I haven’t decorated a formal living room in ages.  Homeowners have realized that a formal living room is wasted square footage.  Like dining rooms, if the space is used only a couple of times a year, most of us can make better use of that area.  My home office was my dining room and one day I realized that the dining room I had always wanted was used as a buffet line twice a year.  The table only sat 6 and when we entertained there are always more to seat than that. I decided to use the dining room table as my desk.  I turned the table to face the windows and stored my chairs.  I then moved my hutch into the kitchen an acquired more storage for the stuff I use in the kitchen.  Next came an old cabinet unit, that I found junking, distressed and painted white that looks great in the office and holds a ton of stuff.  Reams of paper, fabrics, files, books, etc;  I then bought a rolling wire rack that I found at Cosco that actually fit all of my fabric and trim books(no small task!)  A comfy chair, bookcase, personal artwork and the room was complete. 

Think outside the box. If the kids need a quiet space away from the family to get homework done, but like to be within hearing range, create a space for them.  A comfortable chair, end table and lamp with a couple of bookcases creates a library feel to the room.  Think of a different flooring for their room and this helps create an ambiance.  In my office makeover, I ripped out the carpet(which found a new home in my daughter’s room) and installed a flexible floor that looks like bamboo but loose lay, so changing it is a snap!  Awesome texture and the room is more functional for cleanup and for the all the abuse I throw at it.

Remember that this is one of the first rooms your guest see and there should be enough storage to hide most of the everyday stuff.  The chocolate that was used in my family room is now the secondary color in the office.  To soften the space I used Benjamin Moore’s “Smoke” on the walls.  The wonderful thing about this color is my front porch shades this room in the afternoon so the colors starts off as a baby blue and changes to soft green and finally a dove gray by the evening.  THREE COLORS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!!!  How awesome is that?  Make this room yours and you won’t mind coming to work in your jammies every morning. 
Happy Decorating !!!