Ideas Designs on How to Decorate a Living Room

 Most decorating themes are dependent on the size and shape of the room and what it is going to be used for. Living room decorating ideas are no different in that the type of decor chosen is going to be largely dependent upon the room's size and how that room features in the overall utility of the house generally. Some people's living rooms remain completely empty for much of the day and are only used during the evening when the family is at home.

Other living rooms are in use constantly with a continuous procession of small children and pet animals surging through the place. It is totally inappropriate to decorate the first kind of living room in the same way as the second kind: the adults would not appreciate small children and muddy pups clambering over an off-white three-piece suite and a home where adults live wouldn't really appreciate living in a room categorized as nursery-orientated. As with anything else, utility is the prime decider when it comes to decor - and that includes living room decorating ideas.

In a living room that has plenty of space it may be an idea to designate separate areas to create a more homely feel to the room: perhaps a home office space beneath the stair recess or a formal dining area where a straight edge to the flooring delineates the divide between carpet and hard floor, creating a more intimate dining setting. You may have a small room that is better for creating a sense of space, using lots of pastel colors on the walls and white gloss on the paintwork. Keep picture size to the minimum for the best impact on increasing the feeling of space. Keep your furnishings small and, rather than a three-seater settee, choose a two-seater to create the best impression of space. Make good use of mirrors - not just as looking glasses to reflect your image, but reflective glass that refracts light around the room. Your room will look much bigger. The best living room decorating ideas are ones which work with the lifestyle of the people living in the house being decorated.

According to London's Ideal Home Exhibition 2009, this year's living room decorating ideas are duck egg and taupe, which has been described as being relaxing and easy to live with. In their April 2009 magazine they feature a living room where the accent wall, along which the window is situated, has been decorated in a color produced by Dulux, called Sea Urchin, a shade of blue. The other walls have been painted in China Clay manufactured by The Little Greene Paint Company. The carpet is Champagne by Carmar Carpets and the rug beneath the coffee table is sold through the Next retail outlet and is part of the Vintage Damask range in teal. At the windows, the Harlequin curtains are Medina silk and combine the duck egg blue and taupe living room decorating ideas perfectly. The overall effect, from the picture featured in the April edition is quite breath taking, offering cool clean lines and a sense of lightness and freedom. The sense of relaxation in this living room decorating idea has been perfectly captured.