Above all else, the furniture in the living-room should make it livable. It should be grouped so that it offers centers of interest, convenience and comfort. Look for upholstered seating with homespun-type fabric, or toss a pieced quilt over plain fabric or leather. An old rocker is a great addition.

By the time you are ready to choose the furniture for the living room, the walls and floor coverings should be in place so that the choice of furniture will be merely the selection of the best out of several possibilities. Of course, the quality, shape and color of furniture varies, and the quantity will as well.

Can one imagine a more livable living-room than one with a large, soft sofa in front of a fireplace, behind it a long table filled with books, while holding a lamp at either end. Or else, at the end of the sofa, a small table for the reading lamp and on either side a pair of comfortable chairs?

The main essentials are a comfortable sofa, a table large enough to hold books, magazines and lamps, and at least two comfortable, upholstered chairs and a smaller table.

While at the other end or side of the room, a pair of book-cases, cabinets or a credence. These balance the fireplace, since they are placed against the wall and have a corresponding shelf, cornice or mantel line.

In developing the original simple formula there may be added a chaise, a good-size table, another large chair, and another small table

Remember that it is always better to leave a space empty than to have it occupied by a badly placed piece of furniture. Good furniture needs space to be seen to its advantage.

If there is a large array of furniture in the living-room, keep the carpet, and furniture upholstery all to one tone.

Mantel accessories may be applied to the other shelves and the tables in the room. Keep them free from dust-collecting, trivial things, while creating a sense of order and cleanliness.

Balance is maintained by using objects in pairs a pair of vases, candlesticks, bowls, or jars. Placed at either end of the mantel, they should be higher than the intervening objects, to form a sweeping curve. Also they help to frame in the over-mantel picture or mirror.

In fitting furniture to its architectural background there are 3 things to consider

contour and proportion
design and decorative detail
color of wood.

The first two points are obviously necessary; it is in the last that the furnishing of many rooms fails. Oak and mahogany do not mix amicably; one does not set off the other because there is not sufficient contrast, nor are they closely enough allied to harmonize. On the other hand, black ebony and yellowish burr walnut, such as is used in inlaying seaweed pattern in oak, are examples of harmony gained.

Lisa French

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Most of us enjoy daydreaming about our perfect home. Do you ever think about your home just before falling to sleep? Instead of worrying about your tasks for tomorrow, try this exercise tonight: imagine you’re arriving home. When your head hits your pillow, close your eyes and daydream about your homecoming. What do you see that greets you?

Daydream about easy changes or additions you can make that would make you smile when you get that first glimpse of home. Perhaps a few white flowers planted by the walkway or a refreshing tropical fern by the door or….

Think about your front door. Could a fresh coat of paint in a happy color help you feel joy? Visualize colors like snappy apple or silver pine green and rosy coffee au laits. Imagine your home from the curbside viewpoint and play with new colors for your front door.

Maybe you come home and park in a garage for security. If so, paint your connecting door a welcoming color and create a mini-entry inside with a mirror. Make your entrance just as welcoming as your formal entry for guests.

Next, in your dreams, open the door and what do you see that immediately greets you? What can you do so that the first glance makes you feel happy to be at home? Carefully examine the first thing you notice when you take your first step inside. Most of us look down to watch our step. A soft area rug makes your feet feel pampered. Look up. What catches your attention? People get so used to their accessories, they don’t even notice them after awhile. Rearrange your pieces so they grab your attention anew.

Where do you go when you arrive home? Each of us has a ritual when we come home, whether we’re conscious of it or not. Think about your first activity upon arrival. Make sure it’s a pleasant task or change it.

Try to envision changes that you can make to achieve a harmonious home-coming. Besides organizational changes, home decorating changes can help you, too.

Keep daydreaming about your spaces and visualize your desired changes. Think about how you want your spaces to make you feel. For instance, if you want your kitchen to make you feel organized, take out cluttering accessories and repaint the walls a calming muted green. Maybe your dining area needs a facelift to bolster family conversations and a new large mirror would reflect shimmering candle light and happy faces.

Most home makers enjoy shopping for that perfect accessory, daydreaming about colors for their rooms, and planning a new look for their home. I’ll bet you fall asleep before you get to your bedroom in your dreams.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home Journal and interior design and real estate books, has researched the effects of environment on emotions for over 15 years. Besides flipping houses, Jeanette teaches college courses on Design Psychology and professional real estate investing seminars. For free Design Psychology reports, visit http://designpsych.com/

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