KATHMANDU: In modern homes and apartments, the living room has replaced the old fashioned parlour. In the 19th century, the parlour was the room in the house where the recently deceased were laid out before their funeral. This became the more affirmative term “living room” in the 20th century.The term marks the twentieth-century effort of architects and builders to strip the parlour of its burial and mourning associations. A typical western living room will be furnished with a sofa, chairs, occasional tables, a television or stereo equipment and bookshelves, as well as other pieces of furniture. Lights, colour, rugs, pillows, cushions, furniture and accessories can alter a drab living room.

“The living room is the heart of a house. So, it should always be attractive and reflect the personality of the house owner,” said Binay Upadhhya of Binisha Interior Service. Rearranging a living room can be fun, bringing a new sense of life to your house without making any drastic changes. Hence the living area should be well decorated, well laid out and appeal to guests and family members alike. It should project a homely and comfortable yet elegant image.

Designing a lighting plan in a living room is often harder than designing a lighting plan for the kitchen or bathroom. “Living room should be of a light colour as it will reflect the personality of the owner and also evokle a soothing feeling,” said Suresh Bajracharya of Sky Fine Interior Designing Work. Above all else, the furniture in the living room should make it livable. It should be grouped so that it offers centres of interest, convenience and comfort. The walls and floor coverings should be in place so that the choice of furniture will be merely the selection of the best out of several possibilities. Of course, the quality, shape and colour of furniture may vary, and quantity as well.

A living room is the first room that your guests are going to look at. It is the place where most of your entertainment will be done, and it is also the place where most of the ‘living’ is done. Decorating a living room can be a nightmare or it can be so much fun, depending on your perspective of decorating. Simplicity is key. Modern means simple. It is wise to go in for furniture that is simple, with classic lines and cuts.” One great way to make a living room modern is to make it all one colour. White is a great way to go” said Bajracharya. He added that on the contrary, ethnic means a lot of colour and culture in your living room. One great way to decorate a living room or add some oomph to it is by using different fabrics throughout the room.

Some diligence and common sense can make your living room stand out and be counted in the elite social set-up. A little care towards your living room can perk up the spirits of everyone concerned. It is not necessary to buy new things to decorate a living room; one can look for things with history and character or check out garage sales and auction sites online, and not to forget to raid grandmother’s attic for some great finds.