How to Design a Living Room That Is Perfect for Entertaining

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: November 13, 2021

How to Design a Living Room for Comfort and Entertainment” – A home is not just your personal escape, providing warmth and comfort; it’s often the ideal spot for entertaining. If you’re known as the ‘entertainer’ in your social circle, you undoubtedly relish hosting and all the responsibilities it entails. However, being an exceptional host involves more than just sending out invitations and offering drinks and food to your guests. It’s equally about crafting a living room space where your guests feel both welcome and comfortable.

Here are several ways you can design a living room that is perfect for entertaining. The result will be so ideal that you’ll probably want to host even more gatherings.

Choose Flooring That Is Eye-Catching and Easy to Maintain

Here’s a design trick that professionals often use, and that’s to pick materials that are visually pleasing and eye-catching as well as easy to maintain. If you plan on hosting regularly, then you want flooring that will be easy to keep clean and easy to deal with when it comes to messes and accidents because, let’s face it, they happen.

As you browse through your options, some of the materials that should move to the top of the list include solid wood flooring, which brings character, warmth, and elegance to the space. There is something so timeless with wood flooring and it tends to work well with any décor/design.

How to Design a Living Room

If you like the look of solid wood flooring but it’s out of the budget, another stylish and practical flooring is laminate. You can check options like the laminate flooring from Quick-step. Laminate flooring is watertight, stain and scratch-resistant, and available in a huge array of textures and colors, making it a very popular choice with homeowners. You know that this type of flooring will hold up well over the years.

In terms of the flooring to avoid, carpeting is likely the worst one to choose. Although it’s soft and plush under the feet, it will be very difficult should you have any spills or messes to clean up. It also doesn’t tend to impart the same level of sophistication, elegance, and style as the above-mentioned choices.

Seating Is a Top Priority in the Design Plan

Seating Is a Top Priority in the Design Plan

While you might not usually focus much on seating in a design plan, it becomes crucial if you love hosting. You should prioritize providing ample seating for all your guests, arranged to foster conversation and socialization. If your living room is large enough, consider creating multiple seating areas or nooks for simultaneous conversations.

Here are some essential tips for choosing and arranging seating:

  1. Assess the space you have. Always measure it twice for accuracy.
  2. Decide on the number of people you want to accommodate at once.
  3. Plan your furniture layout so that pieces face each other, promoting natural conversation.
  4. Select the types of pieces you want, such as sofas, loveseats, chairs, etc.
  5. Opt for comfortable and supportive furniture, allowing guests to sit comfortably for extended periods.
  6. Focus on construction and quality when choosing furniture, rather than current trends.
  7. Mix and match pieces within a color palette or theme for a cohesive yet varied look, avoiding the need for everything to match perfectly.
  8. Decide whether you want your furniture to be a visual focal point or blend in with the décor. This choice will guide the color, fabric, and texture selections.

Before shopping, use painter’s tape to outline furniture placements in the room. This visual aid helps you imagine how the space will come together.

Give Guests a Place to Set Beverages and Snacks

A good host is always sure to offer their guests beverages and snacks, so where will they set them down as they enjoy them? Coffee tables and side tables are the perfect solution and should be strategically placed so that no matter where your guest is sitting, there is a table within reach.

Combine Different Styles of Lighting

Lighting should also factor into your design plan, as there’s no doubt you will entertain at different times of the day. Sometimes, artificial lighting won’t be necessary, whereas other times it will be required. Your best bet is to combine a few different styles of lighting so that you have options and to create a customized look. Don’t forget, that lighting is more than just practical since it also adds to the ambiance in the space.

Artwork and DĂ©cor Will Bring the Space Together

Then there are the final touches which are artwork and décor. Without these items, the room will feel bare. Décor gives you a chance to show off your personality, make the space feel unique, and bring all the elements in the room together. Common pieces you can use in the space include:

  • Wall photos and/or paintings
  • Plush throw blankets
  • Luxe decorative pillows
  • Sculptures and other such pieces of art
  • Vases filled with fresh flowers
  • Scented candles
  • Area rugs
  • Mirrors

The great thing about dĂ©cor is that there is no right or wrong here; it’s all about what speaks to you.

Now that you’ve gone ahead and transformed your living room, all that’s left to do is start entertaining. You’ll find that, by making these changes, the living room becomes a more welcoming and useable space for you and your guests.

Thank you for reading!

John
 

John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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