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Make a note on how do you use
your space, most of the time.
1. Relaxing
If you're using your living room as a place to
relax after a hectic day of work, keep in mind
these pointers:
a. Foster tranquility
Use only natural colors and soft textures, and
keep it simple. Be a minimalist. Restrict the
number of objects in a room and choose each item
carefully. Combine practicality with beauty and
design. If it is not possible to dedicate a whole
room to tranquility, then pick a corner where
you can immerse yourself into relaxation.
b. Put the noise away
Use materials and furnishings that will absorb
sound. A minimalist concept may be beautiful,
but is can be noisy. So, damp the sound with carpet,
area rugs, soft furnishing and thick fabric curtains
or roman blinds.
c. Sink into comfort
Invest in a good-quality furniture, that is generous
in size and kind to your body. Do not overcrowd
the room, and make sure the temperature is comfortable.
Let in some air through the window, to cool a
room in warm weather. On the other hand, the use
of flame to heat up a chilly room definitely provides
a cosy feel.
2. Eat
For a big family, a living room might function
mostly as a place for mealtimes. If that's how
you use your living room, you might want to consider
these:
a. Be generous
Select a large table and comfortable dining chairs
to accommodate socializing eaters. A generous
table can also be used for other activities such
as homework, paperwork, or for display space.
b. Be welcoming
Round or oval shaped tables are indeed welcoming
as the curves can make a room look softer.
3. Work
If you usually work from home, or use your living
for hobbies and study, you may want to take into
acount these pointers:
a. Storage
Keep your entire masterpiece neatly away when
not in use in a lockable drawers and cabinets.
For greater privacy plus practicality, use a shelf
as the divider between the 'workplace'. Other
alternatives would be to use a low wall, or simple
solutions like a screen or curtains.
b. Discipline
Keep all of your working equipment and materials
handy, and in one place, so there's no chance
of them 'disappearing' or cluttering the rest
of the living area.
c. Display it
An interesting hobby or work area need not be
hidden away. In fact you could turn this workplace
into a display, an attractive feature of the living
area. Completed projects, the inspiration behind
them, or work in progress all have decorative
potential, which gives meaning to your otherwise
plain and bland living area.
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4. Socialize
If you love to entertain and socialize with
your friends, these tips will help create
a jovial ambiance.
a. Seating arrangements
Arrange sofas and chairs to encourage relaxation
and conversation, and position them in friendly
groupings. Large floor cushion are great
items for cosy chats.
b. Good furniture
Buy good dining table and comfortable chairs
that people would love to sit it. Remember,
you are encouraging people to socialize.
c. Kitchen ideas
The best way is to combine cooking, dining
and living area together, so that all household
would be able to meet up at some point during
the day. However, if you have a separate
kitchen, it is nice to prepare a cosy armchair
for unexpected guests who pop into the kitchen
for a little chat.
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5. Exercise
If you are an exercise bum, and want to sweat
up on your living room without messing up the
area, consider these pointers:
a. Clear up
Minimize the use of furniture as exercising requires
a lot of room, so you would not injure yourself.
b. Protect
Use floor-protecting mat, as exercise can damage
your décor. Check that floor and wall,
whether they can sustain the amount of pressure
put on by the equipment.
c. Storage again
To make sure you equipment are long-lasting, you
need to stash them away when not in use. Weights
can be kept nicely in an attractive stout chest.
Floor mats can be rolled up and kept in a cupboard,
under the bed or in the corner of a store room.
Larger items could be kept behind a sofa or screen,
or just drape them with a beautiful rug to keep
the dust away. Anyway, if you opt to show-off
the equipments, be prepared to do the dusting
regularly.
6. Romance
If you want to inject some romance into your current
relationship, or setting up the mood for your
relationship-to be, here are some ideas to get
you started:
a. Comfort
In order to be or feel romantic, you need to be
in a comfortable surroundings. A large comfy sofa,
lots of cushions and a thick rug should to the
trick. If you are a minimalist, then try considering
cashmere throws of those sofa. Is the temperature
is too cold, be ready to turn up the heat with
an open fire or a dimmed warm light. On the other
hand, if you have to reduce the humidity, turn
up the air conditioner, or open up the window,
or use a fan.
b. Seclusion
Small rooms are very conducive to creating intimacy.
But if you have an open plan setting for your
living room, you might want to consider creating
a corner or section for this purpose. This can
be done in many ways:
i. Build a half-height wall that separates your
living room from the kitchen or other connecting
areas
ii. Simply use a folding partition
iii. Burn quality scented candles or essential
oils
iv. Use table lamps and gentle washes of light
v. Differentiate the floor level of the living
room and other connecting areas
vi. Arrange the furniture in the living room such
that they create 'mini sections', which are conducive
for a romantic retreat
c. Close encounter
Spontaneous romance is very appealing, but it
is less likely to happen if both of you are seating
on different chairs which are placed so wide apart
that you have to literally scream to get the message
across. Okay, that's exaggerating. But you do
get the idea, right? Arrange the furniture to
encourage interaction and intimacy. Chuck away
the chairs, and opt for sofas or daybeds, as these
are more romance-friendly.
7. Multiple use
More on this soon…
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