Living Large

When you are faced with decorating a very large or open space, it can be hard to know exactly how to make it feel cozy and warm. Here are 7 great tips to assist you in creating a balanced and comfortable space...

Traditional Living Room by Denver Kitchen And Bath Exquisite Kitchen Design

1. Swap your coffee table for an oversize ottoman. "Large seating arrangements can feel a bit empty if there is too much distance between the sofa and coffee table. Choosing a big upholstered ottoman instead of a traditional coffee table will close that gap and add softness at the same time."

Contemporary Living Room by Half Moon Bay Interior Designer Kristi Will Home + Design

2. Use an L-shaped sectional as a room divider. "A great place for your L-shaped sofa is between two seating areas or dividing the living and dining spaces in an open-plan space."

Eclectic Living Room by Berkeley Interior Designer Kristina Wolf Design

3. Strategically place tall potted plants. "Fill vertical height in rooms with tall ceilings or fill bare, lonely corners with potted trees. As long as your space gets enough light to support the plant's needs (check with your garden store for instructions and recommendations), you really can't go wrong with adding a massive houseplant."

Contemporary Living Room by New York Interior Designer MuseInteriors

4. Use a daybed as a room divider. "In a really large living room, you may wish to create two full seating areas. Mark the separation while keeping the flow between the two zones with furniture you can easily see over: a daybed, bench, or chaise is a good option."

Contemporary Family Room by Boston Interior Designer the orpin group, interior design

5. Define zones with a console table. "Another option for sectioning off parts of a large living room is floating your sofa in the middle of the room and placing a console table behind it."

Contemporary Living Room by San Francisco Architect Sutro Architects

6. Use occasional chairs. "Another great use of surplus wall space is for housing a few extra chairs. A console table between a pair of chairs with a large mirror or artwork above always looks smart, and you can pull the chairs in closer when hosting a large group."

Modern Living Room by Atlanta Architect TaC studios, architects

7. Create a second seating area or reading nook. "In a large living room, even after filling out a main seating arrangement, there will likely be an odd corner that remains unfilled. If you put as much effort into this corner as into the "main" seating area, it may well become your favorite hangout spot."

via Houzz