Make your living room more inviting to hang out in
Here’s some easy ways to make your house look like a home.
- Light well. Install several lights in a room. Having only one hanging fixture creates dark corners.
- Plan seating. Have enough for four people, with extra pieces in reserve for company. High-backed sofas are comfiest.
- Keep cozy. Curtains instead of panels can block drafts and make rooms feel more enveloped.
- Be flexible. Opt for versitale items like a low bench when there’s a crowd.
- Preserve space. A coffee table should be two thirds the length of the facing sofa; if it is too long, it will obstruct traffic.
- Maximize rugs. They delineate a seating area and should extend beneath furniture to tie pieces together.
- Pick low arms. Low arms on a chair or a sofa create uniterrupted views and help a room feel less cramped.
These tips were taken from the June 2006 issue of Glamour magazine and are excerpts from the book The Comfortable Home by Jane Burdon.