Decoration of the dining room and living room

Nowadays, due to the fact that houses are becoming smaller and smaller, there is a marked tendency to eliminate the walls that separate the different areas of the house, in order to obtain a greater amplitude -loft style-; therefore it is common that the kitchen, the dining room and the living room in many modern homes share the same room.

However, in general, the decoration of spaces without partitions -loft style- follows the same patterns as the decoration of spaces in the traditional style, since in both cases the main factor to take into account is still the use or functionality of each of the spaces.

Ideas and tips for decorating the dining room

The dining room should be located as close as possible to the kitchen and sources of natural light -windows or glass walls-. When selecting the dining room furniture you should take into account the following requirements:

• Keep in mind that the size of the furniture should be in correspondence with the dimensions of the space.

• Consider the necessary free spaces for the circulation of diners around the table -between 60 and 90 centimeters-.

• Dining room furniture should be strong and resistant to wear and tear, since it is the furniture we use the most on a daily basis.

• The table is the central element in the decoration of the dining room. The round tables are ideal for small spaces and few diners, for example: in a table of 120 centimeters in diameter can eat four people comfortably.

Rectangular tables are used in larger spaces with many diners. In rectangular tables we must leave about 50 centimeters available for each diner, for example: in a table 220 centimeters long can eat 8 people.

The chairs can be part of a dining set or the chairs can be chosen separately, depending on the client's tastes and the decorative style adopted. Some decorators prefer to include chairs of different types and styles to recreate a less formal atmosphere.

A cupboard in the dining room will always be a perfect complementary element as it will allow you to store some necessary things at the table, avoiding having to move them from the kitchen; it will also allow you to place different decorative accessories vases with flowers, collections of dishes, glasses, and so on.

In the dining room, in addition to the general light, another lamp should be used to provide a punctual light on the table during the night and on cloudy days. In the case of round and square tables, a single pendant lamp is generally used in the center of the table, while rectangular tables use two or more pendant lamps placed in a row along the table. The lamps should be suspended exactly in the center of the table at a distance of approximately 75 centimeters from the table surface and the bulb should emit a slightly warm light.

The colors to be used on the main surfaces of the dining room depend mainly on the preferences of the client; although in general, in the dining rooms it is recommended to combine neutral and warm colors that are not very intense. Of course, it will always be good to include in the furniture, textiles and small surfaces some more intense tones to break the monotony.

Many textiles can be used in the dining room; decorating with tablecloths, cushions, curtains and rugs is a cheap, effective and quick way to set the mood in the dining room. On the walls of the dining room you can hang pictures with paintings, photographs, mirrors, etcetera. Remember to always place them at a height of 170 centimeters from the floor so that they can be appreciated from any point.

Impregnate the dining room space with life by including ornamental plants, they are perfect for the corners where no one is going to circulate.

Ideas and tips for decorating the living room

Usually the sofa is the most important element of the living room, so before choosing it, analyze the color, as well as the dimensions and shape of the space; maybe the solution is an L-shaped or U-shaped sofa instead of a simple one. Whenever you have space, choose large furniture, they increase the feeling of spaciousness of the room.

When you begin to decorate the living room, start by distributing the large furniture, the sofa, the coffee table and the TV cabinet, taking into account the position of the windows and the possible solar radiation.

You can combine the sofa with auxiliary armchairs, this will allow you to give movement to the space and can be useful when you receive visitors and need more seats. The coffee table is another key element in a living room. If you have enough space, you can place more than one coffee table in the living room.

Normally the largest surfaces in a living room - walls and ceilings - are painted in the most neutral colors, while medium-sized surfaces - carpets and large pieces of furniture - sh