Accent Walls and Living Room Furniture Placement Guidelines

Becoming a very popular part of home décor are accent walls.  Looked through a magazine and you will notice an accent wall is present in most of the rooms.  However, you may find it a little intimidating if you never had one. Following are some guidelines on how to have accent walls and how to place your living room furniture to make it look like a professional designer did it. 

You can follow numerous guidelines on doing this.  Choosing the wall that is in the line of your sight upon entering the room is suggested by most interior designers.   The eyes of the person entering your living room must be drawn by the accent wall in a straight line.

If your home has plenty of entrances, the line of sight will vary on which entrance will be used.  Your best solution is to have the accent wall where the eyes are naturally attracted to.  This is exemplified when you have a big window or fireplace, as it will naturally attract anybody’s attention.  A fixed object does not need to be your focal point.  A work of art like a painting or sculpture and even a piece of furniture can be your focal point.

Modify the position of your furniture

You can always alter the way your furniture has been positioned.  It does not have to stay the way it is for years.  

Start with the biggest piece, which is the sofa.  Put it in a spot where it faces your focal point.  Place the other pieces accordingly by their sizes.  Sofas and chairs must be closely placed with each other but not too close to provide a more conducive atmosphere for conversations.

Leave a small space between your furniture and the walls to avoid the look of rigidity.  A sofa table between the wall and the sofa can make a big difference.  Display some mementos or collectibles on top of the table.

Put a coffee table or end table where appropriate.  This will provide functionality so books, magazines, cups, glasses and food can be placed while conversing or watching TV.  Choose the proper size of table to blend with the size of your living room and the sofa or chairs.

Enjoy having an accent wall in your room by following the above guidelines on accent wall and living room furniture placement.

The Difference between a Corner Table and a Corner Desk

Is a corner table the same as a corner desk?  Is it not correct to say a table is also a desk?  Well, yes; however, there is a difference between the two when it comes to usage.  A corner table is commonly seen in homes while a corner desk is typically in an office.

Let us look at the difference of these two types of furniture.

The corner table

A corner table is something that not many people have in their homes.  It is actually a helpful fitment to have around in the home.  It can serve the purpose for storing items as well as a decorative piece of furniture.  You can have it either in the living room or in the bedroom.   

Corner tables for the home can have different shapes.  It can be square, round, rectangle or even triangular.  These tables are normally small; however, they prove to be very useful.  Some are equipped with drawers where you can keep small items. 

Some are boxed-type with a small cabinet that can hold other stuff.

Stylish diminutive corner tables are made of good stylish materials like wood and glass.  You can put your table decorations on its top or a nice-looking flower vase.    

The corner desk

Corner desks are usually seen in the office. 

Corner desks can have an ‘L’ shape or a ‘V’ shape.  They save on space and at the same time increase efficiency and functionality in the office.  This furniture can have rod, wide, or tripod legs.

  

Offices can benefit much with having a corner desk.  It helps employees to have their equipment or supplies at hand.  This furniture has small compartments that can house other items.  It can also act as a computer table.

Both corner tables and desks are made of different materials.  The plastic ones are regarded as inexpensive, the wooden ones as durable while those made of glass are up-to-date.

A Woman’s Living Room: A Preview

Most women go for fashion, style and comfort.  When they buy items, they see to it that it reflects their personality.  This is not just true in their choices of dresses and accessories; this also applies in their choice of furniture.  Check a woman’s living room and you would feel the feminine touch in it.

A central piece will not be missed in a woman’s living room much the same way when they dress.  Hence, they will choose an accent wall that will deliberately steal the onlooker’s attention or a coffee table that makes a difference or a painting, etc. depending on their preference.

A woman’s modern-themed living room may consist of contemporary sectional sofas with contemporary and clean structures that are angled or rounded in style.  A single bold color may be chosen.  It can also have two hues but the main color would be a brighter one.  Upholstered materials for sofas are good choices as it provides more comfort.  Choose from leather sofas or those made of microfiber or microsuede.  To get that luxurious appeal, pick modern sofas that made use of hardwood or metal.  To rest your tired feet after a hectic busy day, choose a lush ottoman in warm pink with metal feet.  Modern furniture would suit a woman’s fancy, as they are easier to pair with, functional and light.

The traditional type of furniture would suit women who still prefer some touch of conventionality in their living room.  Conventional sofas or sectionals were given new designs and styles without losing traditionalism.  Materials, designs and styles of traditional furniture offer durability, comfort as well as opulence, too.  Women who love arts would prefer this furniture for their intricate carvings. 

Transitional furniture puts together traditionalism and modernity.  Bearing a touch of sophistication, transitional furniture offers comfort, simplicity as well as sturdiness.  Their main attraction is in the color and the straightforward structure.  These kinds of furniture combined both modern and traditional appeal in a living room.   Carvings on these kinds are simple that can still grab anyone’s fancy.

Rugs and throw pillow in soft colors or floral designs would complete the set up of her room.

Although some women would prefer a lavish-looking living room, most would prefer functionality in the room.  This is not confined to married women; even single women prefer furniture that offers usability.  Next to that is durability and most of all, would love to hear and see the admiring looks and encouraging words from their friends and family.

What to be Aware of when buying a Sofa Bed

If you do not know that it is a sofa bed, you will think that it is just a sofa.  I said just a sofa because it looks like any other kind of sofas except that it has a provision to turn it into a bed.

The good thing about this furniture is that it serves you two purposes, as it is convertible.  A couch during the day and a bed during the night and you get it at a price of one.  It saves you on space and saves you worry if you do not have a spare bed for a guest who needs to stay for the night.

Nevertheless, there are some points that you need to list down before buying a sofa bed.

Comfort-ability is of the essence.  Do not settle for cheap sofa beds, as these have thin mattresses.  Sleeping on these kinds of sofa beds will only make the user uncomfortable, giving him back pains when he wakes up.  You do not want your guests to feel this way, of course, less you gain a bad feedback from them.  Therefore, settle for those with thick mattresses.  A 4-inch mattress with good ring back springs will assure the sleeper to have the extra convenience he needs.  Check on its cushions, too.  Make sure you do not feel the board or springs when seated.

The size is another vital element to check, too.  The sofa must be suitable for its dual purpose – that of a couch and a bed.  It must be easy to open up as well as putting it back to its original position.  Do not choose a sofa bed that has a tight fitting.

Sofa beds are made of various materials, which is another factor to look into.  Ensure to get one that made use of durable and sturdy materials.   Linen is a good choice for a sofa bed, as this endures the folding and unfolding, which is a common procedure for this type of furniture.   

If you choose to have a light-colored fabric, make certain that is received treatment.  The treatment will prevent it from being damaged caused by stains and spills.  Some furniture shops require an extra amount for this.  It will not hurt your pocket anyway so better have it treated and it guarantees you of its non-discoloration and staying power.

Another thing that you should not forget is to test it.  Hence, lay and seat on it for quite a few minutes.  Be observant and feel its comfort.  If you do not feel comfortable at all, then go choose another one. 

Furniture to Match a Living Room with White Walls

Blending colors is not a big issue for a living room with white walls. Since white is a neutral color, it can go with any color of your choice.

However, do not mix your white colored walls with white furniture. It is nice to have everything in white as it suggests wholesomeness and clarity; nevertheless, it can also mean sterility. Your guests may feel like they are in a hospital.



Hence, better have a mixture of dark, pastel or loud colors to go with your white colored-wall living room.

Blend it with red and black. These two colors set on a white background can be theatrical. However, the combination of white, red and black will make each color stand out. Red sofas will give your white walls a spark. It drives out the blandness of white, as red shows power. Black sofas will likewise match beautifully with white walls. These colors can also be used for your accessories. Red sofas with a blend of black are also perfect for white walls. Pair off red throw pillows for your black sofas. Red sofas can have a mixture of white and black for throw pillows.



Blend black and white. This combination is a typical illustration of up-to-the-minute sophistication. It is never outdated. Match black leather sofas with glass top coffee table in a black frame. For accessories, have silver lamps and a black and white carpet.

Decorations are very essential in a white colored living room wall. This drives away the monotony of being too clean. So put some paintings on your wall or other wall decorations.



The good thing of having a living room with white colored walls is that you can put splatters of color in your furniture and decorations. Your objective must be to get the attention out of your white walls. It should only serve as a backdrop. Your furniture must provide accentuation.

Guidelines on Choosing a Coffee Table

It always helps to have a list or set of guidelines when buying things. Thus, in choosing a coffee table for your living room, you also need to have a list of your requirements to get the exact item that you want.

Evaluate where you want the furniture to be situated and measure the area. Ideally, the coffee table should be half the size of your couch, which means you need to measure your couch, too. Give 15 inches allowance between the coffee table and the couch. It would be wise to get a longer coffee table for this will be more useful compared to a small table.



Know the purpose of the coffee table. This will guide you on the dimension of your table. A coffee table that will be used for tea must have a height of 25 inches. Coffee tables for showpieces can have a height anywhere from 11 – 16 inches.

Choosing the coffee table style. It must blend with the overall theme of your living room and must be agreeable to your taste. Your furniture is an extension of your personality, thus not everyone may agree on the same furniture. Impressing someone is not enough if you are not happy with what you have bought.



Some coffee tables have a revolutionary design that veers away from the traditional furniture. Others are modular that can be rearranged to various shapes and allows you store different things.

The shape of the coffee table. This will depend on the size of your living room space. Modern furniture offers different shapes.



Coffee table materials. Wood materials used for coffee tables are mahogany, cherry, oak, pine or teak. Some are made from metal, glass or marble. A few are made from plastics or slate.

The good thing about modern furniture is that they offer more functionality. For this reason, modern coffee tables offer more storage spaces and serve more than one purpose.



Check on the new designs of modern coffee tables from online furniture stores and you will be amazed just how this piece of furniture has evolved to more revolutionary designs and styles.

Furniture for Living Room with Brown Colored Walls

Brown represents steadiness and safety. When choosing it as your living room wall color, use its restrained hue such as light tan, mocha and beige.

Reserve the darker hues for your accents and ornaments. Apart from that, the dark hues of brown will make your living room look smaller. Having said that, dark brown must not be used for a small space.



A living room with brown colored walls can be combined with green. You can have one side of your wall pasted with green wallpaper. This combination suggests an earthy look and at the same time is eco-friendly. Both are also a good match for brown wooden furniture.

If a darker shade of brown was used for the walls, have your furniture in pale shades of brown.

Make sure that your living room set has the same shades. This includes not only the sofas and coffee tables but the TV stand and shelves, too.



Furniture in greenish blue or teal is a good match with brown. Use this color for the unfinished fixtures. Sofa cushions must be in identical greenish blue tone. Choose solid teal or brown hued throw pillows.

Furniture in white is another match for the brown- colored walls of your living room.
Should you prefer to have an all-brown living room, choose furniture in chrome and chairs in clear acrylic.



Use beige, white or cream if you want to have a table lamp.

Get brown or blue prints for your curtains or drapes. You can similarly use the neutral shade of cream.

Always have two patterns for your decorations to create more attention and to separate the strong shades of brown. For instance, your rug can have loop patterns.



Mix the various tones of blue such as teal or aqua to the creamy tones of brown. This creates a superb blend.

Use imagination and creativity for your accents and decorations. Use the different hues of brown: dark, middle and the pale hues. However, remember to use the main color for big furniture always.

Plants for your Living Room

Furniture is not the only thing that can make a living room look lively. Having plants in this room can do the same and help improve your health and well-being. Apart from that, fans, air-conditioning and even purifiers can sometimes get the moisture out of the living room. The arid and dry air lingers in the room and may cause your skin to itch and get dry, too.



If you want to have plants in the living room, then you will be glad to know that there are plants that are great for indoors and not to mention easy to care for.



For natural sources of fresh oxygen at home, have Boston Ferns to have the right amount of moisture in the living room as well as to keep you cool. The blade-like leaves of this plant sway gently with every breeze. Its apple green color is especially pleasing to the eyes to help relieve eyestrain. It needs sunlight but make sure you do not expose it directly under the sun and water it enough to keep the soil moist. Water it just enough to keep the soil moist.



The Peace Lily is a combination of white-colored flowers and dark green leaves. Its white blooms eliminate up to 60% of the germs in the air. This plant helps extinguish harmful chemicals in the air that can be very helpful especially for people who are allergic to pollens and various irritants carried by the air. Give it the right amount of natural light and water the soil when dry. Spray it every now and then to keep the leaves moist and alive. This will encourage the flowers to grow more beautifully.



The Spider Plant is one of the most impressive when it comes to eliminating toxins and allergens in the air. Its record says that it can get rid of 90% of the irritants present in the air in a span of 48 hours. This plant extinguishes such toxins like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and germs. It looks like the Boston Fern with its healthy, blade-like, green leaves except that the Spider Plant is also available in other colors. This is perfect for you if you do not have much time watering plants. Water it every 14 days and get it expose to indirect sunlight.



Hang the English Ivy in a pot as it is like an orchid that needs a fence for support. For those with allergic rhinitis and asthma, this plant will be your best friend extinguishing up to 60% of the allergens and irritants in the air in only 6 hours. Give it sufficient sunlight and keep its soil moist for it to live well.



NASA accredits the Heart Leaf Philodendron as an effective solution to combat the presence of formaldehyde in the air. With leaves shaped like a heart, it is also known as the Sweetheart Plant. The Heart Leaf Philodendron can stand any kind of lighting and keeping the soil moist is the key to make it grow beautifully. Do not water it too much though as the plant may die.



The Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant is for those who are not good in taking care of plants. You can leave it as is for days and yet it remains alive and growing. Like all the aforementioned plants, it gives you a cleaner air for breathing. It also has strong sword-like leaves that need a regular watering each week and is fine with any amount of sunlight.



You have many choices when it comes to the plants that you can place inside the home. Pick one that will look good in the living room and serve your needs. It is still best to have a touch of nature and freshness inside the home. A good choice of living room furniture and blending it with other fixtures, the wall color and adding plants will definitely make staying in this room a pleasant experience.