A living room is not always the most romantic place in the world. It is where we watch TV and read the newspaper (which is generally full of doom and gloom). It is where the kids play with their toys (and leave them around for us to trip over). And more and more these days, it is where we do our work. But in the evening (and when the occasion warrants it) it is great if we can change the room somehow and make it into a relaxing, romantic retreat. It might sound like a tall order but it is not so very difficult if you follow these guidelines:-
1. Make it Comfortable
Upright hard chairs and scratchy sea grass carpet do not have the makings of a comfortable lounge (and will not be much fun even if you are not feeling romantic). Add deep shag pile rugs to hard floors and a sofa decorated with a soft throw for comfort. Make sure that the temperature is warm in winter. (Have a log fire burning in the fireplace if you can manage it). In the summer, prevent overheating by opening windows or using a fan.
2. Provide a Gentle Light
Glaring overhead light is not good for romance. Switch it off and use candles to produce flickering light. Or simply switch on a couple of table lamps which will create gentle pools of light over parts of the room.
3. Make it Intimate
Avoid positioning seats so that the occupants of the room end up sitting opposite each other. Provide a big squashy sofa that you can share or use the classic L-shaped conversational grouping for your seating. If you have a large living room you have to try harder to create an intimate space. You can do this by keeping candles and lights around your seating area and leaving the remainder of the room in darkness.
