Do you know how to design a perfect living room?

There are no stuffy parlors anymore; living rooms are simply rooms where we live. "That's the beauty of the living room," says Lynne Parker of Lynne Parker Designs in Portland, Oregon.

Here are her five tips for creating the ultimate living room.

1. Put the plan first and not the pillows.

Start by staying away from pillows, Parker advises. "I meet a lot of clients who tell me that they bought pillows for no rhyme or reason, resulting in a space nobody knows what to do with," Parker says. "There has to be a vision and a plan."

You might host all kinds of activities at home, including a cocktail party, family movie night, or a theatre screening. Parker suggests you plan for real life. When it comes to living, says Parker, "not everyone has the same idea of what ‘living’ is. Does ‘living’ mean having media? Is it just a place where you’re on your laptops? How many places do you need to seat people?"

She develops a layout & furniture plan that incorporates the homeowners’ lifestyle, which may include a flat screen if the client desires. "We have to live in the present," says Parker. "TVs of today are so beautiful."

2. Invest in that couch.

Once the function of the space is established, Parker goes shopping for furniture starting with the sofa. "It's crucial to find something that’s quality and will stand the test of time," she says.

When considering a purchase, clients are encouraged to take their time and consider a number of factors, including their budget. The entry-level price range starts at $1,500 and goes up to $2,500.

Your lifestyle should also be taken into consideration, as it will greatly influence the kind of piece you make and the type of family and material you should choose for it. For instance, white mohair would not fare well when it sticks to children's hands and muddy pets’ paws. 

She must consider both the "rub" number and the client’s subjective aesthetic preferences, such as whether it is a classic or modern aesthetic when choosing the fabric. Finally, she has clients complete "sit tests" in order to assess comfort.t. 

Most sofas offered to the trade are of the highest quality, especially if they're made by reputed furniture manufacturers like Lee Industries, Kravet, and Schumacher. 

Mainstream retailers offer a nice range of styles, but the best ones may not last longer than three years. Parker compared West Elm Monroe Celestial to $1,300, Jonathan Adler's Malibu to $3,200, and Kravet Villanova to $5,200.

3. Use lighting with punctuation.

When planning the room’s furniture layout and window treatments, Parker focuses on natural light. "I then ensure that we have good overhead and low-level lighting," Parker explains. "Do we have great lamps?"

This part of the design process includes choosing lamps that support the overall aesthetic and act as sculptural notes. "Invest in some beautiful lamps and you’ll have them forever in your collection," she says. 

Parker likes YLighting, Robert Abbey, and Moooi, a Scandinavian lighting company. "I love Lindsey Adelman's work," she says, flashing an image of the branching chandelier. "It's an artistic collaboration."

She also found unique vintage models and rewired them. "Lamps accentuate the space," she says.

4. Define the room using the area rugs

In Parker's opinion, rugs should "claim the territory," as the rug should be much larger than the seating area. A big rug will ultimately make the room seem bigger. 

It is better to go larger than you think, she says, just to ensure that circulation paths do not be bisected and that all chairs are placed with all their limbs touching the carpet. 

"There are going to be a lot of other elements at play," Parker says, so she makes sure the rug's color, texture, and pattern complement the design scheme.

5. Add tables as accents

Coffee tables can become the focal point of a living room since their shape contrasts with the mass of the sofa. Thus, Parker often chooses pieces that are robust in design and that are timeless.

A beautiful Noguchi accent table is her favorite type of piece, as every seat needs somewhere to put his or her coffee cup or drink glass. Look for these pieces at vintage shops or estate sales or search 1st Dibs under "Coffee and Cocktail Tables.