The Living Room Mistake That Is Making Your Home So Unwelcoming

Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes. A personal haven where you and your family can kick back, relax, and unwind from the stresses of daily life. That makes it important to decorate in a way that brings you joy and comfort, but if you like hosting, it also means designing a space that's welcoming to guests. Since the living room is often the home's gathering spot, the design decisions you make in this room could affect how guests feel. And what's one of the biggest living room mistakes that'll make your space feel unwelcoming? Making the TV the star of the room.

A TV might be practical for daily living, but when it becomes your design focal point, it can distract and create an awkward layout that doesn't promote conversation. Does that mean you need to remove the TV from the living room completely? Of course not. But since it's one of the common mistakes people make when designing a living room, there are some practical steps to take so that your TV doesn't become the dominant feature.

When setting up your living room for hosting, arrange furniture so that it promotes interaction before deciding where to put the television. Rather than placing all furniture along one wall, place two chairs or a loveseat opposite your sofa. In small living rooms, you might need to get more creative. A couch placed along one wall and an appropriately sized chair on an adjacent wall can create a conversation-friendly layout. As you're arranging furniture, think about the flow of traffic. Guests should be able to walk freely around the room, and major paths of travel (like toward the kitchen or bathroom) shouldn't be obstructed.

Once you've figured out a new layout, decide where to place the TV. When you're trying to flawlessly integrate a TV in the living room, consider a design-friendly model that doubles as artwork when not in use. You can even build a wall gallery around your television for a more camouflaged design. Another option? Hide the TV altogether by housing it in a cabinet or hutch with doors. If you don't want to hide your television set or invest in an art TV, place it where it's easy to see from the seat you use most, and balance it with other decor.