by Amy Hester

Created on: November 07, 2007

The living room is where a family spends the majority of their waking hours. This is also the primary room where you entertain guests. Therefore, the dcor should reflect your family and the image you want to project to your company. Here are just a few ideas that create a warm and inviting atmosphere for you and your guests.

1. Set a budget and stick to it.
2. Make a plan and set priorities so that you can allocate funds correctly.

3. If your floor is in the budget, hard woods, Berber carpet and tile are durable and beautiful choices. Since you will be spending much of your time here, durability and ease of cleaning is very important.
4. Remember, less is more with furniture. Seating is much more important than end tables or coffee tables. Make the most of your space and don't feel every inch of the room needs to have something in it.
5. Choose a paint color that suggests warmth or comfort. Blues, greens, and neutrals such as brown, tan or gray are always good choices. You want to create a space where people feel welcome and you can relax. These color choices are proven to have that effect on the psyche.
6. Figure out what style suits you and your family best. If you have small children, you do not want to choose light colored or expensive delicate furniture or dcor.
7. Choose one wall for a focal point.
8. Use architectural elements such as molding, fireplace mantels, or shelving.
9. Use a combination of new decorative elements with personal or sentimental items to really make the room show your personal, style and history. You can use family heirlooms and pictures on the walls or flat surfaces to decorate and give the room a personal touch.
10. Choose a mixture of texture and color to create depth and dimension to the room with curtains, pillows and furniture.
11. Don't be afraid to use unexpected or unusual items to decorate. These items often make the room much more interesting. Items such as an old desk for an end table or a windowpane used as a wall hanging are unexpected and give the room character.
12. Make sure to arrange furniture so that you can have conversation as well as watch TV.
13. Use plants, candles and floral arrangements for finishing touches.
14. Place mirrors where they reflect something attractive such as a painting or lit candles not just an empty wall.

With the right paint color, furniture arrangement and personal touches, your living room can become a haven to retreat to everyday and your guests will be comfortable and feel at ease.

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