Does Your Family Room Need A Makeover?

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Your home is your retreat from the bustling fast-paced world outside. It is a reflection of your personality and style. Only second to the bedroom, the family room is a place where you relax and let go of the worries of the day in the warm company of family, friends and pets. There is nothing more restful to look forward to than a cozy sofa with a soothing beverage after a long day at work. However, with the long spells of working from home that resulted from the pandemic, what was once an appealing and comfortable space may now be a drag. Is it time for your family room to get a makeover? 

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The best way to find out if you have a long overdue makeover is to ask yourself the following questions. Have you recently had a change in your living situation? This can be the addition of a partner, children or roommates. Have you recently moved house and is your old furniture suitable for your new living arrangement? Does a piece of furniture or a focal point of your room look aged or has got worn out? The best indicator for a makeover is usually defined by how the room makes people feel. Does your space make you happy? Are you and the people around you bored of the look and itching for a change? If yes then your living room is definitely looking for a transformation.  

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Here are some tips to make your living room comfortable, beautiful and inspiring 

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Walls

Bare walls can look cold and empty if the minimalist style is not what you were going for. The look is great when designed around interesting furniture and beautiful accents. However, if you are just not sure how to dress your walls, start with an accent paint color or a wall covering. Framed photography or a special work of art can add charm and uniqueness to your living room as well as become the starter of an interesting conversation. Decorative baskets, mirrors and ethnic textiles are also decor options that you may want to consider.  

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Space

Most often we land up cluttering our family rooms because we hang out there most of the time. Clutter can unfortunately get out of hand and make your space look shabby. With clothes over an armchair and papers strewn over tables, your best bet is to get a whole lot of organizational items to declutter your space and make it look inviting again. Shelves, baskets, trays and even side tables can make a noticeable difference. If you are well organized but the room still feels cramped then try changing the layout of your furniture, take out a piece or consider that it's time to get something new. 

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Furniture 

Have you had your furniture since college? Or since you got married and now the kids have grown and left? Take a step back and look at your family room with a critical eye. There is a big difference between “ interestingly worn” and just “plain old” furniture that you may have missed. 

If your furniture looks tired, worn out and discolored it's time to choose some new favorites. 

If your life circumstances have also changed, consider something new and vibrant that reflects the new stage of life you currently are in. 

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Lighting

Lighting, if not optimized for your room can be a damper on an otherwise well-furnished room. The designs of your lighting layout plan are important otherwise you will land up with overlit areas or dark spots. The wrong lights can give your room a cold harsh glow or clash with ambient lighting. A good lighting plan should ideally include all types of lighting, ambient, task, and accent as well as from various sources like table lamps, floor lamps, recesses and pendants. 

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The living room is the heart of your home. Style your room to feel warm, welcoming and bright. While it might not be practical to renovate the entire room, a few strategic changes in your furniture can completely transform the ambience of the room and freshen it dramatically. Changing your furniture does not have to be expensive, it does need some planning and creativity to become your work of art.