The livable living room: The top ten things to consider

What do you want your living room to "feel like" to friends and family?

by LIZ HOWARD
Sun Columnist
*Archived September 2006 article

2. Traffic patterns. What are they? Do you walk in front of the TV to get through the room to the rest of the house? Is that coffee table, if located right there, going to become a barrier and a nuisance? Can a group of people talk comfortably?

3. Tone. What do you want your living room to "feel like" to friends and family? Is it to be warm and welcoming, or formal and "polite?"

4. Folks are all sizes. People range from the tall to the short, the small to the large. Find pieces of furniture so that everyone can find a comfortable seat.

5. Focal point. Every room needs a focal point, or an "anchor." It might be a picture window with a view, or a large cabinet, or a piece of art. It might also be a wall painted in an accent color.

6. Television. If the room will hold a television set, then that dictates certain other considerations. Should the chairs be recliners? Is the viewing range out of the traffic lanes?

7. Layer. Place the largest piece of furniture, like the sofa or sectional, first. Then "fill in" the rest of the space with smaller pieces like chairs and ottomans. Make sure that each seating place has a table nearby to hold magazines and refreshments.

8. Lighting. Generally as many as three different types of lighting are needed to make a room really work. General lighting illuminates the room - it might be overhead or indirect. Task lighting, such as table lamps, illuminate specific areas for specific purposes. Accent lighting, like spots or track lighting make an object more important and create interest.

9. Windows. Especially in Hawaii, window coverings are required for environmental control. Late afternoon sun can make a room unusable, making window coverings crucial. But be careful not to cut off air circulation, or make the room too dark.

10. Flexibility. Smaller places especially require flexible rooms. Have furniture that can be easily moved about, like chairs on casters and tables with attached tops.

President and owner of Howard Design Group, Liz Howard is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. As past National President of that 31,000-member organization, she is the only designer in the state of Hawaii to be elected to the ASID College of Fellows. Howard has been practicing interior design in Hawaii for over 40 years. The firm has won many design awards for both residential and commercial work, and Howard's articles have been published in numerous magazines across the country.