When it comes to making a home yours – whether it’s custom built or just new to you – it’s important to know that what goes into the room can have just as big of an impact as the design of the room itself. Furniture, accessories, and decorations can be a big deal in the effort to make your house feel like home.

With that in mind, today we’re taking a look at how to make one of the most visible rooms in your home into one of the most enjoyable (and functional). Let’s talk living room.

Keep It Separate

Whether you have an open floor plan or a walled off living room, it’s important to coordinate your furniture with the room’s shape to create natural divisions of space that don’t interrupt the flow of the room. Using sofas, side and end tables, and even bookcases and shelves, you can effectively maximize the space in your living room while not creating cluster or a sense of claustrophobia.

For example, if you have a long, rectangular living room, it may make sense to have an entertainment area – a couch/loveseat and an armchair surrounding a TV (on a stand or mounted) – in addition to a separate sitting area with two chairs separated by a small table. This can allow you to keep the room feeling open and available, even if one portion of it is in use. Furthermore, it detracts from the sense that the TV is the centerpiece of the room, and allows you to highlight other elements that are equally important to you.

Keep It Functional

Short on space? Keeping your furniture and accessories functional can be a great way to double up the usefulness of common living room elements. Need some hints? Side or end tables that double as extra seating, an ottoman that has a storage compartment on the inside, or a coffee table with extra drawers for storage can all help reduce clutter and free up space for people instead of things.

Keep It Mobile

Lightweight sectional sofas and modular furniture are great for living rooms, especially when space is tight, because it allows you to rearrange things at a moment’s notice to suit your mood. If you’re having guests over for dinner, you can set up a more traditional arrangement that will keep things casual. Or if you’re planning a game night, you can easily rearrange the furniture to create a larger open space that will be more conducive to activities. Twister, anyone?