Key Points
\nEvaluate the state of your sofa and whether or not it needs replacing.If it is in decent shape, keep it for now and replace the rug instead.Choose an area rug that is large enough for your living room.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve decided that your living room needs a makeover, but don\u2019t know where to start, focus on the change that will make the biggest impact.\n<\/p>\n
We asked interior designers to share the first thing that they would change in most living rooms to give the space a fresh start.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Meet the Expert<\/p>\n
Peggy Haddad<\/a> is a Denver-based interior designer. The Couch (Or the Rug) <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n John Keeble \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest offender I see in living rooms is a sectional or sofa that doesn\u2019t fit the space,\u201d says interior designer Peggy Haddad. \u201cOr an old, worn-down sofa that\u2019s dragging everything down.\u201d A well-proportioned sofa instantly sets the tone for symmetry, flow, and mood, she says.\n<\/p>\n But if your existing sofa is already the right size and is in good enough shape to keep?\u00a0She goes for the area rug.\n<\/p>\n “The rug dictates the palette, the style, and the visual boundaries of the room,” she shares. “A fresh rug that\u2019s the right size<\/a>\u2014usually bigger than people think\u2014gives the whole space a reset.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nValerie Darden<\/a> is an interior designer and the founder of Virginia-based Brexton Cole Interiors.<\/p>\n