Detail
Planning
First
check the positions of existing fittings, eg. light switches should
be by the door. Arrange for plenty of power points so that there
will be no trailing flexes.
Draw the furniture you have into the same scale you drew the plan.
Try moving furniture here and there and find out the best positions.
After positioning the furniture you can measure the spaces free,
and if needed, you can order new furniture to match the size.
When you have finished with all these, revise the layout several
times. If it doesn't seem to be satisfying begin the process again.
Focal Points
It is almost impossible to relax looking at the face of the person
apposite to you. To relax people need their gaze directed at something
pleasant. The lack of any focal point tends to make people ill
at ease particularly in surroundings that are not familiar to
them.
The interior design of your living room may create such focal
points to look at, or may be the architecture will provide a panoramic
view to relax. Even the TV could be made a focal point given that
it plays a major role in your life.
Question the relevance of all traditional focal points, like pictures.
You may think of amusing and imaginative alternatives and produce
a room, which reflects your interests and expression of your personality.
Focal points can also emphasize a room's structure and add to
its quality. But they could vary in importance and scale.
As secondary focal points for example you can arrange a bouquet
of flowers on a table. Their colour, shape and form and the odor
will contribute to the character of the room. Nevertheless, it
must be understood that if they are kept at the same place for
a longer period of time their affect will gradually diminish.
Therefore, they must be rearranged frequently.
You can also emphasis certain features of your living room through
different colours. For example lacquered furniture will stand
out from the rest and a tray of green ferns can give living coloured
patterns.
At night you can make the mood of the principle area to dominate
others by the flick of a switch, by using artificial light.
