The living room should be an inviting and comfortable place where everyone should feel good. If you don’t think your living room is as inviting, comfortable, and functional as you’d like, do not fret. It can be easy to change things up and make it just as you’d like, and the best thing is that you don’t need to spend a fortune in order to turn it into the place you always dreamed of. There are several ways to make your living room a place where you will love to hang out in and spend some quality time with your friends and family.

Comfortable sofa and armchair set

There are probably only a few things in the world that can compare to curling up on comfortable sofas under fluffy blankets and reading a book in a nice armchair. This is where you should make an important choice: do you want to buy furniture that’s elegant and stylish but not really comfy, or you’d like something that will “draw you in” and make you want to spend every “lazy Sunday afternoon” there? Still, it doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice design for comfort – there are plenty of convertible pieces you can choose that will help you save valuable space and look amazing in your living room at the same time.  Such sofas and armchairs also allow you to put people up for the night if need be.

The charm of pillows and candles

A lot of people think that it’s expensive details that will give the space the air of hospitality and comfort, but they aren’t exactly right. Sometimes, having a good taste in décor doesn’t mean you should spend a fortune to achieve the desired effect. Pillows and candles are affordable and anybody can make their rooms look like they came straight from the Arabian nights’ tale. If you want to make the atmosphere more romantic, you could try with candles. When choosing nice scented candles, check wholesale candles, because these will give both the soft glow and the nice scent. Pillows, on the other hand, are the foundation of a good-looking living room, no matter what texture or size they are. Floor pillows could be a nice alternative for people who don’t mind sitting on the floor but still want to be comfy. 

Neutral focal point

If you want your living room to become the place where you will sit with friends and spend time talking and socializing, then you should avoid making the TV a focal point of the room. You should strive to make the environment more neutral, and a fireplace could be an alternative focal point instead. What is more, you could also consider turning your plain old living room into a gallery or a small library. You don’t want the TV to distract you from hanging out with people. In case you want to have movie nights with your friends, you can install a retractable projection screen (or even make your own!) and play your favorite movies on a big screen. After you are done, simply roll it up and share your impressions about the movie. This way, you could actually save a lot of space that would otherwise be taken with a classic TV furniture set.

Coffee table philosophy

Although a small glass top coffee table looks cute, in reality, it’s not very practical, unless you are Japanese. A perfect coffee table should be aligned with the sitting height of your sofa so you could easily reach your drink, book, remote control or glasses. It will also let you kick your feet up and settle back whenever you want to just relax. It would be convenient if the table had drawers where you could put the things you often use, but you don’t want them laying around all the time – glasses, newspapers, magazines, a small blanket, even playing cards or your favorite board game.

Go for more flexibility as far as lighting is concerned. Just as you dress up in winter in multiple layers of clothing, layering your drapery over your shades for maximum light adjustment will make it more functional and enjoyable to use at different times, as well as for different activities. Drapes also provide a softer feel as opposed to the hard-edged look of Venetian blinds while adding more style. 

Lighting creates the cozy feel

Experts say that layering multiple styles of lighting in a room provides for maximum functionality and style, and table lamps look particularly cozy and elegant with a floor lamp close by. You just can not have enough subtle lamps, especially in a living room that doesn’t offer enough natural light.

Go for three types of lighting:

Go for ambient or overhead lighting, task lighting for reading, and table lamps or accent lights that will provide the finishing touches, making your living room that cozy space you’ll love. 

Lighting fixtures made from natural materials like shell, quartz, and malachite are very popular and accentuate the beauty of lighting. Another effective trick to enhance your lighting décor?  Include a high quality cozy throw of faux fur or lamb’s wool for warmth and texture under the light of a modern floor lamp or laid out in front of a crackling fireplace.

The living room is one of the central places in your home. It’s where your friends and family come together to spend pleasant moments and enjoy each other’s company. If you’re not happy with the way your living room looks at the moment, there’s no reason to sit idly and sulk. Take the matter into your hands and try to turn it into a room of your dreams. With a pinch of creativity and some dedication, you’ll be able to do wonders for your boring old living room.