A living room style can be elegant, but remain comfortable

Homeowners can create an elegant atmosphere for a formal living room without sacrificing the comfort they crave for everyday living.

"When you decorate with formal living room furniture you need to find a balance so the room doesn't seem too stuffy," according to InfoBarrel.com. "You can give a more casual feeling to the room just by choosing a wall color that coordinates with your furniture … [and] will balance the elegant touches of your furniture."

The living room is a space where visitors are likely to be entertained, and a room that many homeowners view as the showpiece of the home. To add formality, the decorating scheme for the main area of the room should be symmetrical.

But to keep the space from seeming too cold or overwhelming, adding several conversation niches will provide balance. In front of a living room window or in a corner of the room, a small conversation area can be arranged with two chairs and a small table between them, the website advised.

If there is a fireplace in the room, for instance, it can serve as a focal point with an equally weighty piece of furniture - such as a large bookcase or hutch – to counteract it across the room. Having two loveseats face each other in front of the fireplace is often more inviting than placing one long sofa along a wall.

For a window treatment, custom drapery works well by itself or in combination with other window coverings – shades, blinds or an underlay of sheer panels. Any of these window treatments can be tied into the main space by picking up a pattern or color.

A wood cornice brings an architectural detail to a formal space. For a softer touch, valances may be upholstered in a fabric coordinated with other patterns in the room.

InfoBarrel.com also recommends using furniture already in the home, but upgrading some pieces with new upholstery or an array of pillows and throws. Slipcovers for certain furnishings can be changed seasonally. The fabrics on a sofa and a loveseat can be different, but coordinated with each other.

A living room can become an elegant space by the simple addition of special details – curved arms and backs on seating, metallic accents or a glass-topped coffee table. "Elegant living room furniture is all about the details," the website states. "You should find furniture that have something a little special to it."