Some people naturally have an excellent eye for design and decorating, but if you are like most people, you need to learn the skills if you want your living room to look wonderful. Mastering a few fundamental techniques can significantly enhance your experience, whether you are relocating to a new home or seeking a fresh aesthetic. Start by looking at photos online to help you figure out your decorating style. Once you have that in check, apply these simple design tips.

1. Identifying Your House’s Focal Point

This is the first step in having a wonderful living room design. A focal point is typically the most prominent feature of your living room. When you come home, it’s the first thing your eyes will naturally move to. For most houses, the centerpiece could be a fireplace or a large open window. To create a visually tasteful design, you want everything in the room to complement your focal point. If your house doesn’t have a defined focal point, you can create one by having accent walls, a statement artwork, or buying statement furniture.

2. Choose Your Furniture

Your design style, color scheme, and focal point will determine your furniture. Visit your local store and identify what you need, then use a truck to take everything home. While most stores can handle transport for you, hiring a truck ensures you get your furniture back the same day instead of relying on the store’s timetable. It also makes it easier for you to buy and transport other decorative pieces from different stores without your car doing the heavy lifting.

Arranging furniture is a common problem most people face. In most instances, you are tempted to push your sofa against a wall, set it against another, and you are done. While such an arrangement works for most people, you need to do a little more planning for your living room to stand out. Using your focal point, create a conversation area where your guests will gather.

3. Use Basic Measurement Rules

There are basic measurement rules you need to keep in mind. For instance, you need to keep your coffee table at least 15 to 18 inches from your sofa, while your art should be 56 to 60 inches from the floor. Art should also be less than 2/3 of your sofa size if you decide to spruce up the wall behind your sofa. Leave at least 5 to 9 inches between the couch and the art. If you plan to have a TV, multiply the diagonal size of your screen by two to determine the viewing distance. That is, how far your TV should be from your sitting area. Your sofa either rests on all four corners of your rug or is at least 12–18 inches away.

When decorating, most people start with painting, which ends up confusing them along the way. It’s always advisable to choose your paint color last after you have bought all the expensive items. This way, you can choose a paint color based on them instead of the other way around.