The living room and entryway are connected such that you can see the living room when you are on the entryway. Despite that, there are decorating methods that can be used to distinguish them without clashing. Below are decorating tips that you can use to decorate and distinguish the two areas.

Wall treatments

Wall treatments can serve as a good way to separate the entrance way and the living room. The purpose of entryway is to welcome guests with decor that is uncluttered and appealing. You can therefore use a different theme on the entryway than that of the living room. This is by painting it using a different color or wallpaper from that of the living room. Some of the colors you can use are neutral colors such as cream, white, taupe, light brown or tan and they create warm entry and do not clash with the living room. To create harmony in the home, you can use the same colors for the hallways.

A formal living room is for formal entertaining and a place for receiving guests. It is usually located close to the entry at the house front. The living room is therefore not meant for everyday living. Due to its role, the room should have refined and sophisticated décor and you can choose from the many decorating styles that range from traditional to contemporary. Below are some ideas to help you to decorate the formal living room.

Window treatments

The windows need to be dressed with rich and luxurious fabrics, some of them being velvet, silk, damask and brocade. For sophistication, use cascading curtains that will form a pool on the floor. To add a designer flair, include a draping valance that is swagging on one side. Decorate with wooden or elegant metal curtain rods that have decorative finials to complement the formal style drapery. If you want to include sheer curtains to the heavier drapery, use double rods because they are suitable and ideal.

House decorations in the 1980s featured loud patterns and neutral hued décor. This was an era of radical decorating styles and if your house is from this era, you may desire to modernize it and can do it on a budget. The decorating tips below will help you to get rid of the outdated features to bring your house to the 21st century.

The floor

Homes in the 80’s had vinyl tiles, parquet wood flooring or wall to wall carpeting in bright colors such as dusty pink and hunter green. Replace the outdated flooring with large ceramic tiles, wood or laminate in neutral hues and modern styles. If the floor has vinyl tiles, consult a professional before removing, in case they have harmful asbestos. The professional can help to dispose the old tiles and install safe new flooring.

Materials you will need

• particleboard 
• 1x6 sheets 
• crown shaping
• beadboard 
• screws 
• brads 
• nails 
• paint 
• primer
• wood paste 
• spackle 
• base cupboards 
• contact cement 
• cover 
• base trim 
• corner shaping 
• 3" wood dowels

The family room is a place in the home that is used for entertaining family and friends. Many activities take place here such as playing games, studying, eating, watching television, relaxing and many others. The room should therefore have proper lighting for the activities taking place. The tips below will help you to choose appropriate lighting for the room. The lighting you choose for the family room should go hand in hand with the home décor that is already there. Some of the home decorating styles include rustic, country, ornate, colonial and minimalist among others. For instance, if your home has rustic decorating style, use lighting fixtures that complement the style. Now that you know the type of lighting fixtures to use, you need to assess your lighting needs. A family room has many uses and so are its lighting needs. This means that you will need to use more than one lighting fixture in order to suit each need.

Some of the lighting needs include:

General lighting: the room needs enough general light during the day and at night for it to be comfortable. To determine of how much general lighting the room needs, assess the natural light that get in throughout the day and the darkness at night.  Lighting for accentuating decorative items: if you have decorated the family room with wall art and other architectural features, you will need lighting to highlight and draw attention to them. You can have spot lighting for an artwork, or you may want to put emphasis on the high ceilings by pointing the lights there.