Don?t even think about starting with throw pillows Gone are the stuffy parlors from the past?living rooms are just that: The rooms where we live. "That?s the beauty of the living room," says Portland, Oregon, designer Lynne Parker of Lynne Parker Designs. "It?s where we now do everything."
Here are her nine tips and tricks for making the living room the ultimate destination.
1. Start with a plan, not pillows
The first step" Steer clear of purchasing pillows. "I meet a lot of clients who come to me and say, ?I started buying throw pillows and now I have no rhyme or reason to this space,?" says Parker. "The foundation [of the design] is a vision and a plan."

Since your living room might host all sorts of activities, whether that?s a cocktail party or family movie night ? Parker recommends planning for real life. "I try to understand what ?living? means to each of these clients," says Parker. "Does it mean that you have media" Is it a place where you?re only on your laptops" How many places do you need to seat people"" She develops a layout and furniture plan that takes the homeowners? lifestyle into account. This includes having a T.V., if that?s the client?s preference. "Go for it! It?s a reality of life," Parker says. From flat screens to projectors, television design has come a long way. "They?re beautiful now," says Parker.
2. Invest in the couch
Once functionality...