There’s an art to decorating a living room. While many of us understand the importance of choosing the right sized sofa or choosing colours that don’t clash, other small details can be overlooked. Below are just some of the common living room interior design blunders that people make.
Choosing an oversized TV
Many of us buy the biggest TV we can afford. Because bigger is better, right? Wrong. If you’ve only got a tiny living room, a large TV could end up looking a little ridiculous and you won’t be able to take in the whole screen at once, which could make watching films and TV shows a little disorientating. Instead of going as big as you can, try to choose a size that suits the size of the room. Measure the distance from the sofa to where you want to put your TV – you can then use this handy TV size guide to work out the best sized TV.
Choosing an undersized rug
Tiny bath-mat-sized rugs can look out of place in most living rooms. In fact, they can often draw attention to the bareness of the floor. You’re much better off choosing a large rug. Larger rugs are much more effective at creating a sense of comfort and they can have practical benefits – if you often have dinner in front of the TV, a large rug could help to catch any food debris, helping to preserve your floor.
Hanging pictures incorrectly
When it comes to hanging pictures such as painting and photos, many people hang them at the wrong height or don’t evenly space them enough. Ideally, the centre of pictures should be at eye height. A popular location to put such pictures is above the sofa. When hanging multiple pictures up on a wall, make sure that they are all evenly spaced out. It’s worth measuring the space between pictures. With large pictures, consider using a spirit level to get them straight.
Letting your TV be the only focal point
Your TV shouldn’t dominate the room. If there are no other standout features to compete with your TV, it could leave the room feeling a bit bland. Try to introduce other focal points to give your living room more personality. You could throw in some unusual or high-end furniture to grab people’s attention – creatively-shaped shelving units and luxury sofas could be an option. Alternatively, you could hang up a dramatic painting or add an ornate light fitting. Bursts of colour and unusual shapes are good for providing a focal point.
Not thinking pet-friendly/kid-friendly
If you’ve got kids or pets, you don’t want to decorate your living room with delicate items or items that are hard to clean. It’s much more sensible to choose furnishings that can handle a lot of hard use and that won’t get ruined by food debris or mud. Choose sofa materials like leather and microfiber and consider opting for short-pile carpet or laminate wood. Avoid placing fragile ornaments in your living room unless they’re on a shelf out of reach.
