Your living area is usually the centre for leisure activities in the home - either relaxed evenings in front of the television, a space for children to play or a room for entertaining - as well as a room to reflect your style and show off treasured belongings.

Planning your space
A large living space will be a very attractive selling point so choose the best room you can, and even consider knocking two smaller rooms into one.

You need to plan carefully to create a space that can adapt easily for various functions. A good place to start is to establish a focal point - this could be a fireplace with fire/stove, a television, a collection of pictures, a built in bookshelf, or a large window with lovely view - and plan your seating around the chosen feature. Living areas tend to become a number of linked spaces each with a different function - make sure you keep all the décor the same throughout and isolate different areas with lighting, flooring, screens, even the back of a low sofa.

Technology
Work out where you are going to house the technology at the beginning. If you don't want the television or stereo to be on view, hide them in a decorative cabinet that is a focus in its own right. There is a large range of specially designed cupboards for this purpose nowadays. Or use mobile furniture to wheel them out of sight when not in use.

Tables
Decide exactly how many occasional, coffee, chests and side tables will you need - and make sure you leave enough space to move around. Go for tables of differing heights to hold lighting and accessories. If you have a smaller space, look at furniture that can be moved around easily, double up as storage or slotted away when not in use eg nest of tables.

Seating
Carefully selected seating and the way it is arranged is a key factor in achieving a relaxed and comfortable living room, so spend time sitting and testing before you buy. Two and three seater sofas or a combination of both are better than individual chairs. Modular corner sofas are good for smaller awkward shaped rooms, especially modern flats. Similarly sofa beds are useful for properties without a spare bedroom. Loose covers are more practical than upholstered if you have children or pets as they can be washed easily. Chairs are the perfect complement to sofas, though in smaller spaces opt for floor cushions, beanbags and foot stools.

Storage
Clutter free sitting rooms are a must. Think about what actually needs to be stored in the living room - things of enjoyment, music and books, treasures and momentoes - and whether you want to display or store them away. A mixture of cupboards and open shelves is the best solution - built in cupboards and shelves are practical, though can't go with you when you move. A beautiful freestanding piece of furniture with compartments offers clever storage as well as providing a decorative focus.

Lighting
Make the most of natural light - if your sitting room is dark, use pale colours and choose a simple window treatment which will block as little light as possible. Install a mixture of fixed and moveable lighting - dimmable downlighters and recessed spots with a mixture of lamps for various tasks and different atmospheres.

Top tips
If your are planning to sell, opt for a classic neutral style colourscheme and add colour with furniture and accessories. If your flooring has a lot of wear and tear - eg if your living room is on a way through to a garden or if you have children, it may be a good idea to lay rugs to protect it.