Here Are Ten Ideas for Decorating Big Living Rooms (And Other Unusual Places, Too!)

Homes and Houses

A I've gotten a few requests for advice on how to style a larger living room since I shared my tricks for decorating a smaller one. There are problems that arise from the abundance of space in a large living room, just as there are problems that arise from the lack of space in a smaller one. Larger-than-average rooms are great for hosting large gatherings, but they're not always conducive to quiet reflection or practical use.

How, then, can one make the most of a sizable family room? These guidelines or inspiration pictures could be used for a wide range of room sizes and shapes, as it can be challenging to furnish a room even if it is not particularly large because of its shape or because of its connection to another space.

Here are ten of my go-to suggestions for enhancing a spacious living area.

Dr. Sarah Richardson

Create boundaries 1

There is usually only room for one main seating area and no other furniture groupings in a small room. It may take some ingenuity to make the most of a space that is neither square nor rectangular in shape, but a spacious room can serve many more purposes than just a large sitting area. Create distinct areas with specific purposes in mind, such as a conversation area (or two or three) ), a dining area, a place to read, a media area, a spot for a desk, console, or game table

2 Visually separate the areas

You can add ceiling beams, half walls or pillars (like what is between my own family room and kitchen) to divide up a room visually in semi-permanent ways, or for flexibility you might be able to use area rugs, curtains, wallpaper and furniture placement to help create visually cozy spaces within the larger room Some examples of furniture that can be used to create visual separation between rooms include sofas with their backs to one another, chaise lounges, large benches, tables placed between chairs, attractive screens, large lamps, curtains, and plants.

Make the space feel secure 3.

Too many small pieces in a great room or large living area without at least a couple of anchoring pieces can make the space feel chaotic. The room can be anchored by a sectional, large sofa, large coffee table, or even built-in bookcases or a piano, allowing for the occasional tucking away of smaller accent pieces.

Typical House

Scale is important

Do your high ceilings create an unbalanced space? Choose taller pieces of furniture if at all possible. All-too-tall ceilings will make your short furniture look even smaller. Think about getting a taller bookcase or armoire, as well as chairs and sofas with higher backs.

The New York City design firm, Chango & Co.

Innovative illumination

The way a room looks and feels can be altered by the lighting, regardless of its size. Daytime lighting is less of an issue in a spacious room because there are more windows. However, nobody likes feeling uneasy in the night because of shadows and dark places. Add lamps if you have a single light fixture in the middle of the ceiling. Having too many lamps in a room can make it look cluttered, so here are some guidelines for effectively lighting a large space.

Select two or three larger lamps with matching shades and supplement them with slimmer, less obtrusive metal floor and wall lamps to evenly illuminate the space. Incorporating a few glass lamps into the mix can also help avoid an overload. If it is inconvenient to plug a lamp cord into a wall, an outlet can be installed into the floor near the edge of a conversation area.

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Ms. Sarah Richardson

Five, make good use of color  

Walls in a large room can be broken up with color and pattern to make the space feel cozier, and a tall wall can be made to feel shorter. Paint the wall above and below the molding to create wainscoting in varying neutral or color tones. One easy way to make a room feel more intimate with a high ceiling. Ceilings that are two or more shades darker than the walls (or paneling) create an interesting visual effect. If you do this, you may find that the room feels less spacious and more intimate.

Space-saving seating solutions from BHG for any size or shape of room.

Six, double down

If you can't find an appropriate coffee table for your living room, place two identical square or rectangle ottomans next to one another to create a larger surface area for conversation. Alternatively, you can use an ottoman as a coffee table and place two ottomans on either side. As an alternative to a single large rug, you could use two smaller ones to demarcate two distinct conversation zones.

The combination of four chairs and a round ottoman or table makes a more striking statement than just two chairs. While a sofa can visually divide a room, chairs can be arranged to create a pleasant flow and conversation area even in small or oddly shaped rooms with difficult traffic patterns. The effect will be amplified whenever possible by using multiples of things, such as double footstools, two lamps, or sets of chairs.

BHG

7 Don't "hug" the walls too much. ’

In a large room, I find it odd when the sofa is pushed back against one wall and the chairs are pushed back against the other wall, leaving an awkward amount of empty space in the middle of the room. It's a sign that the furniture in your room is too far apart if you have to yell across the room to the person who is sitting directly across from you.

A fireplace or other focal point in a larger room allows for more comfortable conversation areas with pulled out seating from the walls. Don't be afraid of white walls; they can be used to hang art, hold buffets and consoles, hold benches and bookcases, or create more intimate seating arrangements for conversations.

BHG

Eight, daring succeeds where timidity fails

It is appropriate for artwork and accents in a spacious room to be more substantial and eye-catching. Framed artwork and photographs should be displayed in sizes larger than the standard 810 or 57 inch format. Instead of dispersing your artwork throughout the room, go ahead and group together some of the larger pieces to create a more striking effect.

Cozying up the room with layers

It may not be the size of the room but rather the lack of layers that is to blame if it is too cold, sounds echoes, or lacks a cozy atmosphere. Hang curtains, place baskets for added texture and sound absorption, and decorate with throw pillows, area rugs (you can even layer two rugs for more texture), and other accessories to make the space cozier. In order to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, it's important to furnish the room with plenty of upholstered furniture.

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Repetition, No. 10

More furniture and decorative items can make a large room feel disorganized. Repetition is a great way to unify the look of a large room full of furniture. Making use of chairs and decorative pillows with a similar fabric pattern or color scheme can help draw the eye around the room.

What about the space you use for entertaining guests and family? My own has presented a number of challenges due to its small size, high ceiling, and proximity to the foyer and dining area. Plenty of obstacles

Do you struggle to find a suitable arrangement for your living room furnishings? What other helpful advice can you give?

Additional posts that will be of use to you when decorating:

There Is One Piece of Home Decoration You Probably Need More of

Decorating Tips for an Open-Concept Living Room and Entryway

Step-by-Step Decorating Advice: The One Item You Can't Live Without

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