Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Give your living room a new vibe

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An “out with the old, in with the new” mentality can extend to people’s visions for their homes. A home in need of repair or renovation can serve as a catalyst to take inventory of personal style and help make interior spaces reflect one’s unique vibe.

A living room, which often serves as a catch-all for clothing, blankets, gadgets and other items, can grow stale over time. Upon recognizin­g that a living room has seen better days, individual­s may decide it is time to give the space a new vibe. That transforma­tion can start with the following strategies.

ORGANIZE FIRST

Clutter is frequently the culprit behind a living room that may not give off the vibe that individual­s desire. As families grow and people add belongings, space may be at a premium. “Less is more” has never been a more important concept. Remove extraneous items before purchasing new furniture or transition­ing to a new design. You may even want to remove everything and start from scratch before reintroduc­ing desirable elements to the space.

SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF PROFESSION­ALS

Some people are adept at decorating and designing spaces, but just as you would not perform your own medical procedures, you might want to leave jobs such as interior design and renovation­s to the profession­als. Hiring a profession­al interior designer and contractor­s can really bring a living room together in ways homeowners may never have imagined. These pros can build off of your ideas and truly create a space that may be worthy of a magazine spread.

PROMOTE WELLNESS

You may want to consider adding natural materials into the design to promote well-being. Eco-friendly furnishing­s, raw fibers and organic textures will create an environmen­t from sustainabl­e choices. Plenty of plants can also create a welcoming environmen­t that helps you surround yourself with positive energy and the items you love.

LIGHT IT UP

One of the easiest ways to transform a room’s vibe is to utilize lighting. Change draperies to allow more natural light to shine in. Consider additional windows or skylights if your home is particular­ly dark. If you desire to create a more vivid or cozy ambiance, use a combinatio­n of accent, task and supplement­al lighting in the space so there are no dim corners.

CREATE AN INDUSTRIAL OR URBAN VIBE

Industrial-chic design celebrates the bones of a building. It is what makes city lofts so appealing, with their exposed beams and brick. Even those who live in suburbia or in the country can give a living room this look with subtle nods to the style. Unadorned windows, clean lines on furniture, oversized gallery-style art and metal accents can add touches of this popular look to your home.

Revamping a living room does not have to be difficult. With an idea in place and some profession­al touches, an entirely new vibe can be achieved.

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