What type of living room do you like? That is the question that we would like to delve deeper into today and before you get things a touch mixed up, let us assure you that we are not talking about the style of the living room. Your preferred living room style could be modern, traditional, minimal, Scandinavian or eclectic – that is not something we will be worried about today. No matter what your preferred style is, what we are looking to explore is the layout and overall functionality of the living space. Different folk, quite obviously, want different things from their living room. And that is why we are sharing with you today the most popular types of living rooms.

Lush green courtyard and outdoor dining area connected with the living room for an open, airy appeal [From: Addison Schierbeek Architects]

Living rooms are increasingly becoming a part of the larger narrative in homes – the open plan living space where the living area, kitchen and dining room and all connected in one flowing form. This means there is an entire new world of possibilities that opens up when it comes to living room preferences. From the open and inviting space that is connected with the outdoors to the small and more intimate setting, this is a guide to the most popular and practical living room types that you can choose from –

One with the Outdoors

This one is probably the list topper just because of how popular it has been in the last decade and the way in which homeowners are falling in love with the look more and more. Even older homes are opting for makeovers that connect the living space with the garden, courtyard and or backyard using sliding glass doors in a seamless manner. Even in big city apartments, opening up the living room to the view outside makes a big difference to the ambiance.

Stunning natural views outside steal the spotlight in this amazing living room with a high ceiling [From: Fine Line Surfaces]

Built for a Crowd

Maybe you are a socialite who has friends and family over all the time. And if that is the case, then a large living room with multiple seating options is the best one for you. You will need a space that has plenty of room for traffic and this means sufficient square footage between sofas, chairs, the coffee table and other décor pieces is an absolute must. Apart from the multiple sofa and chair options, it is also good to have a room with high ceilings and ample natural light to drive out any sense of claustrophobia.

Expand the views of the living room to give it a more open and modern appeal [From: Pineapple House Interior Design]

Small and Intimate

Not a person who enjoys crowd? Maybe your living room just cannot be a space for more than two or three individuals. The small living room with space-savvy design is one that ensures you have everything you need without filling the room with too many things. A comfortable couch, maybe a club chair in the corner with floor light that acts as reading nook, an indoor plant and entertainment unit are all you need in here.

Cozy and intimate living space in black with a dashing and sophisticated visual appeal [From: Unique Homestays]

Tiny living room with a gallery wall that adds color to the small setting [From: Regina Creative]

Social space Connected with the Kitchen

The trend of open plan living spaces connected with the kitchen and dining area mean you would want a living area that feels like a part of the larger space both in terms of design and style. Choose colors and finishes for this living room that can be repeated in the kitchen and dining area. You can always delineate this area without walls by using false ceilings, area rugs, half-walls that double as bookshelves and smart room dividers.

Living room in this home becomes an extension of the kitchen despite its eclectic style [From: Style & Sold]

A Comfortable View to Savor

Having a living room that is connected with the outdoors is one thing and living in one where the view outside becomes the focus of it all is a whole different matter. Here, the décor and accessories chosen for the living area are minimal, understated and allow the backdrop to take over completely. Do not add anything that disturbs the line of sight and let the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and large glass doors unveil magic.

New York city views from the living space add value to the setting [From: Design by Ruchi]

Multi-Tasking Wonders

If you are someone who tends to demand more from every little nook in your home, then the living room with décor that multi-tasks is the one for you. The small sofa that doubles as daybed, the coffee table that can be lifted up to act as the work table, a TV that is neatly hidden behind sliding doors and a side table that acts as additional seating when needed – there are plenty of options to choose from. In tiny living areas a custom central platform that hides multiple furniture pieces is a great choice.

Industrial style small living room multi-tasks with ease

Tiny living room also serves as the bedroom and the home office

Wall of Books

Are you a bibliophile? Then you are in absolute luck as the last few years have seen the ‘wall of books’ in the living room becoming a popular decorative option. Everything from custom floor-to-ceiling bookcases to standalone units that are more suited to small living rooms are welcome in here. Combine these shelves with comfy couches and maybe a lovely little window nook and you have a great place to rest and rejuvenate.

Booklover’s living room with custom shelves in the backdrop that offer ample storage space [From: N.ice Design]

For the TV Lover

If you are a kid of the 80’s and the 90’s, then it is almost impossible to imagine a living space without the TV. Sure, you are moving on with the trend and switching over to smartphones for entertainment, but for many of us, the TV is still the focal point of the living room. As Joey would tell you “it is the direction in which all your furniture is pointed at”. Make sure that the television here becomes a part of the living room narrative and you can even use sliding panels to hide it away when not in use. TV above the fireplace may not be a favorite for many, but it is still a look worth considering for those interested in the cool combo.

TV above the fireplace is a popular look in the contemporary living room [From: Tutto Interiors]

TV and fireplace become the focal point of this small living space [From: Liz Marchant Interiors]

So, what is your living room type?

You're reading Discover Your Living Room Type: Guide to that Perfect Modern Living space, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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The color of your flooring is a vital element to consider when designing a room because it helps bring together your overall decor scheme. 

Source: From the Forest

Unfortunately, many people shy away from this aspect of home decor because they don’t know how to choose the best option to go with their flooring. A great floor color sets the tone of the room and alters how you see the space. For instance, lighter flooring gives a small room an illusion of space.

Source: Designing Idea

Source: BuildDirect

Source: DirectWoodFlooring

 This article will help guide you on the colors to use with various floorings.

Avoid using warm colors

It’s best to avoid using warm colors when you have warm wooden floors and trim. A cooler color will generally look better and help balance out the warmth in the flooring. 

Source:My Decor Trends

Source: BuildDirect

Source: the spruce

Understand that wood has a color

People often fail to realize that wood has its own color, and it is not neutral. Choosing a wall color without taking time to see how it fits with the existing flooring could be a costly mistake. 

Source: Houzz

Tips: A good way to avoid this problem is by taking a small piece of your flooring to the paint shop, or a photograph.

Combine greys with other colors

A grey wood floor color goes well with blue walls. This color combination gives the room a cool and relaxing look. Navy blue is also highly recommended with grey flooring. It’s a perfect combination.

Source: RoomDsign

Use darker hardwood flooring with a lighter wall paint

Dark hardwood flooring was frowned upon some time ago, but people are beginning to use it again and it is becoming more and more popular. You can mix it with lighter shades, as this creates a balance in the room.

Source: Hallmark Floors

Combine neutral colors with wood floors

Neutral colors go well with wood floors. Examples of such neutral colors include browns and greys.

Source: Flooring Inc.

Combine cherry wood and white

Cherry wood flooring is beautiful and conspicuous. It goes well with white and other light colors.

Source: Mi Casa Floors

Source: RoomDsign

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Halloween is just a couple of days away and if you are still frantically searching around for ideas to decorate your home without spending a whole lot of time on it, then you definitely are in luck! One of the hottest Halloween trends this year is to go minimal with the home decorations and that means you can create a lot more impact with far less! Minimal Halloween decorations are all about moving away from an overload of orange, a vast array of carved pumpkins and the plethora of jack-o-lanterns that usually surround us. It is about still creating a touch of spookiness with a whole lot of class thrown into the mix.

Minimal elements need not make the Halloween dinner table boring! [From: Country Living]

Best minimal Halloween decorations still bring along with them the same, tried and tested motifs, but with a hint of difference in terms of aesthetics. You can still use the old bat cutouts, spider webs and creepy ghost images – but you now do them while making sure that the backdrop remains as uncluttered as possible. From banners, bats and small, white ghosts to a color palette that is steeped in black, this is a look at the trendiest and easiest minimal Halloween decorations that you can get done in absolutely no time at all –

Dark and Dashing!

One thing that is pretty easily noticeable with most minimal Halloween decorating ideas is the lack of orange in the midst. Even if orange finds its way in, you would want to tone down its impact and concentrate on the black elements of the decorations for a classier and more sophisticated look. Skulls in black, cut-outs and printables of crows, bats and rats (if you want some on your entryway!) and custom dinnerware on the table in black and silver are perfect for this chic look. We also love the idea of the super-easy Halloween wreath with twigs that is eerie and elegant at the same time.

Create a wall of Halloween-themed prints in no time at all! [From: Twelve on Main]

Easy creepy Halloween wreath DIY idea [From: earnest home co]

Finding the right decor for the minimal Halloween table can be easier than you think!

It is the simple touches that make for a great minimalist Halloween celebration [From: The Beauty Dojo]

Bats, Banners and Bold Wall Art

A simple banner on the wall is sometimes all you want (and need) in the living room to dress it up for Halloween. Combine a string of small white DIY ghosts on the wall with a few spider webs in the corner and some cut-outs of the witch on the broom set next to the window and you have things all done for Halloween! Sure, it will not be the spookiest home in the neighborhood, but you will still have enough to work with and considering we are so close to the day, that should be more than sufficient for the minimal look!

Bat cut-outs and pumpkins offer an easy way to decorate the entry in style

Bats, pumpkins and skulls can all still be part of that minimal Halloween decoration plan

Ghost, Halloween and fall DIY garlands come together to welcome your guests [From: A Beautiful Mess]

Time to Get Hands-on with Decorations

The easiest way to get things ready for Halloween on such short notice is to make your decorations at home. Sure, it might sound counter-productive at times. But it saves resources, is a whole lot of fun and surprisingly, often is a quicker process than choosing the right decorative pieces just before Halloween. You can get your kids involved as well with some of the easier DIYs and with Halloween on Sunday, you have plenty of time starting Friday evening to get things done. Embrace the minimal look and you will have the home ready for the creepiest night of the year in a jiffy!

DIY Halloween glassware decals offer an easy last-minute decorating idea [From: Sugar & Cloth]

Paint-dipped pumpkins are easy to create and are perfect for a colorful, yet minimal Halloween decoration theme

Small Halloween trees crafted from bottle brushes are great for the minimal Halloween table

Try out the Spooky Spiderweb Embroidery Hoop Art for a minimal Halloween [From: see vanessa craft]

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One of the first things to draw your attention when you see a house for the first time is the garage door. It is usually situated at the front of the house, making it nearly impossible to ignore.

Source: Bob Vila

Source: Presto Garage and Gutter

Source: D & D Garage Doors

Source: Safeway Garage Doors

Source: Veteran Garage Doors

Source: Larry Myers Garage Doors

The type of garage door you choose is very important. It says a lot about your personality and style.

Source: Optimize Garage Door

Finding the perfect garage door depends on your taste and budget. Let’s face it, some garage doors don’t come cheap. The materials used in creating these garage doors include but are not limited to steel, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and wood.

Source: Easy Open Door

If you are considering installing a new garage door, here are some common types you can choose from.

Types of garage doors

In decades past, there were only two or three types of garage doors to choose from.

Source: Timberlane

With advancements in technology, there are lots of different door types you can pick from. These garage doors are made of different materials and come in a variety of colors and styles.

Source: This Old House

You can choose a door based solely on looks, but there are other factors that need some more deliberation.

Here are some standard garage doors available today.

Sectional garage doors

These types of doors are very common in the United States. They come in either manual or automatic styles. For the manual, you open it by raising it with your hands. Automated doors need a remote or switch to be opened.

Source: Garage Doors Online

Sectional garage doors are usually linear in design. They go straight up when you open them and straight down when they are closed.

Source: The Arizona Republic

They are low-maintenance, and their panels are connected with hinges for easier functionality.

Carriage house garage doors

These are some of the most popular garage doors, and they come in different styles and colors.

Source: Houzz

These doors have a more traditional look. To personalize them, you can add large windows, quaint door handles, and other stylish hardware.

Source: Clopay Garage Doors

Carriage house garage doors beautifully complement your home’s architectural structure. And like the sectional garage doors, the carriage house style can either be manually or automatically operated.

Tilting garage doors

Unlike other garage doors, this type of modern garage door is made of a single solid tilting panel.

Source: Ace Garage Doors

These doors operate by tilting up into the garage like a canopy. They can be made from a variety of materials. They’re very distinctive and can be a little expensive.

Side opening garage door

As the name implies, this type of garage door is hinged at the sides and opens like a regular door.

Source: AG Williams Painting

It is also known as a side hinge or swinging garage door and is made with either wood or steel.

Roll-up garage doors

These kinds of garage doors are very easy to operate and are very common in industrial or commercial garages although they look great on homes, as well. They are usually made of steel.

Source: Overhead Door Company of Tampa Bay

It operates by rolling up like a mat and stays on top of the garage opening until you are ready to close it.

Source: Lux Garage Doors

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