Mistakes To Avoid When Decorating Your Family Room or Living Room

Posted on: 9 April 2019

By providing a place for gathering with friends or relaxing with the family, your family room is an important part of the home. Although most people know which pieces of furniture are necessary, choosing other accessories and décor for this space can be a bit overwhelming. If you are currently decorating your family room yourself or with interior design services, here are a few mistakes to avoid.

Choosing the Wrong Sofa

Most family rooms need a sofa. This key furniture piece will be where you and others sit and relax, but it should also be a focal point of the room. Without proper understanding, your sofa can become an eyesore.

Focus on the height of the sofa's seat to get started. Lower seats are not only hard to get in and out of, but they can make the space feel shorter and smaller. This can be an even bigger mistake if you have low ceilings in your family room.

Also, avoid choosing a sofa solely based on its looks. While it is fine to focus on appeal, comfort and your ability to use the sofa as a seating space are the most important considerations.

Finally, avoid buying a sofa that is too large or too small for the family room. For example, you need space to sit and space to walk around the sofa in the family room.

For the best results, when furnishing your living room with a sofa and other furniture pieces, there should be between 3.5 and 10 feet between seating for the best look and function. There should be about 18 inches, minimum, between the sofa and the coffee table.

Hanging Wall Décor Incorrectly

Furniture does take up a good amount of your family room's space, but adding accessories to your walls can turn your house into a home that showcases your personality. If you do not arrange the décor on the walls properly, though, you could make the room feel crowded and incredibly unappealing.

Many experts say that hanging art at eye level is best, but that is not always possible depending on your room and its layout. If you have low ceilings, then artwork, framed photos, and other wall art may look better a little higher than eye level.

Another mistake is choosing artwork that looks nice but does not represent you and your family. If you are a formal family, then formal artwork will work. However, you could also incorporate framed photos of your family to add personality.

Furnishing and decorating your family room does not have to be overwhelming. By avoiding these classic mistakes, your space can be both functional and attractive. 

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