We’re all obsessed with bigger living rooms and larger spaces. However, having a bigger living room comes with new challenges. One of them is the difficulty in decorating a large living room.
For one, ordinary furniture pieces look out of place in an extra-large room. For instance, that modest three-seater sofa would look lost in a large living space. The same applies to medium-sized coffee tables. So you need to find a way to “back them up.” otherwise, you’d be left with gaping holes in your décor.
We’ve identified four important tips to help you select the right décor pieces and set them out to make a large living room both practical and beautiful.
1. Design the layout
The first thing you need to get right when decorating a large living room is the layout. Designing the layout before anything else will help you conquer the area, so you no longer have to be intimidated by the size.
A few things to consider here include;
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Zoning
Diving a large room into smaller functional spaces allows you to give meaning to every inch of the space. For instance, if you have a window overlooking the garden, turn it into a reading nook, complete with a small writing desk and chair. You can also demarcate a hobby area, an intimate eating area, and a gaming/entertainment section.
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Room dividers
Room dividers have the uncanny ability to break up a large space into multiple practical sections. For instance, a chic center table or coromandel screen can help you separate a bookcase from the rest of the room. Alternatively, consider a tall bookcase to create a separate study section within the larger living area.
2. Get the color and texture right
Color and texture are also critical when decorating a large living room, as the two directly impact the sense of space.
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Choose the right color
Intense colors advance or appear to come forward, while lighter colors recede or appear to disappear into the background.
For instance, painting the wall in an intense color can make it look like it’s closing down the space. You can also use an intense color on a high ceiling to make it appear a little lower. Alternatively, keep the ceiling and walls neutral and use deep colors on the furniture and accessories to add visual weight/make them appear bigger.
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Choose a texture
Glossy and polished finishes with no interruptions give a sense of continuity, making a space appear bigger than it is. On the other hand, textured finishes create a sense of depth that makes surfaces appear to advance, like deep colors.
So, you can make the room appear smaller by using textured wallpapers. Custom wall and ceiling finishes, such as paneling work, make spaces appear smaller.
3. Choose the right living room pieces
It’s also important to choose the right pieces for your room. Otherwise, it becomes incredibly difficult to tie everything together. Two pieces that can drastically reduce the visible space are built-in cabinetry and extra side tables.
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Built-in cabinetry
Built-in cabinetry, which often looks overpowering in small spaces, is excellent in large living spaces. Even better, you can have multiple such cabinets. For instance, you can install a line of cabinets over an entire feature wall – from floor to ceiling. This allows you to use up significant space while also creating valuable storage space.
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Extra side tables
Additionally, consider extra side tables to use up even more floor space. The best part is that you don’t need to use the tables regularly. As long as they’re stylish and practical, they’ll eat up significant space while providing a just-in-case solution if you have guests. Remember that box-shaped items take up the most space.
4. Go extra-large on furniture and accessories
Unfortunately, small-sized furniture and accessories can leave a large room looking cluttered and uncoordinated. So, it’s best to go big or extra big. Consider the following;
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Oversized sofa
Consider getting a custom-made sofa specially designed for your living room. This allows you and the furniture maker the chance to choose the style, fabrics, finishes, and details that complement the space best.
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An extra-large rug
The rule of thumb here is to choose a rug large enough to cover the entirety of the floor underneath your furniture. However, make sure it doesn’t get too close to the wall. Instead, you want it centered in the room such that it creates two distinct sections within the room. Make sure the rug is a deep color and rough texture to make the space under it appear small.
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Large wall art or canvas
Finally, large wall art or canvas can help draw eyeballs away from the large blank spaces. A large painting, print, or photography will do the trick. A few artists are happy to create large bespoke paintings that span the full wall area.
Summary
Decorating a large living room can be a massive challenge because traditional furniture and décor pieces easily look out of place in a vast space. So, you must think out of the box. Getting the layout right, picking the right color and texture, finding the right living room items, and going extra-large can help you overcome the challenge.
