Luxury Living Room Defines your Home

Aluxury home really isn’t that luxurious if it doesn’t have a stunning living room for your family and friends to live in. And when it does, the rest of your home can be a little less magnificent and still feel like the lavish castle of your dreams come to life. Living rooms serve different purposes for different households. In some it has a semi-formal function for special occasions and entertaining visitors, often without screens. In others it’s also the hub of family recreation whether it’s watching TV, playing games, working on projects or just being together — often set within a great room. This informs how you furnish it, but not how luxurious it can be. These are five key dimensions to consider when infusing this space with sumptuous style. YOUR STYLE You’re the one who’s living here, so this room has to be something you’re comfortable and happy with. The colors, furnishings, flooring and overall atmosphere have to be pleasing to you and your family, first of all. Almost anyone’s taste can be translated into a soaring space with aid from the below elements. RAISE THE CEILING If the ceiling is relatively low find ways to visually elevate it, like installing drapes just underneath it and letting them drop elegantly to the floor, or choosing lower-profile furniture that’s as cushiony and decadent as you desire. If it’s already high, use elements to emphasize it like a grand fireplace or shelves to display your most prized collection. WOW WITH WINDOWS If the view is one of the main draws of the room, don’t let anything get in its way. Spring for larger windows if they’re warranted and orient your furnishings toward it as much as possible. If the room is adjacent to a patio or deck don’t shy away from connecting it to the great outdoors.

For smaller windows the type of curtains or blinds you use is especially important to upping the glam level, such as made-to-measure curtains of velvet or silk or elegant “smart” blinds. INTRICATE LIGHTING DESIGN Position your fixtures to show your room in its best light no matter the time of day. Start with whatever natural light is available and then fill in the gaps with recessed or track lighting in areas where you need it to be more functional and bold sconces and hanging lamps where you’re making a statement.

If you have enough ceiling height, a hanging, jaw-dropping chandelier, traditional or modern as you wish, can be the single most effective luxe touch for your living room. FINELY CURATED ART Luxury living rooms that don’t have huge windows with breathtaking views should have one dominant piece of high-quality wall art — it can be a large painting or tapestry, mural or even a hung sculptural piece, as long as it meshes with the color and style of the room. Hang smaller pieces selectively; they can be diverse as long as they don’t totally clash with the main object. Smaller artsy items such as statues and ceramic figures, baskets and pottery can be integrated into the design, but don’t overdo it.

LEND SKIN A HAND & Get Back your Glow

If you are physically healthy, don’t smoke, have realistic skincare goals and are committed to protecting yourself from further sun damage than skin rejuvenation and resurfacing may be worth considering. From laser and light treatment to chemical peels and injectables, the genetic and environmental aging of your skin can get a helping hand. Skin damage ranges from fine lines and wrinkles to such pigmentation changes as freckles, sunspots or visible blood vessels to acne scars and other skin conditions. Maybe your skin doesn’t feel firm and you don’t have the healthy glow you once did. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises that most skin treatments require a series of treatments and approaches. Here are some examples of rejuvenation and resurfacing treatment methods: • Laser and intense pulse light are used to remove discoloration and/or tighten sagging skin. • Chemical peels remove damaged outer skin layers. • Ablative laser treatments remove outer layers of skin to smooth lines and wrinkles. • Mechanical ablation (dermabrasion, dermaplaning) is a surgical scraping method to soften skin surface irregularities. • Non-ablative treatments (microdermabrasion, microneedling, light acid peels) are minimally invasive sanding methods to treat light scarring and discolorations. • Dermal fillers are injectable compounds to improve skin contouring. • Botulinum toxin type A treatments block nerve contraction to relax wrinkles. • Spider vein treatment comes through the use of injections to collapse unsightly surface veins. Before any treatment, have an in-depth conversation with your plastic surgeon about her or his credentials and experience in the particular treatments that seem best for you. Find out what is expected of you to get the best results and what kind of recovery period you can expect. What kind of help will you need during you recovery, if any? How are complications handled? The most essential step, though, in the long run is sun protection. It’s an absolute requirement for the first year after any of these treatments to prevent irregular pigmentation, and diligent sun protection throughout your life will help maintain your smoother skin.