Are you looking to fill your home with positive energy? Then go for Feng Shui décor. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that uses the laws of heaven and earth to help improve a person’s life by bringing in positive vibes.

The living room is one room you can’t afford to mess up in your house.

This part of your home bears testimony to your lifestyle and everything else about your personality. You entertain guests, flaunt your prized possessions and sometimes unwind with your family reading or watching TV — all in this special part of your home — your living room.

“Minimalism is the new mantra for designing living rooms,” says Ponni Concessao, a Chennai-based interior designer and architect. More space and less furniture is the latest trend. A classic chandelier may be added to give the room a special look. Minimalist modern design with a retro finish is hip, she adds.

“Light-weight furniture with clean straight lines and curvilinear finishes are preferred. The cluttered look is off,” she adds.

Although the final look might be modern, the essential components are almost the same, she says. Wood flooring and stainless fittings still rule. Marble floors are back and among the most preferred, she adds. And of course, the buzzword eco-friendliness is also on top of the minds of builders. Eco-friendly raw materials and settings have started dominating living rooms.

However, what do you do when you have only limited floor space to work on? Raise the ceiling to make the room look more spacious, Concessao says. Living rooms used to be about 10 ft high. Twelve-feet-high double ceilings are fast becoming a norm, she adds.

“Double ceilings give a dramatic look. They make the room look more spacious and well lit,” she adds. Living-dining room is the order and still remains so because of space constraints.

Optimal space usage should be given top priority, says Concessao. Aesthetics comes a close second. Be clear about the style you want, she says. Be it classical, neo-classical or modern, discuss it in detail with your architect or designer.

“The style and design of a living room primarily depend on the number of people it will seat. Some people may be hard party animals, who will want more space with splashy interiors for their guests.

Others might be introverts preferring set ups that are more subtle. Discuss your preferences in detail with the architect, says Concessao.

Apart from all the design features, the most important factor is money, the enabler. Living rooms can be done up for a range of Rs 75,000 to Rs 2 lakh, depending on your interior decorator or architect.

The style, features and settings all fall into place only when the budget is sufficient. The key is to estimate the budget well in advance and direct your architect accordingly. In addition, make sure your architect gives you the best possible output within the stipulated budget.