Designing a living room can mean something as thrilling as decorating a living space from top to bottom, complete with brand new furniture and paint. It may also be as simple as adding only a few new pieces to complete the look of your den. Here are some great interior design, whether you're working from the ground up, or just making tweaks here and there.

Step one: Choose your Style

Living room furniture needs to be somewhat consistent to tie a room together. First, take a look at your existing furniture. If you're starting fresh, find some suitable furniture online that you love. What style is it? Modern living rooms are sleek, and somewhat reminiscent of the 50's and 60's. This style may also be called mid-century. Traditional furniture is best described as normal furniture, that would not look out of place in any home in America. Contemporary living rooms are very current, and may feature smooth organic lines.

Define the type of furniture you have now, or choose your favorite style, and try to keep every piece you purchase within the same family. It's very hard to mix styles, but if you have your heart set on it, it can be done through tying together color or texture.

Step Two: Choose your palette

Your color palette is just as important as your furniture! A good palette combines a range of colors, but it's a good idea not to have more than one or two strong colors in your palette. If you choose a primary color, like bright red, try to keep it minimal. Muted colors around it will make every red item a centerpiece. Want a modern couch? Try it in red, with a cool color on the walls, and possibly a white rug. That red couch will be the center of the room. You should also try and pair a few complementary colors, like plums and mustards (purples and yellows) or oranges and blues (Coral and ice blue). Remember, it's the base tone that's important, not how bright it is.

Step Three: Choose your living room furniture

Now that you know what style and color palette you want, it's time to shop for furniture online! Look at a few pieces for your living room. If you have your couch or sectional already, pick up some end tables, or a coffee table or cocktail ottoman to match. You may also want to consider an entertainment center for your TV, or a small side table or credenza for storage.

Before you chose any furniture for a living room, you should plot out on paper how it will be arranged. Decide where every piece will go, and measure your space. Sometimes our estimates of how much space we have can be very inaccurate. A good living room furniture arrangement should be open, and allow easy pathways on each side for people to walk. If you tend to occupy any flat surface with clutter, think about furniture with built in storage.

No matter what your tastes, it's easy to set up a great living room that you and your guests will love!

Article originally published at Source by Matt Thomson