Home rejuvenation

The living room can undoubtedly be considered the most important room in our house.

A large coffee table in the middle of the seating area is great for both function and aesthetics. It acts as an anchor for the room with enough space for people to put down drinks and serving bowls, and even allows the host to display his or her favourite accessories.

If there is anything that highlights the furniture in our living room, it's an area rug. Area rugs are like artwork for the floor. It belongs under the furniture, big enough so that most furniture can sit on it. It is a great way of infusing some playfulness into the room by adding bold patterns or intricate designs.

Home n décor, a three-storied interior store located at Baridhara, showcases a wide variety of rugs of different size and colour starting from Tk 5000-Tk 20,000. If you are budget shopping, then Elephant Road can be a haven for the right rug for your home.

A proper home needs the right amount of lighting. Overhead lights will illuminate your home, creating the perfect ambience for parties and hangouts. Overhead lighting consists of lights that are mounted to the ceiling such as pot lights, track lights and flush mounts.

If chandeliers are too much of a hassle, choose subtler alternatives such as table and floor lamps. Scatter them throughout the place wherever light is needed. In the evening, lights should be soft and warm to create an environment for relaxation. Idea Crafts and Lights has an excellent collection of table and floor lamps within a modest budget. If you opt for something outside the norm, Turkish lamps can be a good start.

Mosaic Turk, located on the third floor of Home n décor, will definitely satisfy anyone's undying love for home aesthetics such as lamps of varying designs and colours.

As any decorator will tell you, curtains make a room, but only when chosen correctly. Curtains play a vital role in dressing up your windows so it is of utmost importance to choose the right colour, fabric, length and lining.

For the basics, just remember to avoid bright coloured curtains if the room gets a lot of light since they tend to fade faster. It is better to go with neutral colours since they are less likely to fade and would blend in with the room's décor easily.

When it comes to materials — linen, silk, faux silk and velvet are the best choices, with faux silk being most durable. In any curtain store, you will have a huge variety to choose from among which ascot valences, Australian panel or sheers are versatile window coverings with a graceful, airy feel suitable for living rooms whereas, blinds and draperies can be opted for bedrooms giving a lot more privacy than an open window.

Elephant Road and New Market have countless stores to choose from. You can also splurge a little at curtain stores like Weavers, New Classic Fabrics, and Marvella Furnishing Ltd. Curtain Park is also a must-visit store for curtain shopping.

We take extra measure to show our everchanging tastes and lifestyle by updating our homes. But, it is not always easy to swap a couch or buy a new chandelier. Instead, we can work on a smaller scale to freshen up the feel of our living rooms.

Start by adding an accent wall. The basic colour of the living room can start appearing a little mundane. An accent wall provides a perfect opportunity to use a bold colour or wallpaper that you do not want to use for an entire room but would look great on a smaller dose.

Secondly, the couch is the most important furniture in your living room. You spend an enormous amount of time on it and there is nothing more unpleasant than an uncomfortable sofa. Use some extra cash to find the perfect sofa for your home.

Athena's, Otobi, Hatil, Hi Fashion Gallery and Koncept provide both comfort and modern trends in their sofa and couch sets. Nonetheless, buying new couches and chairs can still be a little too expensive. In that case, it is simpler to change your pillow. You can change the colour scheme from blue-grey to orange-red or from floral to mod.

Moreover, you can always add some knickknack that goes with your taste. Candle holders with scented candles are perfect monsoon addition to your living room. Animal showpieces, marble sculptures, artwork in glass and vintage globes never go out of style and can easily spice up a bland living room.

Aarong has a wonderful collection of local handmade pillow cases. Aurora Interior, Idea Crafts and Kinori are definitely worth a visit in this regard. New Market and Gulshan DCC also have innumerable stores to choose from.

Lastly, do not forget to add something fresh to your living room. Be it indoor plants, herm pots, or the classic flower pots. Greenery will instantly revamp your living space and make it more alive.

The time that we spend in our living room with our loved ones is very precious. So, why let it look more like a disorganised heap rather than a temple?

Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed/Nazneen Haque Mimi