The room in your home that shouldn’t be overlooked. Part one design series.

When it comes to your home there is one room that should never be overlooked when it comes to making it a space that is comfortable, warm and reflects your personality, it is your living room. It is the one room in the house (other than your bedroom) where you can truly relax. But it is not easy to relax in a room that is over cluttered or just doesn’t make you feel comfortable. Your living room is a space to be cherished, a space where you can be totally yourself and it should reflect your personality. It should be somewhere you not only feel truly at home, but a space where you feel proud to invite your friends into as well.

I have written a post before about how to make a vision board. It was in relation to following your dreams and figuring out how to live a happier life, but vision boards are also a great idea for creating the kind of space you want to live in as well! Vision boards not only give you a creative space to put ideas up, but they help make dreams a reality. Have you heard of ‘the law of attraction’? Basically if you put something forward to the universe, it will find its way to you. By pinning ideas on a vision board you are sending vibes out and allowing the universe to understand what your needs are. It might all sound a little weird, but hey it’s worth a try if it works and you get the living room looking how you visioned! It is also a great visual reminder to you to do something to make it happen (or maybe a visual reminder to make your partner help you make it happen to). Other names used for vision board in design is a ‘mood board’.

Where to start.

• Getting together ideas. Pinterest is a great place to start, look up interior design boards and see what grabs your attention. You will soon start to notice that you are going for a particular look, feel or colour palate. Grab some magazines or brochures and cut out images you like and start pinning them to your vision board. head to a paint store or hardware store and look at paint colours, put together colours that make you feel good. For a living room there are no rules, but go for something that makes you feel relaxed, but happy! Remember white walls may seem boring or sterile, but they can be the perfect choice as they allow you freedom to change cushions and wall prints without having to repaint your walls down the track. This goes for choosing blinds or other window trimmings, a neutral plate can be a great base and allow for changes in taste without breaking the bank later on.
• Choose a great couch or lounge suite. Take time figuring out what sort of couch or sofa you want. This is an expensive purchase so you want it to last. Go for comfort if it is somewhere you spend loads of time, but make sure you love the style too.  If you have young children or a pet that sheds a lot of hair leather may be your best choice. The issue I have with leather is if you buy cheap it won’t last, it will begin to crack very soon and it won’t be long before it is looking old. If you have it in your budget go for a great quality leather, pay that little bit more and it will last forever. My advice if you can’t afford a good leather then go for material as you can get a much better quality couch for a lot less than its leather counterpart. I actually prefer material as it doesn’t feel cold in winter and you wont stick to it in summer. If you have children it may be worth investing in fabric protector treatment, or cover the couch with an inexpensive throw rug. Have your pet learn to sit on a blanket on the couch to stop the hair getting everywhere. Also a crucial rule to buying a sofa! Sale! Sale! Sale! wait for the sales, they all go on sale, never pay full price.
• Colour Choices. Choosing a colour plate can seem daunting when you are faced with endless colour options. Like I said earlier if you find images you like start pinning them and soon you will notice a pattern forming. Still confused? I suggest going for a neutral base. paint your walls a shade of white. White walls conjure up a feeling of relaxation and refinement. Don’t go stark white though or you may feel like you are in a hospital. It is best to speak to a colour expert in store, tell them what sort of feel you are looking for and how much natural light the room gets. Take in images of your room or other furnishings. There are some amazing shades of white that can work well for a provincial look, the (very on trend) Scandinavian look, minimal looks and even a vintage look. Going for a white base or a cream base if you prefer then allows for freedom in choosing colours to add to your room to really give it a splash of your personality. This is where you can have as much fun as you want! Cushions and Art Work are great ways to add personality or a statement to your living room, choosing key piece to begin styling around is a great idea (which I will elaborate on in Part 2).  Think yellows or aquas for brightness,