The Design Rule HGTV's Hilary Farr Follows For A Cozy Living Room

Not every home translates well on camera, so when you see a living room on HGTV that looks so cozy you wish you could jump into the screen, the design is bound to be even more amazing in person. Creating spaces with a sense of comfort that shines through the camera takes a special kind of thoughtfulness and talent, and designer Hilary Farr is a true master of it. While there are plenty of living room ideas that will inspire you, some key knowledge from a pro like Farr can help your vision come together. While her eye for design is hard to replicate, she has discussed many details over the years that can help homeowners get stylish and welcoming results for their own home renovations. In Season 5, Episode 2 of "Love It or List It," Farr exhibited her go-to living room design rule that she follows by adding a fireplace as a focal point to her clients space, saying that "the focal point is so key to a living room" (via HGTV on YouTube).

You could purchase a simple electric fireplace that's similar to the one used by Farr from Pottery Barn. However, you don't need a fireplace to give your living room a focal point, as there are endless ways to follow Farr's rule through other design elements. In living rooms, focal points are essential to creating a cozy vibe, as they help to balance and connect the room. Instead of being distracted by multiple features fighting for attention, a thoughtful focal point draws you in, making it easier to relax and unwind.

When you take a tour inside HGTV star Hilary Farr's gorgeous home of her own, you can see that she always incorporates a stylish focal point in each room. In her living room, this focal point is the fireplace, but with that said, there are many other ways to create a focal point in your space. The most popular living room focal point, according to a House Digest survey, is a television. While it may not pack the same stylistic punch as other elements, the way you build around your focal point can elevate the area entirely. For instance, surrounding your television with built-in shelving allows you to highlight the focal point while adding interest with books, keepsakes, or decor that makes the space feel cozy and personal.

If you're not quite sure where the focal point of your living room should be, use the architecture as a guide that narrows you down to one space. You may not have a built-in fireplace, but maybe you have large, beautiful windows you can highlight at the center of your design. If your living room truly feels like a blank page with no clear focus, adding a showstopping piece of art or a unique piece of furniture can be a stylish place to start. To emphasize your key feature, layering with some colorful accents or paint can help create the kind of contrast that truly solidifies your living room's focus.