As we begin a new year, this is the perfect time to renovate interior design; mainly that of the living room intended to welcome guests and have a good time with the family. Discover in this post some tips for renovating the decor of your living room.
1. Don’t be afraid of change
It is in the nature of many people to fear change; this is valid in interior decoration. If you would like to renovate the decoration of your living room, you will have to dare to change and be open to new possibilities. For example, you could replace your simple curtain panels with more refined ones, stretching from the ceiling to the floor and having large folds when opened.
2. Showcase windows
Another idea for renovating the living room would be to highlight the windows; mainly if they play the role of focal point in the room. For example, you could remove the curtains completely or change the way you dress your windows.
3. Use mirrors for decoration
Most designers will tell you that the best way to visually enlarge a room would be to have mirrors here and there. But aside from this fact, mirrors are particularly decorative accessories. You could place a large one with a nice frame on a living room wall or group a few medium sized ones together.
4. Change sofa
The sofa doesn’t just have to be comfortable. It must be sufficiently presentable and of good quality. If yours needs renovation (change of cover for example), now is the time. In the event that you could really invest in another one, that would be great.
5. Give importance to the vertical axis
Regardless of the size of your living room and the height of your ceiling, it is important to draw attention to the vertical axis. You could put up long curtains, buy large floor lamps, or place long mirrors on musts, for example.
6. Make sure the furniture fits the room
If the room is wide, choose a large sofa. The goal is to adapt the furniture (as well as their arrangement) to the shape and size of the room.
7. Choosing the right dining table
Obviously we are talking about a living room open to the dining room. If your living room is not very spacious, prefer tables which do not take up too much space and which would make the room more of a dining room than a living room.
8. Select the right color palette
A monochrome living room that is white or decorated only with neutral colors would totally change the look with a few nice accent colors. It would make the room happier at the same time.
9. Do not choose only imposing furniture
The ideal would be to have solid, practical and “light” furniture. However, if you had to place a large bookcase or an imposing sideboard in the living room, keep the rest light and not bulky.
10. Change coffee table
It would be nice to replace your traditional coffee table with an ottoman or a vintage suitcase for example.
11. Adopt the right lighting
Lighting is one of the keys to a warm and welcoming living room. Electrical work being the first to be implemented during a renovation, it is necessary to think about the overall layout of your room even before it is repaired. In collaboration with your electrician, draw up a detailed plan of the living room that will precisely indicate the location of the electrical outlets, the ceiling light and the wall lights. It will be more difficult to add elements once the walls are plastered and painted … This step must therefore be carried out carefully. You will be able to multiply the sources of lighting according to the natural light of the room while adapting them to the different spaces of the living room (TV area, relaxation, etc.).
12. The renovation of the walls
A dilapidated living room and faded walls do not really make you want to lounge there or receive your entourage. Before embarking on decoration work, check the condition of your walls: they must be healthy, free from humidity and well insulated, these three elements constituting the basis of a pleasant room to live in everyday. Do not hesitate to call a professional to deal with your various problems; Once the walls have been rehabilitated, treated against moisture and properly plastered, you can move on to the second step, which is the installation of the wall covering. First, observe if your living room attracts light: you will thus be fixed on the materials to be favored and the colors to be adopted. If your room is not very bright, avoid dark shades, matt paints (which do not reflect light), thick wall coverings (such as wall fabrics, dark wood paneling, etc.) or even wallpapers with complex patterns. A single watchword: lightness! If you’re having trouble making up your mind, go for smooth wallswhite or light beige, which you can always repaint or transform afterwards.
13. Choose a suitable floor covering
Walls and ceilings are not the only architectural elements that influence the brightness of rooms. The flooring must also be chosen with care, depending on the natural light but also on your lifestyle. Prefer tiling or vitrified parquet – easier to maintain and brighter – than carpet or linoleum. Beyond the budget, wear and tear and daily cleaning will be the two determining elements in your choice.
14. A smart layout
The layout is the final touch of a renovation. In the living room, the most important step is to delimit the spaces in order to articulate the room while facilitating circulation. To avoid overloading your living room, avoid the accumulation of furniture: the more cluttered a room, the smaller and darker it seems! So choose your furniture according to the surface of your living room, preferably low to allow more outside light. As for lighting , choose several light sources of medium intensity rather than a single light that is too strong: your living room will immediately appear warmer and more convivial!
15. Optimize space
It is difficult to change the decor and atmosphere if the living room is overcrowded. To save space, it is better to get rid of heavy and bulky furniture . The freedom of movement in the room will thus be improved and there will be more space for decoration. In a small living room , the cushions replace chairs while a buffet will take the place of the cabinet. The more spacious the room, the more comfortable, calming and pleasant it will be.
16. Use paint or wallpaper
To renovate the living room without demolishing everything, you need to apply wallpaper or paint to the wall. The creation of color contrasts brings a touch of energy and dynamism to the interior decoration. Only which wall to paint? Decorating professionals advise covering the back wall of the living room. The number of colors allowed is limited to three to avoid overloading the decoration.
17. Add colorful accessories
To break the sobriety of the floor and the ceiling, nothing beats colorful accessories: Cushions, Carpets, Lampshade, Drapes. The color chart offers a wide range of colors: Most vivid (red or fuchsia), In discreet tones (white, light gray, black), Passing through the pastel colors (yellow or pale green).
18. Hang a mirror on the wall
A mirror attached to the wall will visually increase the area of the living room . If possible, it is better to choose an XXL mirror from the ceiling to the floor.
19. Illuminate the living room
To illuminate the periphery of the living room with false ceilings, it is possible to integrate illuminated cornices. They diffuse a subdued light, thus adding a touch of romanticism to the room.
20. Renovate the furniture
Painting is a good option to bring freshness to the remaining furniture. Just choose a color and paint: the living room table, the chairs, storage furniture.
You also have to think about restoring the shine to the old sofa . How to modernize a sofa with worn fabric? By hiding small flaws under a removable and washable cover . If the leather is cracked, cover the sofa with a plaid. To benefit from a pleasantly soft seat , we multiply the multicolored cushions. Professionals also rely on the shape of the furniture to give the living room a facelift: A straight sofa to match ottomans or an armchair, A round or original shaped coffee table, A corner cabinet.
