2012 Ideas for Beautiful Living Room Makeover

Boring, boxy rooms with zero personality: Raise your hand if you've got one. Better Homes and Gardens decorating editor Amy Panos did. Take a peek at how she and BHG remodeling coach Meredith Ladik turned a 1970s suburban room into something special.

Creating a Peaceful Space 

To dress up the space and create unity between the dining room and living room, Amy and Meredith chose to add instant character with classic-looking wainscot. Amy chose to wrap the room in urethane trim because, compared to wood, it comes in more styles, is lighter in weight, and is easier to install. 

Editor's Tip: It's perfectly OK to place furniture in the middle of a room. Just keep the visual footprint light (a pair of chairs works better than a sofa) and pick pieces that look good from all sides.

Window Wise

Vinyl replacement windows with Energy Star-rated glass are more efficient than the 1970s originals, and the trim never has to be painted. Plus they can be ordered to the size of the existing opening, which saves on installation costs.

On the Ledge 

Three styles of molding were stacked to create a chunky ledge atop the wainscot. The result: a built-in spot for displaying art at eye level.

Desk Space 

Amy took the corner of the room and created a little office that is perfect for paying bills. 
Editor's Tip: Picking paint colors is a challenge, but landing on the right blue proved extra tricky. If you want a gray-blue, like Amy did, you have to go much grayer than you ever imagined. We must have tried a dozen different shades. Thank goodness for $4 sample paint pots.

Pretty Dining

To connect the dining and living room, Amy continued the color scheme and wainscot around the room. Adding more storage in the dining room was a must. Replacing a pair of rickety bookcases with glass-front cabinets gives the dining room structure and storage capacity. The cabinets are semi-custom, meaning you can choose the door style, finish, size, and extra trim for the top and bottom to give them a built-in look.

Handy Hostess Station 

Pairing 12-inch-deep upper cabinets with deeper lower cabinets allowed the units to tuck neatly under the existing soffit while still offering plenty of storage. It also left space for a small countertop -- handy for setting dishes or food to serve.

Hidden Storage 

Tucked below the window seat, large drawers are the perfect place to hide extra china and crystal but keep them handy if needed.

luxury living rooms Decorating Ideas 2012 by Candice Olson

Designer Candice Olson mixes comfy furnishings with elegant textiles and color schemes to create family rooms that define the meaning of lived-in luxury.

Contemporary yet Rustic

Rustic elements are combined with streamlined contemporary furnishings to create a couple-friendly living room. The tumbled marble fireplace contrasts well with the dark, luxurious wooden hearth and cabinets. For optimal fireplace and TV viewing, a large sectional sofa in creamy chenille and an ottoman in espresso brown are centered in the room.

Effortless Style

To brighten up this attic living space, Candice installs light-toned wood floors, brings in a cream sectional and adds track lighting. A color palette of greens, blues and tans complement the lighter tones, while paisley fabric and wall decals add a feminine, bohemian quality to the space. A reclaimed wood ceiling with faux beams adds architectural interest.

Eclectic Mix

Modernize a living room with a combination of different design styles. Sleek chairs in a classic paisley print are mixed with a traditional tufted ottoman in butterscotch leather and a contemporary sectional in taupe velvet. Rustic meets elegant in a two-layer treatment of woven blinds and silk draperies on the bay windows.

Multi-Functional Living

To create a more functional space, divide a room into different zones. The bay window is the perfect setting for a home office and features custom built-in shelving, while the area next to the back window is the library lounge, an ideal spot for conversations and reading. The main area of the room is used for TV watching and hanging out. Tie the entire space together by using the same color palette, like the combination of chocolate, caramel and oatmeal in this living room.

Romantic and Feminine

Dark wood paneling is painted antique white to brighten up this living room, which features a color palette of pink, green, cream and chocolate. To mimic the fabric used on the chairs, whimsical vinyl graphics of an agapanthus flower are transferred onto the ceiling, giving it the quality of a hand-painted piece of art.

Cottage Casual

Custom cabinetry plays a key role in this living room, providing plenty of storage and a place to display collectibles. The fireplace flows seamlessly into the cabinetry and features a sandy-tone mosaic tile surround. To give the room a more intimate feel, a fan is hung 36 inches below the ceiling, while a color palette of white, sand, pale blue and green keeps the space light and airy.

Gender Neutral

For most family rooms, creating a space that appeals to both genders is a must, so Candice chose a mostly neutral palette of deep browns, cool creams and inky charcoals for this living room. The corner is turned into an office with an antique desk flanked by mirror-backed bookcases, and the living room is ideal for relaxing with a large sectional and leather club chairs.

Muted Sophistication

Finding the right place for a TV is often problematic; however, in this living room, the 46-inch TV takes center stage since it doubles as a mirror when not in use. Carpet tiles in shades of calming blue, green, taupe and beige reflect the fabric used to cover the bench seat and pillows on the sofa. Stainless steel accents add a contemporary flair to the room. 

Comfy Elegance

A metallic floral-patterned wallpaper provides a luxe backdrop to the cozy living room, which features a silvery linen sectional and a classic writer's desk. Soft, gauzy sheers trimmed in gold satin separate the living and dining rooms, as well as diffuse natural light from the large windows at the end of the rooms.

Bold and Colorful

Two feature walls, one a brilliant fuchsia and the other covered in teal-and-gold paisley wallpaper, create an instant wow factor is this open plan living room. Low-slung furniture in white and peacock blue create a cool, lounge-like vibe, while natural-stained maple flooring and updated shag carpet ground the space.

Urban Functionality

In this urban loft, a color palette of gray, black and white is paired with shimmery steel and rich wood accents for a cool, contemporary vibe. Modern furnishings, smart track lightings and a dramatic ceiling fan combine for a stylish and functional living space.

Rustic Chic

Hand-scraped oak flooring is the perfect contrast to the impressive limestone fireplace, and a wall of cabinetry with custom bookcases and stainless steel dressers provides plenty of storage for the TV and media components. Distressed leather furniture with tufted detail adds vintage elegance to the room with blue linen draperies creating a beautiful backdrop to the space.

Modern living room design ideas by Andreas Charalambous

Andreas Charalambous 

Mr. Charalambous is the founding Principal of FORMA Design. He combines over twenty five years of experience in Architecture and Interior Architecture with his deep interest in all aspects of design (Furniture, Lighting, Graphics) and a … read morecareer in Painting and Photography-with group and individual shows throughout North America and Europe. A Fulbright scholar during his studies at Cornell University, he has practiced architecture in Washington, New York and London, while working for a series of distinguished architectural firms. He has received numerous awards, including awards from the DC Chapter, the Northern VA Chapter, the Potomac Valley, MD Chapter and the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for Outstanding Achievement in Interior Architecture on various FORMA projects, as well as awards from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for excellence in Residential, Healthcare and Hospitality Interiors. He also has been published extensively. FORMA Design was selected to be part of an exhibit sponsored by the American Institute of Architects called 21:4:21, that included 21 architects building for the 21st Century. 

2012 Best Living Room Color Palettes Ideas From HGTV

For the living room that you wish , choose the colors must be appropriate and consistent with your personalityTry one of these fresh color schemes. I hope you like it , Enjoy !!!

Traditional Neutrals

Neutral colors are the perfect background for a living room. Add accessories in muted shades or bright hues to achieve different looks. Designer Kenneth Brown pairs several shades of brown and tan with muted shades of red and green to create a calming but interesting atmosphere.

Breezy Contemporary

Cool blue draperies and cream walls contrast well with the dark brown floors to create a relaxing, contemporary living area.RMSer mdcandela adds interest to the subtle color palette by choosing fabrics like the brown zebra print and adding a soft cream area rug.

Deep Hues

Design a living room that makes a statement with rich, saturated shades, like the dark gray and purple of this space.To keep the space from looking too dark, designer Kenneth Brown uses cream furnishings and two-toned draperies.

Brightly Colored

This uplifting palette uses fuchsia to add a little passion, while the bright green creates an organic richness to the space.Designer Shelly Riehl David updates the classic color palette of pink and green by using shades of lime and fuchsia.

Classic Palette

A color scheme of red and cream is paired with classic furnishings for a traditionally styled living room.RMSer Creynolds grounds the light walls of the living room with a dark red area rug while fabrics in cream, gold and red pull the color palette throughout the space.

Eclectic Elegance

The color palette in this living room includes shades of turquoise, jade green and yellow-green for a cohesive and sophisticated look.Rate My Space user merskine unifies her eclectic mix of furniture from Craigslist by painting the wood pieces a bright white and using an analogous color palette.

2012 Cozy Colorful Living Rooms Design Ideas

You can find ideas on how upgrade your existing Living Room  with this collection of 2012 cozy colorful living rooms design ideas  , I hope you like it . Enjoy !

 

Bold & Bright 

Lots of bright colors and natural light in this living room make for an inviting family space. Make bold accents really pop by placing them against white backgrounds, such as the hanging flower balls above the fireplace. Opt for carpet squares that let you mix and match the colored squares to spice up a dull floor.

Square Off 

Bright, contemporary artwork helps a traditional room look fresh. The bright green in the art amps up the light green colors in the space and pulls the room together to give it one cohesive look.

Mantel Madness 

Playful mantel decor adds color and fun to an otherwise plain fireplace. Here, an assortment of framed art and shapes pop against the white mantel. Solid colors on the walls, mantel, and upholstery leave room to layer patterns with pillows and art.

Opposites Attract

Textures and patterns in one color add complexity to a room's design. Here, brown is found in several different places, including a velvet couch and zebra-stripe rug, giving the room a youthful vitality. The bold, cheerful patterns and inventive details add personality to the living room.

Breaking the Rules

Stop following the "rules" of color usage. Mixing pinks and reds with playful patterns makes this room a family-friendly gem. The playful fish artwork takes away the seriousness of design and keeps the space lighthearted and carefree.

Color Me Coral

A sea coral-inspired light blue and ocher color palette gives a curl-up-and-relax vibe to this beach retreat. The soft and refreshing neutral colors complement the simple design of this living room, making it the perfect escape.

Bold Accent Wall

Paint a wall with a bold accent color for a simple yet effective touch of color. This olive green accent wall pulls the furniture colors and patterns together to create a unified look. For a big, open space like this, grouping furniture into one compact vicinity with a clear color scheme helps differentiate one area from another.

Simple Details

Use cool-color pillows to dress up a neutral room. Here, a variety of patterned blue throw pillows perks up the plain design. These simple additions go a long way toward boosting the overall effect of the room.

Bold & Inviting

Use artwork to make a statement. Framed in white, this bold display of New Yorker covers gets an extra boost from the green walls. On the adjacent wall a colorful painting features hues found in the magazine covers and upholstered floor cushions. This mix of colors, artwork, and seating options creates a space that's both modern and inviting.

Colorful Living Rooms Decorating Ideas 2012

This sets of colorful living rooms give you a sense of joy and vitality and comfort . You can find ideas on how upgrade your existing Living Room , I hope you like it . Enjoy !

Magic Carpet 

The floor is often overlooked, but when used correctly, it demands attention. Dress up a dull floor with an attention-grabbing periwinkle rug. Inspired by a Midwestern garden in June, this room's color scheme is light, whimsical, and a perfect fit for a cottage getaway.

Cool & Coastal

Cool blues and greens mingle easily in this room. Layered tones add depth and interest to finishes on furnishings and cabinetry. Using seven colors in the same color family throughout the space creates variations that are subtle, delicate, and deliberate.

Wall Wonders 

Walls stand out in this room thanks to paint and clever architectural details. Boring walls were swapped for light green ones that pop. The wall molding adds pattern and design, while white furniture adds a subtle accent color.

 Naturally Bold 

An easy way to spice up a space is to embellish neutral pieces with colorful throw pillows and fixtures. Here, bursts of orange brighten the charming living room. The bold orange accent color looks shocking against the icy blue walls, but this unexpected color scheme creates a fun twist on the otherwise placid room.

Warm Up

Inspired by an orange sunset, the warm-color hues in this room are bold and breathtaking. Slipcovers offer style and color on the armchairs. Accent pillows add oomph to the room and incorporate the color scheme in a mix of solids and patterns.

Color Contrast 

A light interior of white walls and furniture allows colorful elements in the room to pop, such as the blue wall art, antique green chair, and patterned pillows. Seats surround a rustic blue coffee table, which becomes the perfect focal point for family to gather around.

Colorful Inspiration 

Use fabric as inspiration to determine the color scheme of a room. The happy palette in this living room was inspired by the armchair's striped fabric. Shades of blue, yellow, and red with pops of lime and an abundance of patterns and colors create a laid-back room. The colorful accents have extra punch thanks to the living room's white walls.

Apple Green

Go bold on your walls with a fresh paint job. Here, bright green paired with green accent pillows creates an inviting space for hanging out with friends and family. Add a colorful rug to the mixture for a funky feel that makes the room fun yet livable.

Fresh Fireplace

This cottage living room is bright and beautiful with the use of seafoam green and white. The green tile on the fireplace surround adds a pop of color and completes the look. The spines of the books on the bookshelf-covered wall add a creative source of color.

Bold Crimson and Green

A strong color scheme is the foundation of this room's design. Deep crimson and olive green show that opposite colors do attract. The repetition of green squares on the geometric wall art and throw pillows adds unique visual interest.