Whether decorating to stay or staging to sell, the art of conversation is desperate for a space of its own.
Often referred to as the drawing room or the parlour, these quaint appellations were historically given to the space where hosts greeted their guests and served a cup of tea or glass of wine while catching up on the latest news or gossip. Today, it’s called “the living room” and it’s probably the only room left in the house for real time conversation.
But even if your living room does include a TV, working that TV in tastefully, without compromising the conversation, should be the goal. Until recently, we not only had to make room for the large tube TV, but the enormous armoires that hid them. Luckily, those tube televisions are quickly being replaced with flat screens, and the conversation area can reclaim its importance.
Start by defining your conversation area with a rug. Furniture can either sit on or off the rug, but make sure to take accurate measurements so that the rug provides the right footprint for the furniture you select. Combining two love seats and a chair or, a sofa with two chairs, will anchor your conversation area and create a comfortable and intimate environment. If there is a TV in the room, it should not take center stage. Furniture can move away from the walls and TV’s can be either wall-hung with an articulating arm for viewing, on top of a console or, in a wall unit that does not detract from but complements the conversation area. The size of your TV should be determined by the size of the room and the distance between your conversation area and the TV. So don’t buy the TV first and retrofit your seating or you’ll end up with a “man cave” instead of a conversation area.
And by the way, an ottoman is a living room MUST! Ottomans double as seating and as coffee tables, come in all shapes and sizes and can be moved in, out, or around your room easily. Tucked under a sofa table, in a corner or under a window, ottomans can be used for storage and when done in bold colors, totally spice up a neutral palette, and draw the eye away from the TV and back to the conversation.
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