Image credit: Aleksey Gnilenkov
When you think of a contemporary living room, does it conjure up an image of stark minimalism in your mind? That is the case for many people, but a modern room doesn’t have to be that way.
Contemporary is all about quality. If you don’t use the best materials and furniture, the room will look cheap and tacky. Here is how you and achieve success with your living room design.
The Floor Covering
Laminate flooring suits modern rooms. It gives the perfect finish that you seek in this setting. It is surprisingly good value too when you consider all of the benefits it brings to the room. It comes in hundreds of shades and patterns, so there is something for every situation. Here is how to install it.
- Take up you old floor covering.
- Using a crowbar or hammer and chisel, remove the skirting boards and architraves form the walls and doorways.
- Put thermal insulation on the floor. It comes on a roll or as tiles that interlock.
- Put the first board down in one corner of the room. Work lengthways until you come to the last board of the row.
- Cut that piece with a hand saw and put it in place. Use the cut-off piece to start the next row.
- Be sure to stagger the end joints.
- Replace the skirting board and architraves with new ones.
Furniture Selection
Even though your room doesn’t have to be minimalist, you mustn’t clutter it with too much furniture. Instead, choose one or two high-quality pieces from a Mayan walnut furniture range. A centre coffee table, bookcase, and modern sideboard may be the only items you need to furnish a room. The seating units don’t have to be part of a set. Choose individual chairs and sofas if you like; eclectic is en vogue.
Decoration
Keep the decor plain and simple. Remember those stark minimalist rooms to which I referred earlier? That would have brilliant white walls. You might choose to tone them down by using a cream or neutral shade. White looks stunning in the evenings because it displays shadows well, but in the daytime it is cold and too bright in my opinion.
Some people make a feature out of one wall with a modern mural, but that is all you need in the room. You can have it of any image you like thanks to the wonders of digital technology.
Illumination
You will have no trouble finding light fittings to suit your room. Small LED lights that you sink into the ceiling are perfect here. They bring cutting-edge technology into the room and are attractive too. Whatever fittings you buy, make sure that have LED bulbs in them. There are many advantages to this form of lighting that we will discuss another time.
Focal Point
If you have plenty of money, invest it in a focal point fire. Some of the units can be very expensive indeed, but they are worth every penny in my humble opinion. You can choose anything from a log burning fire to a gas-fired unit reminiscent of that found in a blacksmith’s forge.
It sounds exciting doesn’t it? I bet you can’t wait to make a start. I intend to practice what I preach and am off to fetch my tools from the shed. I hope you found something that you can use. Until next time, I hope your projects go well.
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