Make your Great Room Even Greater

The great room—also commonly called the living room, family room, or formal living room, is a special space that is often one of the largest rooms in the house. It requires some special decorating attention so that the space is maximized; otherwise it just looks like a big empty room. Or worse, it is stuffed from one side to the other with hodge-podge furniture, accessories, and accents, making it look small and unappealing. Here are a few tips to help make your great room even greater:

Get rid of the clutter and keep things organized. Although it is tempting to fill up a big room, use the great room as a place that people can comfortably socialize and spend time together instead. Organize the game equipment, consoles, movies, games, and other items near the entertainment center with drawers or doors to hide them when they are not in use. Arrange seating to create at least one place for people to congregate, but if the space is large enough organize the seating so that you can have several smaller seating areas.

Stay away from dark colors. The only places that can have dark shades are the floors, furniture, and accessories because utilizing these shades on the walls or ceilings will make the great room feel small and oppressive. One wall can have a darker shade than the others as a focal wall, but even then be careful not to go too dark or too vibrant to avoid overwhelming the room. The point of a focal wall is not to dominate a room, but to draw attention to some of the room’s best and most attractive features.

Maximize the natural lighting. Your energy bills will cost far less if you maximize the natural lighting in this room, especially during the summertime months. During the daytime hours there should be only limited use of electricity when you open the blinds in this space, and the winter months can be more enjoyable with the feeling of spaciousness in the great room. Natural light makes the room feel big and open, whereas artificial lighting makes the space feel closed in and dark.

Keep the personal information to a minimum. Most experts recommend moving family photos and albums into family spaces such as the family room, bedrooms, and den, leaving the great room and dining room with more abstract pieces. This is a great opportunity to show off large, bulky artwork that does not fit in any other room of the house, such as three-paneled wall art pieces or larger statues. Add a spotlight or recessed lighting to highlight your modern art and showcase each piece in the great room.

Sleek, contemporary looks are fabulous. The great room is usually full of neutral colors so that the focal point is something different that stands out, such as a fireplace, artwork, or the furniture. While you should stay away from really dark shades on the walls and ceiling, you can choose from many different contemporary looks that will make the great room even greater. This includes shades of blue, purples and greens with strong blue undertones, white, and metallic shades such as silver, gold, copper, nickel and bronze, as well as wrought iron. From abstract metal wall sculpture to sea turtle wall hangings, you’ll find thousands of ways to express yourself, especially if you browse online home decor sites.