8 Common Design Blunders to Avoid in Your Living Room

You’ve probably experienced one… A living room that feels anything but livable. It may be a case of out-of-scale furnishings, too much clutter, or a lack of personality. Whatever its issues, it isn’t a room you want to spend any time in! Those are design blunders and we’re going to help you avoid them when choosing your new Tampa living room furniture.

You can have gorgeous leather furniture and stunning architectural details but still have a living room that doesn’t feel quite right if you make one of these 8 common design blunders. Avoiding them will give you the beautiful and comfortable living room of your dreams.

1. Not Taking Your Lifestyle Into Consideration

Taking an honest look at how you actually use your living room is key to a great design. A room that’s frequently used for large parties will probably need a different layout, and possibly even different seating options, than one where family movie night is the most exciting thing happening.

2. Failing to Measure, and Measure Again

Accurate measurements are essential in room design! In fact, many designers advise measuring all areas of your room at least twice. Once you have accurate measurements, draw the room and potential furniture pieces to scale on graph paper or use a room design software program. This helps you keep everything within the room in proportion. Furniture pieces that are out of proportion with the room and each other are a major reason why some rooms just seem a bit ‘off’.

3. Choosing Paint Colors First

Always choose your paint colors last! Consider how many paint colors are available compared to furniture colors. No matter what color furniture you choose, you’ll always be able to find a paint color to compliment it. The same isn’t true the other way around!

4. Not Prioritizing Your Seating

A sofa or sectional is generally the biggest, and most expensive, piece of furniture in a living room. If you spend a good chunk of your redecorating budget elsewhere first, you may have to settle for a sofa you don’t love just because it’s what you can afford. Spend your furniture budget where it counts – on a really great sofa that you love along with comfortable chairs. You can always add tables, ottomans, and other furniture and accessories later as your budget allows. At least you’ll have high-quality seating to design the rest of the room around!

5. Choosing an Area Rug That’s Too Small

Great area rugs help define conversation areas as well as add texture and interest to a room. They also anchor the furniture but only if they’re large enough for at least the front of the furniture pieces to rest on the rug. A rug that’s too small in comparison to the furniture looks out of place and slightly ridiculous. Not the look you’re going for!

6. Not Layering Lighting

Layered lighting is warm and welcoming. Layers of lighting options allow you to adjust the light in a room so that it’s neither too dim nor too bright. Instead, it will always be just right for whatever is taking place at the moment.

• Ambient light provides a general ‘wash’ of light throughout the room. Without it, a room feels dim and uninviting. Ceiling fixtures are the usual source for this type of light. Adding a dimmer lets you set the mood by changing the amount of ambient light.
• Task lighting provides the extra light needed to accomplish tasks like reading, knitting, or working on a computer. It’s usually provided by lamps.
•  Accent lighting highlights features like artwork or interesting architectural details. Adding light to the walls also helps a room feel larger. Spotlights and LED strip lights are great ways to provide this tightly focused illumination.

7. Speaking of Artwork…

You shouldn’t have to crane your neck to enjoy it! Most people hang artwork too high. Ideally, it should hang at eye level so it can be enjoyed without the neck ache.

8. Forgetting the Finishing Touches

A room isn’t finished once the furniture is in place. It needs layers of texture, color, and personalization to truly be complete. These finishing touches are provided by window treatments, decorative pillows, throws, and accessories that reflect your interests and personality.

Need Help Creating a Living Room You’ll Love?

Let our expert designers help! We’re here to help you get through those living room design obstacles. We would love to work with you to create a comfortable living room that’s just right for you. Visit us at one of our 5 convenient locations or contact us so we can get started on your new living room today!