Cool Design Ideas for Your Living Room

The living room is often the first thing homeowners work on when remodeling their homes. After all, it's where they spend most of their time relaxing, entertaining, or receiving friends and family. But for designers, it poses a unique challenge: how do you design a living room that everyone will like, but isn't too generic or neutral? It takes some planning and creativity, but with a few good ideas, you can design a living room that really stands out.

Like any other room in the house, it all starts with a good color scheme. Your living room colors should appeal to your personal tastes, but also to that of everyone else in the house. If you can't agree on a single color, try using a neutral shade (such as brown or beige) as your dominant color and using everyone's favorites as accents. That way, you incorporate different styles while still maintaining a smooth, universally appealing look.

The floor should also be among your first considerations. Few people really pay attention to their living room flooring, but it's more important than it seems. Living room floors should be durable enough to withstand everyday traffic, but also go well with your design theme. Some of the most popular floors for living rooms are hardwood, stone, laminate and ceramic tile.

In most living rooms, there's at least one window that serves as the main source of natural lighting. You can use this as your room's focal point, the one spot where the viewer's eyes are naturally drawn to. Draw attention to the window by keeping it open so you get a good view, or with eye-catching window treatments such as curtains and blinds. With the right positioning, it can even eliminate the need for artificial lighting in the daytime.

Finally, you'll need to accessorize your living room. After all, it's the little add-ons that really make the room stand out and tell people that it's your own. Choose accessories that you personally like, whether or not they go with your theme. Sometimes it's these little imperfections that add character to your room. So be as creative as you like-the more unique your ideas, the more your living room will stand out.

Your living room is the first thing guests see when they enter your home, so it's important that you make a good impression. These simple design tips show you how.