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Key Points
- Matching furniture sets and too-small rugs are living room cliches to avoid.
- Arrange seating for easy conversation, not just TV viewing.
- Keep the living room free of clutter and cords.
For many interior designers, living room eyesores like dated brick fireplaces, outdated window treatments, and bulky, dated media centers stand out like a sore thumb.
Here are the six living room mistakes that designers say are most common; you'll want to avoid cliches and clutter in your main living space.
Meet the Expert
- Katie Gutierrez is the cofounder of Errez Design in Miami.
- Kristi Patterson is the founder of Grace Hill Design in Wayzata, Minnesota.
Matching Furniture Sets
Interior designers will be the first to urge you away from buying a matching furniture set for the living room—or truly anywhere in the home, for that matter.
"A matching furniture set is like putting everyone in the same outfit for a family photo," Katie Gutierrez, cofounder of Errez Design, says.
As an alternative, she recommends mixing and matching a variety of pieces that don't read so fresh-out-of-the-furniture-store.
"Good spaces need some friction, pieces that clash just enough to keep things interesting," Gutierrez designer says.
Kristi Patterson, the founder of Grace Hill Design, agrees that matching furniture can trap a living room in a time and place.
"Rooms that feel collected always feel more timeless and curated," she says.
All Seating Pointed Directly at the TV
The way you arrange your furniture is important, too. Do not be afraid to carve out various seating nooks in your living room—as opposed to simply placing all of your chairs so that they face the TV.
Gutierrez says the latter setup "turns the space into a sad airplane cabin—everyone facing forward, no one talking."
Exposed Cords
Speaking of the TV, designers agree it's totally fine to weave one into your living room. (No need to disguise it with anything that mimics a frame). TV screens themselves aren't eyesores, but cord clutter connected to your TV can be.
"A beautifully designed room should never show visible wires," Patterson says. "Wrangling cords with concealed solutions like an extension cord running under the sofa makes all the difference."
Too Small of a Rug
When it comes time to purchase a rug for your living room, don't skimp on size.
"A rug should ground the room and connect the furniture," Patterson says. "When it doesn’t reach key pieces, the space can feel disjointed; a properly scaled rug unifies the seating area and brings the room together."
Of course, feel free to layer two rugs if you wish. For example, a smaller patterned rug over top a neutral jute or sisal will add some dimension—and might add more square footage you need onto your floor covering.
Too Many—Or Not Enough—Lamps
Don't let the lighting scheme in your living room become an afterthought. For Patterson, this means opting for more than just the overhead ceiling fixture.
"Layered lighting—lamps, sconces, and overhead—adds warmth, depth, and a welcoming glow," she says.
That said, the designer isn't a proponent of bringing too many lamps into this room of the home.
"Lighting should feel intentional, not incidental," she says. "Properly scaled lamps add height, presence, and don't feel awkward next to a large sofa."
A Lack of Storage
Finally, even if your living room has many features that earn style points, it will immediately appear less design-forward and welcoming if toys, games, hobby supplies, and more are hogging attention.
"Living rooms are meant to be lived in, but without intentional storage, they can quickly feel overwhelmed," Patterson says.
Consider solutions such as storage sofas and ottomans, lidded baskets, and TV cabinets with shelves, drawers, and doors.
Read the original article on The Spruce
