Decorating a Living Room: Arranging Furniture

Living Room Decorating: Your living room will be a place for family or friends to sit and visit, so a special effort should be made to create a comfortable harmonious environment. Usually this is the first room you see upon entering your home, it is also a room that must show well and in most cases carry more than one function such as a playroom, office and even a dining room.

To arrange furniture and create a living room that fits your lifestyle you will need to follow the directions as outlined in Where To Begin. True beginners would do well to review the articles listed in Interior Design 101 to get an understanding of decorating basics.

Placement of Furniture

A helpful tool we found for arranging furniture pieces without lifting a finger were these cardboard furniture templates and grid. Furniture arrangements should have a purpose. Activity areas should be reflected and distinguishable in each area of your room. A small room should have at least one conversational area, while larger rooms may incorporate additional furniture groupings. A good rule of thumb is to seat at least six people comfortably.

Placement of your living room furniture should center around a focal point which may be an entertainment center, fireplace or large window. After selecting your focal point, group your furniture around it, being sure to take the size of your space into consideration. If you are living in a small space you may only need a sofa, arm chair and a few end tables. Larger spaces may include coffee tables a few more chairs and a larger sofa.

Don't feel it is necessary to go out and buy all new pieces of furniture when you decorate. If you have a sofa in good functional condition, you can use one of the many styles of slipcovers available, pre-made for standardized sofas, chairs and loveseats. Throw pillows are also another decorating option.

Suggestions

• Use area rugs to define seating areas. If you are dealing with a large room that has multiple seating areas, this will help characterize each area while tying together the scheme. Rugs are also useful for covering up unattractive carpeting or floors!

• The lighter, neutral shades of walls generally found in rental buildings are actually a benefit. This color scheme leaves room for selecting furniture in basically any color, scheme or style.

Basics on Hanging Pictures & Wall Art

View A Detailed Description of Wall Decorating & Arranging Wall Art

An arrangement of favorite, framed photographs, wall art, and collectibles can add personality and warmth to any room. When done correctly, wall art can change the focal point or the entire look of any room.

• Pictures should hang just above eye level. There is great debate over what "proper eye level" is. Some say "eye level" should be considered as if viewers were standing. Others say "eye level" should be considered as if viewers were seated. Still others say that "eye level" should be determined according to the primary use of the room. (This means, if most of the time people are standing in the space, like a hallway, then "eye level" should be directed at viewers who are standing. In a room where viewers will spend the majority of the time seated, like a living room, 'eye level" would be from a seated position.)

How and where should wall art be arranged? Well, ask yourself where you would like the "eyes" to focus.

• Creating a group of art or photos on a wall is an excellent way to create an interesting focal point. This task, however, requires extra planning. I would suggest that you map out the way that you would like to arrange your pictures on the floor, first. (This way, you can move them around without leaving nasty holes in the wall!) The secret to arranging art on the wall is simple...balance, balance, balance! Use a measuring tape to be sure that the distance between several pictures that will hang in a row is equal. Four small pictures on the left of a large picture can be balanced with two medium sized pictures on the right. (Remember: This only works with careful consideration to balance. Be patient, take your time, measure, and plan.)
  
• Consider lighting to emphasize your arrangement. When lighting is directed to the arrangement, it commands even more attention. Be careful of lighting that is bright. This type of lighting should be subdued and not produce glare.
  
• Add diversity to the arrangement. Use frames and mats that are different sizes and shapes, but compliment one another.
  
• Pay attention to "balance" in your entire room. Be careful not to put everything in one part of a room. Leaving the other walls bare will throw the balance of the entire room off.

Exotic Flowers Decoration

Spring is in full swing, and whether it's cherry blossams or tulips you see in your neighborhood, blooms are blooming all over the world! We are your online source of distinctive plant gifts for every occasion. We specialize in exotic flowers and tropical plants such as King Protea, Anthuriums, Ginger, Helicona, Strelitzia, orchids, and so much more!

Surprise your loved one with stunning flowers you don’t see every day. These rare blooms and fragrances possess powers of seduction and imagination that will whisk the recipient away to the tropical island in their mind’s eye.

Our exotic flowers are perfect for impressing that special person. Our tropical flowers combine brilliant colors with striking shapes to create breathtaking and unforgettable presentations. Check out our pink baby pineapples – they’re not yet edible, but their pink hue, fragrance and distinctive spiky look is sure to catch the eye of any recipient.

King Protea are really unusual-looking exotic flowers originally from South Africa, prized for its rarity and singularity. They can be as large as 12” in diameter. On the outside, they have a pattern of stiff, pointed, narrow petals called ‘bracts’ that form a cup. Of the more than 370 protea species, 120 of them are classified as endangered. There are very few protea left in the wild, most of them are now cultivated in greenhouses and nurseries.

Anthuriums (the Flamingo Lily and the Pink Anthurium) are most commonly seen in tropical bouquets. In the wild, they are found in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. The main club-shaped flower is usually pink or red and accented by a single protruding yellow leaf. Anthuriums are exotic flowers also known for their fragrance.

Strelitzia and Heliconia are two separate genus (the first known as Bird of Paradise and the second as Lobster Claw or wild plantain), but both are adored for their broad patterned leaves featuring vivid and flamboyant color juxtapositions on long, clean lines.

There are 22,000 ‘accepted’ species of orchids, but the actual number of species remains innumerable – too many to count! Horticulturalists of the 19th Century popularized orchid cultivation. The unspeakable beauty, colors, and shapes of orchid varieties continue to captivate the eyes and ignite the imagination. Frequently cultivated orchids include Phaelaenopsis, Cattleya, and Dendrobium.

Also on our site you will find helpful articles and hints and tips about how to make arrangements last longer, about exotic flowers and many other topics related to the care of your plants. If you want to send exotic flowers online, we offer all the services you need.