How to Decorate a Large Room
There are hundreds upon hundreds of articles, blogs, and books out there about decorating small spaces. Tips for maximizing square footage, staying organized, and creating a space that looks larger than it is. But, although designing a small space certainly comes with challenges, so, too, does decorating a big one. In fact, decorating a large room can actually be even more difficult. Despite their best efforts, many homeowners end up with large rooms or open-concept floor plans that feel empty, or they resort to simply purchasing large scale pieces that might not actually be the best use for the space.
So how should you decorate a large room? We've learned these tips along the way.
Divine rooms into zones.
Instead of looking at the room as one large space, divide it into smaller zones, or groupings. This will not only make a large room easier to manage, but it will also ensure you're making the best use of a large room. Divided in half, a long, rectangular living room might serve as both a seating area and a dining room, for example. Or, a spacious master suite may allow for a cozy reading nook in an unused corner.
Don't default to large furniture.
Just because you can fit a ten person sectional in your space doesn't mean you should do it. Large, overstuffed furniture can quickly make a room feel heavy. Instead of one big L-shaped sofa, try two streamlined ones placed perpendicular to one another, for example. Or, forgo a second sofa altogether and opt for a pair of tailored arm chairs. In a large room or open floor plan, it's often better to have more, smaller furniture in a room than it is to have fewer, larger pieces.
Open space is important.
While you don't want the room to feel bare, you should also avoid the urge to overcrowd it. Open space is actually one of the most important design elements in a room, both functionally and aesthetically, and you should allow for it in your design plan.
This is especially important if you are dividing a large room into smaller zones. You'll need to allow at least three feet of travel space between each zone, but five feet or more may feel more appropriate based on the scale of your room and the furniture you've chosen.