Whether you love get-togethers, or just want your home to resemble something out of a fancy home decor magazine, a good design for your living room is vital to your plans. If you already have a basic living room design and want a few living room design ideas to upgrade it,  you’re in the right place. Keep reading and learn some of the best-kept secrets adopted by any living room designer to help upgrade and design your living room.

#1: Any Living Room Designer Would Recommend Creating a Central Focal Point

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Adding a focal point to keep your eyes locked on will transform a basic living room design

Living rooms are an integral space in every home, meant for social gatherings, hosting parties or inviting first-time visitors. They are the place for family and friends to congregate and spend quality time. 

Creating a focal point when you design your living room will strengthen the feeling of a physical spot around which conversations can take place. Additionally, this clever living room designer trick gives the space a visual purpose and a distinctive trait.

#2: Your Basic Living Room Design Should Include a Functional Layout

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The living room designer left ample space in this living room to make it accessibility-friendly

Functionality is the main pillar of modern decor, especially for small living room design ideas that struggle to fit every element within a reduced space. If you’re looking for glamorous living room designer tips, keep in mind that functionality is key for your layout as it will be timeless. Pretty but impractical layouts are hard to keep organised and will surely drown in the hustle-bustle of everyday life.

#3: Choose the Right Lighting Essentials for Your Living Room

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Go for recessed lights or pendant lights based on the design of the room

When it comes to making your living room look more spacious and bright, lighting makes the list of essentials for a living room. Most living room designer tips state that your basic living room design must involve lighting elements that draw attention to significant objects. You can also strategically place these elements to achieve cosiness and elegance based on your design. 

If you’re interested in some essential furniture for your living room, the price of table lamps starts from S$9.80. However, please note that these prices are indicative and subject to change.

#4: A Living Room Designer Would Agree That Adding Dimension is the Key

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Add dimension to your living room with pouffes and statement furniture

Adding dimension is an excellent technique used by a living room designer; it is both simple and effective. The two mini bean bags to the right, placing the couch and the tray table in the middle and leaving the chest drawer at the bottom makes this living room look much more interesting and stylish than a simple ‘against the wall’ layout. Adding dimension will make any basic living room design look less cluttered and boring.

#5: Consider Using Rugs in Your Living Room Design Ideas

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Rugs used as seating space work as one of the essentials for living room decor

A living room designer would agree that rugs can change the aspect of a room entirely. This is one of those simple living room design ideas that serve different purposes and fit all styles. Cosiness, elegance, a pop of colour, unique attributes — name it and you will find a diverse variety of rugs to meet any of those requirements. 

Stick to the colour palette for harmony and let the rug do the rest! You can purchase rugs starting at S$7.40. Please note that prices mentioned are indicative and subject to change.

#6: Pick the Right Soft Furnishings

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Improve the style of your living room soft furnishings in complementary textures

Couches, curtains, cushions and throws are just some of the soft furnishings that will give that final touch to your living room. If you’re renovating your home, allow your living room designer to select colours and patterns for the space. While you can choose these elements on your own, it’s recommended to go in for expert guidance for long-lasting materials. 

Also ensure that all soft furnishings are chosen according to your living room design to further complement the space. You can get beautiful affordable cushions starting at S$6.2 (prices are subject to change).

#7: Design Your Living Room Based on Traffic Flow

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Organise your living room to match your lifestyle and habits

Functionality plays an extremely important role in modern design, and that’s what this smart living room designer tip will ensure. Consider the traffic flow of the room before arranging the different elements. Remember, you should neither block the most ‘travelled’ roads of the room nor the access to doors or windows.

#8: Be Sure to Choose Essential Furniture for Your Living Room

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The living room designer secret is in choosing the right furniture and placement for it

The world of living room designer tips has the particularity of being extremely broad, covering all sorts of requirements, constraints and tastes. Can you imagine how many couches, rugs, tables, curtains, cushions, chairs, etc are there to be found? All of which count as essential furniture for your living room.

Given the countless pieces available in the market, remind yourself that colour, style and how a particular piece can work well in your living room is typically at the top of the task-list of a living room designer.

#9: Focus on the Right Colour Scheme

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Design your living room with a colour scheme that reflects your preferred style

A living room designer will tell you that sticking to the colour scheme is vital to the successful design of a space. Complementary colours make your space look organised and luxurious. Although statement pieces in bright colours are a bold touch that can be used to elevate the design.

#10: Do Not Forget Flooring Options

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Hey, the floor is a huge element of your room — do not forget about it!

Yes, the floor! It might be flat and immovable but it is still a key element of focus for any living room designer. Toying with the idea of a minimalist living room design? Then make the difference with the floor. 

Hardwood, carpet, granite, ceramic — what you pick can make or break the look of the room, the way you feel and how it is perceived in terms of space. A living room designer would tell you that fancy, well-thought-out flooring is essential for elegant decor. Check out these 5 Amazing Living Room Floor Tiles And What You Need to Know About Them for more details. 

#11: Keep Storage in Mind

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Embrace multifunctional storage space in your living room design ideas

Remember all the things you own that are not for display? Where are you keeping them? If minimalist design is something you want to experiment with, you will need sufficient storage space to support it. Luckily, you can achieve this with some basic living room designer tricks. 

Living room designer tips for a minimalist design will always include the idea of selecting storage-intensive units as essential furniture for the living room. Pick decorative and functional storage furniture pieces and you will see the difference.

How Can Livspace Help You?

Now that you are an expert and can don the hat of a living room designer, let’s broaden your already impressive knowledge; read this interesting article on 5 Common Home Decor Mistakes and the Tips to Avoid Them. If you want the perfect design for your home, then look no further. Book an online consultation with Livspace today. 

Do you already have ideas brewing about the changes you’d like to make to your living room? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and queries to editor.sg@livspace.com.