Decorating your living room: ideas and tips
For many, the living room is the heart of the home. How do I decorate it in style so that it suits my personality? These ideas and tips may help.
20.08.2024
iStock/Antonio_Diaz
1. Decorating your home: which furnishing style is right for me?
Your living room should express your personality and take your personal preferences into account.
Various styles of decoration can serve as inspiration. Modern and minimalist? Or classic and rustic? Here are some examples of furnishing styles for your living room:
Colour scheme for the living room
Make sure that all elements such as furniture, decoration and colours match and harmonise well. Colours create an atmosphere and can make rooms seem larger or smaller. Our tips:
Combine the shades of a colour family. This can make a room appear composed.
Add accentuating features with a decorative item in an eye-catching shade.
Use a maximum of three colour families. Otherwise, the room will look busy.
2. Decorating a large vs. small living room: what do I need to consider?
The size of the room determines the design and size of the furniture. A small living room will appear larger with sleek furniture. Larger items of furniture are suitable for spacious living rooms.
What exactly “spacious” means depends mainly on the floor plan and the net living space of the apartment. A living room measuring more than around 30 square metres is relatively large. If the kitchen is in the same room, add another 10 square metres to this.
Decorating tips for small and large living rooms
| Decorating a small living room | Decorating a large living room |
|---|---|
| Use bright colours and lots of light | Divide the room into functional areas (e.g. dining area, reading corner) |
| Sleek furniture with small feet | Different sources of lighting |
| Large mirrors to make the room appear larger | Furniture as a room divider gives structure to the room |
| Plain fabrics and items, subtle patterns and textures | Do not place furniture against a wall |
| Dark flooring and a light ceiling Subtle decoration |
Large furniture and pictures fill the space |
Examples of small and large living rooms
3. How much does it cost to furnish a living room?
It can be expensive to furnish your dream living room. What furniture do you even need for a fully furnished living room?
A living room usually includes:
Sofa
1–2 lamps
TV stand
Coffee table
A dining table with chairs (if there’s no dining room)
Decoration, accessories and pictures
How much should I expect to pay?
If you choose used furniture and furniture from discounters, you’ll pay significantly less. Depending on your situation and needs, you can furnish your living room comfortably for less than 1,000 francs.
If you opt for new furniture from a furniture store, you’re likely to pay more. Depending on the room size, furniture quality and furnishing house, you should expect to pay several thousand francs.
In premium furniture stores, you can soon pay several thousand francs for a single piece of furniture. This is because these are often designer and branded furniture with special quality features.
Save on moving costs
Moving can get expensive. Therefore, plan the moving costs in your budget at the same time.
With our moving partner topmovers, you can get up to five quotes from different moving and cleaning companies.
4. How do I position the furniture in the living room?
Create a focal point in the living room. This guides the eye and conveys a sense of composure. The sofa is often the focal point.
Combined with an armchair, a stool or floor cushions, a seating area appears more light and airy than a bulky sofa. The seats should all face each other.
Position the TV in front of a wall or to the side of a window. The ideal distance between the TV and the armchair is three to four times the screen height.
Before you buy a sofa, ask yourself the following questions:
How much space do I have?
How many people should be able to sit on the sofa?
Will you use the sofa to sit, lie down or as part of a dining area?
Do you need a sofa bed?
Good to know: a small coffee table completes the living room. Square tables should be placed between the sofa and armchairs. Without an armchair, an elongated coffee table is a better fit. Round coffee tables help to offset angular shapes.
5. Storage space: where can I keep my things?
Every living room needs storage space. Sideboards, wall-mounted lowboards or open shelves make small rooms look bigger. High shelves can be used as room dividers in large living rooms. Opaque storage furniture gives a living room a composed look.
6. How can I decorate my living room?
Accessories and decorations can give your living room a certain character. Choose decor pieces that match your style and colour scheme. Plants, pictures and works of art can be used as eye-catchers. Create a cosy atmosphere with a few candles and lamps.
Tips on decorating the living room:
Don’t hang pictures too high. This is because in the living room, you usually look at them sitting down.
If possible, hide cables and power strips behind the furniture or in cable collectors.
Curtains absorb sound. Choose a colour and material to match the furniture and carpet.
Cushions on the sofa soften hard lines and provide colour accents and variety.
Lighting in the living room
The light should brighten the room and create a pleasant atmosphere. Use table and floor lamps to spread light throughout the room. Distribute the light sources at three different heights. This makes the room more comfortable.
7. How can I save money on living room furnishings?
Think carefully about which furniture you want to dispose of and which you want to keep. When redecorating your living room, you don’t always have to start from scratch.
You don’t always have to buy items from the furniture store. Browse through various online portals for second-hand furniture.
You’ll find many advertisers, especially on social networks, giving away their furniture for free.
Compare the prices. Especially in online shops, prices are often lower than in conventional retail.
Good to know: if you buy new furniture, the value of your home contents will change. Adjust your home contents insurance accordingly. This way, you avoid being underinsured.
This article was first published on 09.08.2019
