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Like most colonials, our home has a family room and a living room. And like most homeowners, we spend a lot more time in our family room than our living room. In fact, my 7 year old still gets confused when I use the term “living” room. It’s now just known as the “red” room in our house.

With some minor changes and a lot of inspiration, you can turn your living room into something you’d actually live in! Here are some possible uses and design tips to help you get started:

Home office – Home Office means different things to different people. It could be a place to pay bills and file paperwork, or a place for kids to do homework, or you may run a business out of your home. Whatever your definition, focus your design around the function of the room.

Provide a clear surface on which to work. It’s easy for a desk or table to become overrun with “stuff” resulting in no place to actually work. Tight for space? How about a table that drops down from the wall when needed (like a Murphy bed)? Add a comfortable desk chair that is adjustable and doesn’t squeak (trust me on this one!). If your room has carpet, consider a plastic floor protector to help you wheel around easier. Add lots of hidden storage, but be sure to clearly label your storage units so you know where to find things. Lighting is key! You will need overhead as well as good task lighting. If there is no overhead light, add some up-lighting. Select functional accessories that add personality by do not cutter the space. But be careful not to make it too institutional – it’s still your home, after all! Keep the palate light and bright to inspire energy. Minimize and secure cords as much as possible. Go wireless wherever possible.
Library – Love to read? Have a great book collection? Turn your living room into a cozy place to curl up with a good book! It’s like having your own coffee house.

Add lots of shelving. Rather than just adding bookcases, consider customized bookshelves built around a window to create a window box seat. Not only will you get additional storage, you’ll add a wonderful focal point to the room. Instead of a traditional sofa or loveseat, opt for two or three comfy club chairs (depending on space). Gather those chairs around a round glass-top coffee table with a wood shelf underneath to show off some of your favorite coffee table books. Provide task lighting for each reading chair. Pharmacy lamps are great for this. Make sure you also have enough lighting to see the books on the shelves. As a library, you can comfortably use darker paint to create warmth. Accessories – add a warm toned rug, soft throw blankets, and pepper the walls with black and white photography to create a coffee house feel.
Toy room – A toy room can be a great compromise between parents and kids in the eternal battle of toy clutter!

Opt for shelving with attractive bins that can hide the clutter inside them, and allow for pick-up in less than 5 minutes. Open storage looks messy, even when the room is picked up. Avoid a collection of mis-matched toy organizers – they look tacky! Make sure the room is comfortable for grown ups as well as kids -add a comfortable chair or loveseat. Add a kid-sized table and chairs. Tip: put a machine washable rug underneath to survive craft time! Keep the room bright with cheerful colors, but avoid “cutesy” – save that for their bedrooms. If your kids enjoy movies, add a TV and DVD player. Set clear rules for cleanup, and stick to them!
Media room – Do you enjoy watching movies? Create your own movie theater in the comfort of your own home!

Add French or pocket doors and light-blocking shades to create a dark, quiet environment on demand. Add a large screen TV with surround sound. Add a dimmer switch to better control the lighting. Add task lighting to allow for discreet multi-tasking while watching a movie. Depending on how many people will be watching the movies, add enough comfortable seating. Tip: use two loveseats angled at the corners of the room opposite the TV, and toss a couple bean bag chairs behind them for extra seating when necessary. For decor, just frame a few of your favorite movie posters and hang them on the walls. Don’t forget the DVD organizer and a handy remote control holder!
Mud Room -Depending on the layout of your house, you could convert your living room into an oversized “holding cell” to accommodate coats, back packs, shoes, calendars, cleaning supplies, dog bed, pet food and much more. You get the idea!

Assign a “locker” to each family member (don’t forget the family pet). Lockers provide vertical storage that makes good use of the space while hiding its cluttered contents. It’s a great storage solution for jackets, purses, backpacks, and more. Lockers can be wood or metal, whichever you prefer. Add wall hooks for guest coats, umbrellas, etc. Add a shoe rack for wet or dirty shoes. Place vinyl placemats underneath to protect your floor. Create a mail box for each member of the family to control mail flow. Add a credenza or file cabinet to file all that mysterious paperwork that wanders into the house. Create a message center by painting a wall (or part of a wall) with magnetic and/or chalkboard paint. Make it “pop” by adding a large empty gold leaf frame! Add a colorful rug. Rather than get one large rug, opt for a couple smaller rugs that are machine washable. How about a small drop-leaf table and a couple chairs for small projects, or for putting boots on?
Stag room – What can I say? If you must have one, here are some ideas:

Add a pool table, and a dart board (if room). Include a bar and some bar stools. Opt for a darker paint color that won’t show wear and tear. Display your favorite neon bar sign, deer head, or other prized possession. Add a juke box in the corner if you like. Don’t forget the traditional “dogs playing poker” print!
Overwhelmed? Call an Interior Re-designer in your area. They specialize in making rooms work using what you already have. It’s a very cost-effective way to bring new life to your old room.

It’s time to start actually living in your “living” room!

By: Susan J Smith

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Your living room does double duty. It invites and entertains guests. It is a place for watching television, reading the morning newspaper, or just lounging around after a hard day’s work. This room is the most important room in the house.

Many times people feel overwhelmed when decorating this room. Accessorizing this room does not have to be a hassle or a burden. With just a few key elements, your room can be beautiful. Try using items like rugs, greenery, and priceless family photos.

Rugs add a sense of elegance to any room. They add accent coloring to an area that is void of color. They have the ability to tie a room together. Place rugs under your coffee table, in front of the fireplace, or in the entry way of your living room.

Greenery is a must have in any living room. Whether it’s real or fake, greenery brings a room to life and breathes in nature to a stuffy room. Any greenery will do: small Fichus trees or bamboo, silk flowers, or fresh-cut floral arrangements. If using flowers, select blossoms that accent your color theme.

Use family photos to add warmth and a sense of family to your living room. Our families are dear to us, so surrounding ourselves with their photos can transform a room from drab to fab in an instant. Photo frame collages are an excellent way to cover a bare wall. You can also place photos on coffee tables, side tables, and on your fireplace mantle. This will keep your loved ones near and help you have a truly fabulous living room.

Accessorizing your living room does not have to be a burden. Using rugs, greenery, and priceless family photos is a great way to add style and warmth to the room.

By: Aaron McLain

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The key to getting in optimal shape does not depend on whether or not you have a gym membership. As a matter of fact I would save my money and invest more time and energy into valuable information that will get you results like this particular article. If you have read my articles you know how I believe in being efficient when it comes to working out. You are better to hit a more intense workout that is short rather than dragging it out leisurely over an hour! Take a look at the following body weight workout that you can do right in the comfort of your living room.

1. Prone Hip Thrusts: Now this is a bodyweight exercise routine that is a sure thing to eliminate your midsection. To promote fat-loss and weight-loss you must intensify your current regimen. This is the perfect exercise to perform in order to do just that. To begin, get into a normal upright push-up position (prone to the ground). Make your body firm and rigid. Your hands should be right at about shoulder width distance apart. Next you will want to thrust both of your knees up to your chest while keeping your hands firm to the ground. Once you thrust your knees up to your chest then immediately extend them (or thrust them) back into the extended position. Continue to fluently and rapidly thrust your knees back and forth for the desired number of reps. You will quickly see what kind of intensity I am talking about after you do 15 or 20 of these in a row!

2. Push-Ups With Alternating Knee Thrusts: This body strength fitness drill begins just like the prone hip thrust. Get into the same exact starting position. From here you will want to execute a normal push-up. Once you go to the ground and come back up you will thrust one leg up to your chest and immediately extend it back to where you are in the upright push-up position. Immediately execute a subsequent push-up and do the same thing with the opposite leg. Your core and upper-body will be under constant tension when performing this dynamic push-up. Attempt 5 to 10 on each side!

By: Brandon Richey

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Sectional furniture is considered to be one of the best choices and is loved by people preferring to change their furniture style frequently. Changing the furniture frequently is not a practical option, so having sectional furniture in the living room facilitates incorporating change as and when you wish. However, considering other furniture existing in the living room and the color of the wall is essential, so that it suits the décor of the home.

Sectional furniture comes in several varieties, and the furniture shops truly provide diverse options fitting almost all sizes of rooms. The popular varieties in sectionals that are easily obtainable are leather sectionals, slipcover sectionals, sofa sectional sleepers, sectional sofas and home theater recliners. There is galore of choices in sectionals available in an array of configurations, colors and styles.

Furniture sets including ottomans assist in resolving storage problems to a very great extent. However, the advantage is besides being sectional furniture set; the ottomans offer comfortable seating as well. Ottomans also offer a stylish look, rather than being a simple functional piece of furniture. Homes receiving frequent guests can go for acquisitions such as sectional couches as it helps in making any family room into a spare guest room using sectional couches.

Sectional furniture is useful in accenting interior designs and is considered to be a versatile piece for a living room that can be moved into individual segments and can be put to use differently. The benefit of sectional furniture is that they can be purchased and used comfortably. The size of sectionals does not pose a problem as long as you adore the make and style of the furniture. So, calculate the number of sections that can fit in your room and accommodate accordingly. There is no doubt that sectionals create an inviting ambiance and is more exciting as it features moving. They work in the most crucial places at your home and help in extending a warm invitation to your guests to stay and relax for a while.

Sectionals are elegantly crafted and offer a lasting appearance. They can come in choices as full grain leather or rich fabrics offering a special feel. The sectional furniture also offers the possibilities of concealing reclining sections and thereby provides more dimensions in the room space. The market has vast showrooms and stores offering sectionals as furniture with attractive financing as well. There are countless reasons to buy sectionals including simply stretching out and relaxing as well.

By: Sarah R Green

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Take the flower wall paper down; it’s time to start really thinking about living schemes. Most people never even thinking about living room, because the colors are already chosen for them with the furniture that they like, and the home that they have purchased. Think about how many people buy furniture unstained, or uncovered, and at the same time, purchases a home that has yet to be painted on the inside. Right, not too many people do that, so we must focus on the obvious truth about living room color schemes, much of it is already chosen for us.

The best way to approach a schemes is think about what you can do, not what you can not do. This means to look at whatever you have the ability to change, and change it as much as possible to match some type of living room color scheme.

A color scheme is simply a coordinated effort amongst all the colors in the room to create a group, or scheme that is noticeable from a distance. Think about the stripes on a traditional prison uniform, the color scheme of that is easily identifiable as black, and white. Some rooms have single color schemes like brown, or red, or white. While most have multiple color schemes.

One of the most iconic schemes of all time is the hunting lodge scheme. This is a deep brown color that most of the furniture comes out to be, matched with a dark green wall paper. The brown and green is then matched with natural wood accents from handmade furniture. This color scheme works well together because the green and brown contrast one and other to a point that is pleasing to the eye.

While not all will want to go with the hunting lodge color scheme, there are plenty of other living room color schemes that one can utilize. One popular living room color scheme is that of grey on the walls, and tan on the furniture. The grey helps to keep the furniture the focal point, while the tan keeps the eyes from becoming too overwhelmed with color, this is a good example of a modest living room color scheme.

Regardless of the schemes that you choose to implement, the important thing is that you become cognizant of what living room color schemes are, and how to create one that works for you.

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By: Shrinivas Vaidya

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Whether you call it drapes or curtains- it really doesn’t matter. It always depends on who you are going to talk to. Most homeowners call the fabric hanging on their windows “curtains” while professionals in the home building industry call it “drapes”.

When selecting drapes for your living room, you must first identify the function you would want to have.

For example, they could be used as the focal point of your window decoration or treatment. Remember that they are more ornate, in comparison to curtains. Thus they naturally have more elaborate designs and different fabric texture that demonstrate their primary purpose – decoration. However, your options of them should not only focus on their capacity to contribute to the decoration in the living room.

They could also provide purposes other than to ornate. Say, they could help manipulate the light that enters the living room, keep the warmth or coldness inside it or increase the room’s privacy. Selecting the wrong fabric, however, could affect the over-all appearance of them while failing to provide several necessary functions.

Another criterion for selecting them is the type of fabric you are most comfortable working with. Apart from your personal taste, the fabric selection also depends on whether you want them to stand out from the rest of the living room or to blend with the rest of the room as well as the location of the windows. Fabrics are available in an array of types but not all fabrics could be used as drapes. So be discriminative in choosing.

In the selection of them, it is also crucial that you know the length and the width of the window to which they will be used. As a rule of thumb, you must first obtain the measurements of the windows. Then compare this with the length of them you are planning to install. For example, full length drapes should have the length and width that would cover the entire area of the window, from the top edge of the window and perhaps touching the floor. Apron drapes, however, would only require a modest allowance to the fabric to give it a dramatic flow.

Once you are done with the selection of the type of them, the fabric and the exact functions you want them to achieve, you should be able to hang them properly to the windows. Otherwise, the drape treatment would not be effective and may as well ruin the appearance of the entire living room.

By: Albert Lee

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