Tips For Arranging Living Room Furniture and Creating Accent Walls

Accent walls are becoming a very popular part of home decor. If you've looked through a magazine lately, you've probably noticed that the majority of the rooms have an accent wall. But, if you've never had one it can seem a little intimidating. If you're wondering what the rules for accent walls and placement of your living room furniture are, here are some easy tips that can help you create a living room that looks like it was done by a professional designer.

Basic Rules For Accent Walls

There are several rules for accent walls that you can follow depending on the look you want. Most interior designers suggest that you choose the wall that is in your line of sight when you walk into the room. The accent wall should draw the eye into the room in a straight line. Ideally, you don't want it to be distracting to the point where it makes you turn to one side or the other of the room.

Accent Walls and Multiple Entryways

However, there are exceptions to every rule. If you have multiple entryways into your living room your line of sight will be different depending on where you enter the room. In this case, your accent wall should be the one that the eye is naturally drawn to. For example, if you have a fireplace or a large window, the eye will usually focus on that right away. But, your focal point doesn't have to be a fixed object. You can create a focal point with a piece of art, a sculpture, or a piece of furniture.

Easy Tips For Living Room Furniture Placement

Often, people leave their living room furniture in the same place for years. Even though they want to rearrange their living room, they don't have a clue where to start. Living room furniture placement can seem a little intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. There are some simple tips anyone can follow to create a living room that not only looks good, but that is comfortable and inviting.

Tip # 1 Start With The Largest Piece of Furniture

The best living room furniture placement begins with the largest piece of seating furniture you have. This is generally the sofa, but it could be a loveseat. You want to place it where it will be facing your focal point so that it will tie all of your furnishings together so they are balanced. When you arrange the rest of your seating furniture, begin with the second largest piece and move the smallest piece into place last. Each piece should be close enough to the largest piece to create a conversation area.

Tip # 2 Don't Push Furniture Against the Walls

Arrange your furniture "in" the room. Most people naturally push most of their furniture up against the walls without even thinking. Leave a little room behind the pieces so that the furniture placement isn't as rigid. You'd be amazed at the difference that adding a sofa table to your living room will make. A sofa table will keep the sofa off the wall and give you a place to set some favorite collectibles, family pictures or framed art work.

Tip # 3 Keep Sets of Chairs Together

If you have pairs of living room chairs, arrange them together. Keeping a set of chairs together creates a larger impact than separating them. They don't even have to be identical chairs. You can group any set of chairs that are the same size, color or shape. If you don't have room to place them near the sofa, use them to create a separate conversation area in the room.

Tip # 4 Separate Multi-Piece Furnishings

Consider separating multi-piece pieces of furniture such as a sectional or a set of wall units. Furniture that has several pieces can look heavy to the eye and cause the room to look out of balance. Experiment using sectional couch pieces as armless chairs. Separate wall units and place them around the room. If you are short on space, consider using some of the furniture in your living room in other rooms of your home.

Tip # 5 Anchor Furniture With Area Rugs

Use area rugs as an anchor for groupings of living room furniture. Instead of simply adding rugs to bare areas on the floor, use them with your furniture. In the right place, a area rug will direct traffic around your seating area and not through it. Area rugs are great accessories for any room. You can use matching colors to continue a theme, or use a contrasting rug to add a splash of color.

Add Living Room Tables

After you have all of your seating and conversation areas established, the next step is to add the tables. Your living room will be much more comfortable for your guests if they always have a place to sit a drink or a bowl of snacks. And, always use tables that are size appropriate for the seating. A large side table will completely over power two small living room chairs."