When choosing a color, you’ll want to look at how much natural light the room receives throughout the day and think about your other sources of lighting. Natural, fluorescent, and incandescent light can all change the look of a paint color, which is why it’s important to see the color in your space before you break out the roller and brushes.

Living rooms may be everyone's favorite space in the home for the warmth and coziness they afford, but we have to acknowledge the brilliant work of designers who went above and beyond, turning what's traditionally considered a place of relaxation into carefully curated chambers that also spark our imaginations. Sure, you'll find rolled-arm sofas and tufted ottomans and other creature comforts, but you'll also see unexpected paint treatments, eclectic combinations of antique, contemporary, and custom furnishings, and a slew of other elements that show just how much attention to detail went into each creation.

In any room that's tight on space, it's tempting to push all big furniture up against the walls to create a kind of pool of open flooring in the middle. But while useful for doing cartwheels—and there is some real liberation in being able to do just that—the space would be put to better use serving a function.

Never underestimate the power of a focal point. Sometimes they appear naturally as windows or built-in mantels, while other times you create them yourself, as with media units and televisions. Whatever your focal point is, make a decision and stick with it. You’ll want to arrange furniture around it as much as possible.