How To Make Your Living Room the ULTIMATE Hang-Out Area

Living Rooms are a special space because they are large enough for everyone to get together and spend quality time. A space to do exactly what it is named after— LIVE! This room in your home should have all the key elements to a great time but we think the top priority should be comfort! We made a list of the best ways to cultivate a comfortable and “livable” living room.

1. Seating – Diversify

One sofa is hardly ever enough when it comes to the ultimate hangout area but often most spaces only have room for one. So what would we do in this situation? Add a lounge chair paired with a cozy blanket or some thick soft floor pillows perfect for those who can’t be confined to a seat. It creates dimension within the room and multiple comfort options for visitors. ​

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2. ​Fireplace– Gather round

Fireplaces have been the gathering place for families for as long as humans have been around. It’s a cozy place to relax and spend quality time together working on projects or chatting. Not every home comes with a traditional fireplace but that doesn’t mean it's not possible to add one without busting the budget. Electric fireplaces are a great alternative. If you do have a traditional fireplace, does it need a bit of an upgrade? Cosmetic fireplace changes are a great project to really change up the vibe of a room.

3. ​Let’s Face Each Other

When placing your furniture, think about how the flow of conversation would go. It can be hard when all the furniture faces walls or TV’s, have you considered facing sofas and chairs to each other to promote conversation? We try to encourage this in all of our projects. ​

4. ​Surfaces, Surfaces, Surfaces

There is nothing better than a comfortable sofa, the only thing that can make it better is having a surface nearby to place our tea on! Having many surfaces of different heights and movability can seriously increase comfort levels. Having small tables or stools that you can move easily wherever you need them as well as ample side tables and a useful coffee table will make your living room the ultimate hangout area. ​

5. Get The Lighting Right

There are so many different things we do in our living room that require all different types of lighting. Perhaps a task lamp next to the sofa is perfect for reading or working on a project, but a soft lit table lamp in a different area is better for a cozy hangout session with our family or friends. Getting the lighting right is an overlooked step in creating a cozy setting. Some of these subtleties can be a challenge and we’re alway here to help with a lighting plan. ​

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6. ​Entry Ways

How do you get in and out of your living room? Is it a big open floor plan or a small arch? How open or closed off you are to the rest of the house can have a major impact on the intimacy of the space. Perhaps installing barn doors to shut you in a bit more or tearing down a wall to open it up is exactly what your space needs.

We are passionate about creating your dream home and the only way to help is getting to know you and your family, identifying your needs, and creating a plan to get you there. Would you ever consider any of these suggestions to increase the comfort levels of your living room? Let us know in the comments~