Living Room Too Big? Create a Cozy Look Regardless

Just ask homeowners that have a small living room; they will be more than willing to exchange their smaller space for a grander one that is more ideal for relaxing and entertaining with friends and family. But wide open spaces can seem cold and impersonal. If you're lucky enough to have a great big living room, you can make it seem welcoming and cozy with a few decorating tips.

Warm It Up with Color

Rich warm colors will make a space feel more intimate and inviting. Deep tones of burgundy, umber, mango and apricot will envelop the space with warmth and ambiance. Sample jars of paint make it easy for you to test a color in a small area or on a piece of poster board before committing the entire room to a particular color.

The best selections for furniture and accessories are those that add contrast with complementary and warm shades. While closely related shades are a good idea when you want to expand a space, providing contrast in a large room will minimize its scale. Black and white can be used effectively to ground the colors, while warm shades such as gold and paprika are fabulous options. Repeat your accent colors throughout the room in bold swaths of color in curtain panels and window treatments, pillows and throws, lamps, wall mount vase lampshades, wall art and accessories.

Large pieces like tall urns that can accent a corner or that are positioned on an open ledge, help to bring the area down to size and make it cozier.

Add Depth and Warmth with Wall Decor

Continue the warm palette in wall decor. You can add dimension and contrast to the area by hanging metal wall art, which also affords you the change to add an emphasis with your selected accent colors. Choose metal wall art with bold graphic designs in a contemporary space and classic motifs for a more traditional look. Add impressive definition to bare walls by hanging wrought iron wall art. In rooms with high ceilings, semi-circular or rectangular wrought iron wall art can accent bare space above entries and windows. Metal or wrought iron wall art can lend beauty and style to any living room, no matter the decor theme.

Define Space and Get in the Zone

It's natural to feel overwhelmed by a large expansive space that is continuous and unbroken. Create 'zones' in your large living room, delineating conversation areas, entertainment areas and so forth.

Area rugs can be used to define spaces. Choose a patterned rug that pulls your color choices together. Use rugs to anchor a space, arranging furniture around the perimeter.

•    Pull furniture in toward the center of the room. Create a conversation area by defining the space with your area rug, then arrange a couch and love seat and/or side chairs in an inviting diagonal arrangement that encourages conversation.

•    Use a table and chairs on another end of the room anchored by an area rug for casual dining, game playing or impromptu gatherings - you have the space, now enjoy it!

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