No matter how nice some living rooms might seem, there are a few things that make the entire space feel less relaxed, and that’s exactly why happy people don’t have them.
When one object gets too loud
Having a TV isn’t a huge problem because, yes, plenty of happy people watch shows and sports in their living room. The difference is that they’re not going to only have a huge screen that dominates the room.Â
They’re not going to have every chair pointing at a huge TV, with the coffee table acting like a snack station nearby. They know that’s not what a living room is for. No, there needs to be somewhere to talk, read, or do absolutely nothing in particular, not just stare at a screen.
A shelf that forgot its story
A happy person’s living room is still going to be decorated, let’s get that straight. But they don’t decorate their living room with things that have no personal meaning, as every object is there for a reason. A framed family photo here, a bowl from a trip there, they all have memories attached.
That’s not to say that everything has to be deep or anything. A vase can still be a vase. It’s just that it doesn’t feel good when you have a living room packed with nice things nobody cares about, as it makes the entire space feel rented. Happy people don’t want that.
When a seat stops being a seat
The clutter chair. Most of us have one. You know the one, it’s the chair that has a few hoodies on it, maybe a towel, too, and some other things that shouldn’t be there. Happy people won’t let it be there, though.
Not because they’re perfect or anything, that’s not realistic, but because they’d rather not lose a valuable seat to clutter. They’ll leave a basket nearby and put up a hook, too. The truth is, having a messy corner in the bedroom is much better than sacrificing a living room chair for it.
The switch that does too much
It’s never a good idea to have a single, harsh ceiling light in your living room because it makes everything too bright. It’s too flat. Happy people know that, too, and that’s why they’ll go for lighting that’s a little warmer and a little better.
A floor lamp works, and so does a little table lamp. An extra bit of light makes the whole room look softer, without needing to do a full makeover. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as turning off the big light. Seriously.
Green things need a plan
You’ll never find dead plants in a happy person’s living room because they never let the greenery get to that stage. They’ll make sure to look after their plants properly. Anytime that the plants start browning, they try to fix them, or they get rid of them, no questions asked.
A living room looks better with plants in it, but only when the plants are actively alive. When you’ve only got some browning plants on the windowsill, you’re not exactly doing your room any favors, are you?
A room waiting for company
Some people have the kind of living room that looks perfect for guests, with pillows arranged on the sofa and a throw blanket somewhere, too. That’s not a problem. The real issue is when the living room looks too arranged, where it doesn’t actually help with your daily life.
Happy people try to build their living room around functionality over imaginary visitors, so they see the living room as an actual place to relax. They still make it look good, of course, it’s just that happy people value daily life a lot more than any potential visitors.
The corner with too many tails
Nobody’s looking. That’s how cables multiply. You have one charger behind the sofa that turns into a laptop cord, a gaming cable, an extension cord, and so much more. It makes the entire room feel messy and disorganized.
But happy people aren’t going to let that happen because they’ll make sure to use a clip or a cable box to keep everything tidy. Or better yet, they’ll unplug half the things that they never actually use, so that there are far fewer wires everywhere.
Where small things go to stall
The problem with coffee tables is that they become invitations for all sorts of items that really shouldn’t be there. Happy people still have coffee tables, but they make sure these surfaces don’t get overloaded with random stuff.
The remotes go in the drawer, and the envelopes get filed away. Anything else? There’ll be a tray or basket to hold it.
The scent that never happens
Candles are there for a reason in a happy person’s room. No, it’s not for decoration. They only put candles that smell good and make their living room feel more comfortable, rather than simply looking good.
Happy people aren’t going to collect things and refuse to use them, after all. Unused candle after unused candle make the room look too busy, and they’re a waste of space, too. Why bother?
A better place to sit
Lots of people get a giant sectional sofa because they think it’ll make their living room more comfortable. More seats, more lounging, what could be the problem? Turns out, the issue is how sectional sofas tend to eat up an entire room, leaving very little space for anything else.
You feel like you can’t breathe because the sofa’s dominating the space. That’s something happy people know. It’s why they make sure their living room is comfortable, sure, but also has enough space to actually be in there.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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