Whether or not you like to entertain guests in your home, the fact of the matter is that you’ll have people come to visit you at some point. Whether it’s family from out of town or some friends from work, you’ll want to ensure the room you’ll likely spend the most time with them in has a welcoming feel. If you’re unsure how to do that, this short guide on how to make your living room more inviting will be pretty beneficial to you.
Brighten the Room Up
The first step to making any room more inviting is brightening things up. If you already have plenty of windows, make sure you get into the habit of opening the blinds or curtains more often. A dark room won’t be as appealing to your guests.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of a ton of windows. If this is the case for you, you’ll want to invest in additional lighting. Since too many artificial lights can be a bit off-putting, look into ones designed to mimic sunlight. These will help your living room appear to have much more natural light.
Set Up Some Pictures
Blank walls and empty tabletops can look a little weird to guests. That’s why you should add some pictures to fill in the space. Don’t just use generic photos, however. Instead, use pictures of yourself, your family and friends, or even the places you’ve visited. Not only will photos like these make your space more inviting, but they will also be great conversation starters.
Include Plenty of Seating
One thing that can make any room seem less inviting is a lack of seating. Unless you’re throwing a giant party, your guests won’t want to stand around talking to each other. They’ll be much more comfortable if they have a place to sit.
Putting in an extra couch might be difficult if your room isn’t that big, but you could use something smaller, like an accent chair. Knowing the best place to put an accent chair in your living room isn’t always easy, but once you make the space for it, your guests will appreciate it.
Make Things More Comfortable
When it comes to making your living room more inviting, comfort is key. If you don’t have any throw pillows or blankets to curl up with, your guests might not want to stay very long. Even if you have comfy furniture, adding these things can add to the room’s overall comfort level. Be sure to pick out pillows and blankets with colors that fit the room’s overall look.
Add a Pleasing Scent
Of course, a welcoming living room can come from more than just look and touch. Smell is another essential sense that dramatically impacts how inviting this room can be. Whether you decide to use candles or an air freshener, picking out the right scent can be difficult. A good rule of thumb is to avoid overpowering fragrances. Even if they smell good, they can be too much for some people and cause them to want to go to a different room.
