Liven up your living room with new decor

The living room probably is the most important room in the house from a "first impression" point of view. It is where we greet guests and gather with friends. The living room is unlike any other room from a decorating standpoint. The bedroom should have a bed in it, the dining room should have a table and chairs in it, but the living room can be abstract in its decor. Let's begin with examining our intentions for the use of this room. Will it be a place for gathering and entertaining? Will it mainly be a formal "front parlor"? Will it be really lived in on a daily basis? For entertaining, the space should be set up in a manner conducive to conversation, such as small seating areas, plus open enough for mingling. There should be accessory tables by or very near each seat so guests have a place to set a drink down if need be. Carpet or an area rug should be underfoot for comfort and also for deadening noises. And be sure the room's furnishings and fabrics are conducive to partying. Delicate fabrics don't belong in a room that will be used for entertainment. If it's to be a formal receiving room, then formal furniture with perhaps a slight air of sophistication would be appropriate. If the lived-in look is more like it, then comfortable "come-sit-on-me"-type of furniture is the way to go. Is the living room immediately on view to guests, or is there a hall or foyer blocking it? If immediately visible, then a neat, orderly look is necessary, and this look can fit into any of the above scenarios. Consider traffic flow. Is this room the main street to other rooms? If so, then be sure the floor covering is durable and doesn't show wear. Also, if it is the main thoroughfare, be sure furnishings are clear of the "runway" so hips, shins and furniture stay clear of bumps. Personality is the main ingredient to the living room Ñ or any room in the house, for that matter. The room should have a purpose and that purpose should be reflected in the decor. If you like the formal look, then your decor should reflect that. If casual is more your style, by all means, decorate it to reflect a casual atmosphere. But allow this room a little more formality than, say, the family room. Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color," available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com on the Internet.