wall. This allows people to admire the art and it’s safer than hanging anything heavy right above the seating (especially in areas prone to earthquakes!). Hang cloth wall hangings or small pictures on the wall behind the couch. Don’t, however, hang a mirror where people will see their reflection all the time. Not everyone is thrilled by his or her image.

If you divide your living room in two or three seating and/or dining areas, use rugs to define the conversation grouping, another under the dining table, and another to set off a place to exhibit the Buddha you brought back from Thailand or a wall of bookcases that not only hold your books but also display your collection of antique toys or Bennington pottery. Area rugs work well over waxed hardwood floors or neutral, wall-to-wall Berber-style carpeting.

A decorative room divider, such as Japanese shoji screens, can be used to separate a large room into a living room and a TV room. In a smaller place, face the couch to a wall unit that holds the television — it’s sure to become a favorite gathering spot for the family.

The days of covering the “good” living room furniture with plastic are over! Leather or the new microfiber fabrics are easy to clean, look great, and can survive guests, kids, and pets. If the furniture is in neutral colors, add colorful decorative pillows. Remember to keep a few throw blankets around to stay cozy on cool nights.

If your living room walls are painted in light neutral shades, you’ll be able to change the furniture and decorative touches easily. Other ways to change the look of your living room are by adding tall plants or a silk tree, a permanent flower arrangement in a basket or tall vase, or even a fountain and small pond in a large enough space.

Don’t forget about lighting! Floor lamps, especially in dark corners, can brighten large areas, while table lamps can provide good light for your favorite reading/knitting chair. An arrangement of candles on the mantelpiece or a table adds ambiance to your living room. Now go ahead, live in your living room!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/live-in-your-living-room-36976.html

These antique pieces are generally very expensive and not affordable by the common man. They are found in exquisite shops dealing with only such ancient, vintage furniture. They are found in up- market locations, in big cities. They are also mushrooming in holiday spots, as tourists tend to look around for such antiques. They are also sold on online sites. The buyer can look for discounts and auctions at various sites. It is advised that the buyer should ensure the genuineness of the sites and the seller.

An antique hunting cabinet, among other pieces of antique furniture, serves as an example of exemplary skill. They are generally hand carved furniture with special features, such as relief-carved, floating panel doors. It can also have a typically hand-carved top pediment and engraved griffin center supports.

It is very important that proper care is taken of these antiques, as they are generally made of wood. It is advisable to get them polished regularly. It should be ensured that such antique furniture is kept away from the vagaries of weather such as excess heat and dampness.

Antique furniture is a feast for the eyes and makes the majestic grandeur of the yesteryears come alive. It gives a living room a traditional and unique look. Antique living room furniture scores over others, in its individual style, appeal and style. It has a never-ending appeal and aesthetic value. They come in a wide array of designs and finishes, such as dark brown, cinnamon lacquer and mahogany lacquer.