living room description creative writing

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Writing activity: describe a living room.

The Room in Which Shakespeare Was Born 1853 Henry Wallis 1830-1916 Purchased 1955 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00042

As a writing exercise, describe your own living room, or the living room of someone you know. For inspiration, I offer the following examples from literature.

EXAMPLE OF A LIVING ROOM DESCRIBED BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER

We were all sitting in the long, low room at Farthings, darker than usual because of the rain . The french windows gave very little light, chopped as they were in small square panes that added to the beauty of the house from without , but inside had all the appearance of prison bars , oddly depressing . The grandfather clock in the corner ticked slowly and unevenly; now and again it gave a little cough , hesitating momentarily, like an old man with asthma , then ploughed on again with quiet insistence. The fire in the basket grate had sunk rather low; the mixture of coke and coal had caked in a solid lump, giving no warmth; and the logs that had been flung carelessly on top earlier in the afternoon smouldered in dull fashion, needing the bellows to coax them into life. The papers were strewn about the floor, and the empty cardboard covers of gramophone records were amongst them, along with a cushion that had fallen from the sofa. These things may have added to Charles’s irritation. He was an orderly man, with a methodical mind . from the opening scene of The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier, 1949.

What kinds of chairs are in this living room? Who sits in them, or who used to sit in them?

French artist Monique Valdeneige creates living spaces remarkable for their labyrinthine feel. A single view offers glimpses into various parts of the house, aided by the use of mirrors.

Describe the lighting. Where do shadows fall? What might be shrouded in the dark recesses of this room?

Are there living creatures in this living room? What about living creatures we don’t necessarily see at first?

EXAMPLE OF A LIVING ROOM DESCRIBED BY ALICE MUNRO

Grant caught sight of two layers of front-window curtains, both blue, one sheer and one silky, a matching blue sofa and a daunting pale carpet, various bright mirrors and ornaments. […]

Kitchens are great because everything in them feels symbolic. Knives are especially foreboding, even if they’re not used to murder anyone in the end.

On the kitchen counters there were all sorts of contrivances and appliances—coffeemaker, food processor, knife sharpener , and some things Grant didn’t know the names or uses of. All looked new and expensive, as if they had just been taken out of their wrappings, or were polished daily.

He thought it might be a good idea to admire things. He admired the coffeemaker she was using and said that he and Fiona had always meant to get one. This was absolutely untrue—Fiona had been devoted to a European contraption that made only two cups at a time.

“They gave us that,” she said. “Our son and his wife. They live in Kamloops. B.C. They send us more stuff than we can handle. It wouldn’t hurt if they would spend the money to come and see us instead.” Grant said philosophically, “I suppose they’re busy with their own lives.” “ The Bear Went Over The Mountain ” by Alice Munro

My favourite detail comes further down, when Munro describes an ordinary kitchen object in gruesome terminology:

She poured the coffee into two brown-and-green ceramic mugs that she took from the amputated branches of a ceramic tree trunk that sat on the table.

A LIVING ROOM DESCRIBED BY MARGARET ATWOOD

The sitting room is subdued, symmetrical; it’s one of the shapes money takes when it freezes. Margaret Atwood

EXAMPLE OF A LIVING ROOM DESCRIBED BY KENNETH GRAHAME

The floor was well-worn red brick, and on the wide hearth burnt a fire of logs, between two at tractive chimney-corners tucked away in the wall, well out of any suspicion of draught. A couple of high-backed settles, facing each other on either side of the fire, gave further sitting accommodations for the sociably disposed. In the middle of the room stood a long table of plain boards placed on trestles, with benches down each side. At one end of it, where an arm-chair stood pushed back, were spread the remains of the Badger’s plain but ample supper. Rows of spotless plates winked from the shelves of the dresser at the far end of the room, and from the rafters overhead hung hams, bundles of dried herbs, nets of onions, and baskets of eggs. It seemed a place where heroes could fitly feast after victory, where weary harvesters could line up in scores along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song, or where two or three friends of simple tastes could sit about as they pleased and eat and smoke and talk in comfort and contentment. The ruddy brick floor smiled up at the smoky ceiling; the oaken settles, shiny with long wear, exchanged cheerful glances with each other; plates on the dresser grinned at pots on the shelf, and the merry firelight flickered and played over everything without distinction. The Wind In The Willows

See “Broke” by Samm Henshaw , a music video on YouTube

Header painting: Henry Wallis – The Room in Which Shakespeare Was Born 1853

CONTEMPORARY FICTION SET IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (2023)

Now his beloved uncle has died. An intensifying fear manifests as health anxiety, with night terrors from a half-remembered early childhood event. To assuage the loneliness, Sam embarks on a Personal Happiness Project:

• Inspirations

March 23, 2013

Writing: how to describe a room.

• Keep it simple.
• Talk about colors, patterns, decor, and unique architectural details, if they're relevant.
• Talk about furnishings and props, especially if characters use them.
• Talk about anything in the room if it reveals something about the characters within. 
• Talk about space.
• Talk about unique details that readers may not usually associate with a given place (especially for sci-fi and fantasy works, where the settings are purposefully different anyway).
• Describe it naturally with your own personal writing style and sensibilities.
• Get technical or overly-explicit.
• Divulge in unnecessary details.
• Tell about room's atmosphere or impression; show it instead.
• Overthink or overdo things.
• Dump details in one long paragraph.
• Describe things in a dull, dry, choppy, or uninteresting manner; use your natural narrative voice.
• Describe things that the reader will already assume for a given place, especially if such things don't contribute to the story.

16 comments:

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

i like ur writing style....

You are a great writer. I'll uses some of your examples in the future.

Brilliant, brilliant writer you are!

Thanks for this write up. Very well done.

Thank you. I came from Doug Walker's review of the second episode of Avatar: the Last Airbender where he talked about how the show makes you feel like you're in a room, and so I was wondering how one might do that in writing.

Thanks the writer

really helpfull thank you

Thanks, this has really been helpful.

This was really helpful thank you very much.

10 Gorgeous Ways To Describe Your Living Room

• Last updated Dec 20, 2023
• Difficulty Advanced

• Category Modern Decorating and Design Ideas

Step into my living room and prepare to be enveloped in a warm and inviting atmosphere. This haven of relaxation and style combines the perfect blend of comfort and aesthetics, creating a space that is both functional and visually captivating. From the plush, oversized couches that beckon you to sink in and unwind to the carefully curated decorative accents that adorn the room, every element has been thoughtfully chosen to create a ambiance that exudes both elegance and coziness. So, come in, take a seat, and let me paint a picture of my living room oasis.

What You'll Learn

What are the key features of your living room that you would like to highlight in a description, how would you describe the overall atmosphere and ambiance of your living room, what is the style or theme of your living room decor, what are the colors and patterns used in your living room design, are there any unique or standout elements in your living room that make it different from other living spaces.

If you are looking to create a description for your living room, it is essential to highlight its key features in order to create an accurate and enticing portrayal. A well-crafted description can effectively communicate the atmosphere and functionality of the room to potential buyers or renters. In this article, we will explore the key features that you should consider highlighting in a living room description, and provide examples and step-by-step guidance on how to create an engaging and informative portrayal.

• Natural Lighting: One of the most sought-after features in a living room is an abundance of natural light. Highlight any large windows or skylights that allow sunlight to flood the room. Emphasize the brightness and warmth that the natural light brings, as this can create a welcoming and inviting space. For example: "The spacious living room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing ample natural light to fill the room. This creates a bright and cheerful atmosphere, perfect for relaxing or entertaining."
• Comfortable Seating: The seating arrangement in a living room is crucial for both functionality and comfort. Highlight any plush sofas, armchairs, or sectional sofas that provide ample seating options for residents or guests. Mention any special features, such as recliners or built-in cup holders, to showcase the added comfort and convenience. For example: "The living room is furnished with a luxurious sectional sofa, perfect for gathering with friends and family. Each seat offers a high level of comfort, allowing you to relax and unwind after a long day."
• Entertainment Center: If your living room is equipped with a television, sound system, or other entertainment devices, be sure to highlight these features. Mention any state-of-the-art equipment or built-in speakers that enhance the viewing experience. Describe the layout or placement of the entertainment center to provide a clear picture of how it fits into the overall design of the room. For example: "The living room features a wall-mounted 65-inch smart TV and a surround sound system, providing an immersive entertainment experience. The entertainment center is thoughtfully integrated into the room's design, allowing easy access from any angle."
• Stylish Decor: The decor of a living room can greatly contribute to its overall ambiance. Highlight any unique or stylish design elements, such as artwork, decorative lighting fixtures, or accent pieces that add character to the space. Mention any specific themes or color schemes that create a cohesive and visually appealing environment. For example: "The living room is adorned with contemporary artwork and boasts a tasteful color palette of cool blues and grays, creating a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. The carefully selected decorative pieces add a touch of elegance to the room."
• Functionality: A well-designed living room should also be highly functional. Highlight any storage solutions, such as built-in shelves or cabinets, that provide ample space to store books, DVDs, or other items. Mention any multi-functional furniture, such as coffee tables with hidden storage compartments or ottomans that double as seating and storage. For example: "The living room is equipped with built-in shelves, allowing for easy organization and display of books, collectibles, and personal belongings. The coffee table features a hidden storage compartment, providing a practical and clutter-free solution."

When crafting a living room description, it is important to make it engaging and informative. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the room, highlighting its key features and creating a sense of functionality and comfort. By following these steps and using examples, you can create an enticing description that showcases the best aspects of your living room.

Transforming Your Sitting Room into a Cozy Oasis: Tips and Inspiration

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When it comes to creating the perfect atmosphere and ambiance in your living room, there are several factors to consider. From the lighting to the color scheme to the furniture arrangement, each element plays a crucial role in setting the overall mood of the space. In this article, we will explore how to describe the atmosphere and ambiance of your living room in a way that captures its unique character and charm.

One of the first things to consider when describing the atmosphere of your living room is the lighting. Lighting can significantly impact the overall ambiance of a room, so it's essential to choose the right type and intensity of light. Is your living room bathed in natural light, creating a bright and airy atmosphere during the day? Or do you rely on soft, warm lamps to create a cozy and intimate vibe in the evenings? The lighting in your living room can help create different moods depending on your preferences and the activities taking place in the space.

Another crucial aspect to consider is the color scheme of the room. The color palette sets the tone for the entire space, so it's essential to choose colors that align with the ambiance you want to create. For example, a living room with neutral tones like beige and cream may exude a sense of calm and sophistication. On the other hand, bold and vibrant colors like red or teal can create an energetic and vibrant atmosphere. The colors of your walls, furniture, and decor all contribute to the overall ambiance of your living room.

The furniture arrangement and layout also play a significant role in creating the desired atmosphere. Do you have a central focus in the room, such as a fireplace or a television, that sets the tone for the seating arrangement? Is your furniture arranged in a way that promotes conversation and engagement or is it more conducive to relaxation and solitude? The arrangement of furniture can dictate the flow and energy of the room, so it's crucial to consider how it contributes to the overall ambiance.

In addition to these key elements, the decor and accessories in your living room can also enhance the atmosphere. The choice of artwork, rugs, curtains, and other decorative items all contribute to the overall ambiance of the space. For example, a room adorned with nature-inspired decor like plants and organic textures may create a calming and peaceful atmosphere. On the other hand, a room filled with bold and eclectic accessories may evoke a sense of creativity and adventurousness. It's essential to choose decor that reflects your personality and enhances the desired atmosphere of your living room.

Ultimately, describing the overall atmosphere and ambiance of your living room will vary depending on your personal tastes and preferences. However, by considering factors such as lighting, color scheme, furniture arrangement, and decor, you can create a living room that exudes the atmosphere and ambiance you desire. Whether you prefer a cozy and intimate setting or a vibrant and energetic space, the key is to create a room that reflects your unique style and enhances the overall mood of the space.

Choosing the Perfect Size Light Fixture for Your Living Room: A Complete Guide

Living room decor plays a significant role in creating a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere in our homes. The style or theme of your living room decor sets the tone for the rest of the house and reflects your personal taste and style. Whether you are a fan of traditional, modern, minimalist, or eclectic designs, choosing the right style for your living room can make a world of difference. In this article, we will explore some popular interior design styles and provide tips on how to incorporate them into your living room decor.

Traditional Style:

Traditional decor embraces classic elegance and timeless beauty. This style often features rich, dark wood furniture, intricate patterns, and luxurious fabrics. To achieve a traditional look in your living room, opt for furniture with ornate details and plush upholstery. Classic colors such as deep reds, greens, and blues work well in traditional decor. Decorative accents like chandeliers, Persian rugs, and antique pieces can further enhance the traditional aesthetic.

Modern Style:

Modern decor embraces simplicity, clean lines, and a minimalist approach. This style often features sleek furniture, neutral color palettes, and plenty of natural light. To achieve a modern look in your living room, opt for furniture with smooth surfaces and geometric shapes. Use neutral colors like white, gray, or beige as the base and add pops of color through accessories like throw pillows or artwork. Incorporating natural materials like wood, glass, and metal can help create a modern and minimalist ambiance.

Minimalist Style:

Minimalist decor focuses on decluttering and simplicity. This style strives for a clean, uncluttered look with a focus on functionality. To achieve a minimalist look in your living room, remove any unnecessary items and keep only the essentials. Opt for furniture with clean lines and muted colors. Emphasize open space and natural light by keeping the room free of excessive furniture and using window treatments that allow plenty of light to filter in. The minimalist style can give your living room a calm and serene atmosphere.

Eclectic Style:

Eclectic decor is all about mixing and matching different styles, colors, and patterns. This style allows for creativity and personal expression. Incorporate items from different periods and cultures to create a unique, curated look. To achieve an eclectic look in your living room, choose furniture and accessories that reflect your personality and interests. Mix colors and patterns that might seem unusual together. Layer different textures and incorporate artwork or decorative pieces that have sentimental value.

In conclusion, the style or theme of your living room decor can greatly influence the overall ambiance and feel of your home. Whether you prefer traditional elegance, modern minimalism, or eclectic creativity, there are endless possibilities to create a space that reflects your personal style. By considering the different interior design styles and incorporating elements that resonate with you, you can transform your living room into a stylish and inviting space that you and your guests will enjoy spending time in.

Is it Possible to Install a Chandelier in the Living Room?

When it comes to designing a living room, colors and patterns play a significant role in creating the desired atmosphere and aesthetic. The right combination of colors and patterns can make a space feel inviting, cozy, or vibrant. In this article, we will discuss the colors and patterns used in a living room design and how they can be incorporated effectively.

Understanding the Psychology of Colors:

Colors have the power to evoke certain emotions and set the tone for a space. Before selecting colors for your living room, it's important to understand the psychology behind them. For example, blue is often associated with calmness and tranquility, while yellow is known to create a cheerful and energetic ambiance. Consider the mood you want to create in your living room and choose colors accordingly.

Creating a Color Palette:

Once you have an idea of the emotions you want to evoke, it's time to create a color palette for your living room. A well-balanced color palette typically consists of three main colors – a dominant color, a secondary color, and an accent color. The dominant color will be the main color used throughout the room, while the secondary color will complement the dominant color. The accent color adds pops of color and helps to create visual interest.

Choosing Patterns:

Patterns can add visual interest and depth to a living room design. When selecting patterns, it's important to consider the scale and style of your furniture and accessories. If you have a large sofa, for example, opt for smaller or more subtle patterns to avoid overwhelming the space. On the other hand, if you have smaller furniture pieces, larger-scale patterns can create a bold focal point. Mixing different patterns can be a great way to add visual texture, but make sure they complement each other and don't clash.

Harmonizing Colors and Patterns:

To create a cohesive and harmonious living room design, it's important to ensure the colors and patterns work well together. One approach is to choose a main patterned piece, such as a rug or sofa, and pull colors from that pattern to use throughout the room. This creates a sense of continuity and ties the space together. Additionally, consider the scale of patterns – mixing patterns of varying scales can create a dynamic and visually appealing look.

• If you want to create a cozy and warm living room, consider using warm colors such as deep reds, oranges, and browns. Pair these colors with natural textures and patterns inspired by nature, such as floral or leaf prints.
• For a modern and minimalistic living room, opt for a neutral color palette with pops of bold colors as accents. Use geometric patterns and clean lines to create a contemporary look.
• If you prefer a vibrant and eclectic living room, embrace a mix of bold and vibrant colors. Think outside the box and incorporate patterns such as Moroccan tiles or tribal prints. Don't be afraid to mix and match different patterns and colors to create a unique and personalized space.

In conclusion, colors and patterns play a crucial role in the design of a living room. Understanding the psychology of colors, creating a balanced color palette, and harmonizing colors and patterns are key steps in achieving a cohesive and visually appealing design. By considering the mood you want to create and selecting patterns and colors accordingly, you can transform your living room into a space that reflects your personal style and enhances the overall ambiance.

Living Room or Not: Does a Studio Apartment Offer Enough Space?

When it comes to designing your living room, there are countless possibilities to make it unique and different from other living spaces. Whether it's through the use of bold colors, unique furniture pieces, or creative décor, there are many ways to add standout elements that reflect your personal style.

One unique element that can make your living room truly stand out is the use of an accent wall. An accent wall is a wall that is painted or wallpapered in a different color or pattern than the rest of the room. This can instantly draw attention and create a focal point in the space. For example, if you have a neutral color scheme throughout your living room, a bold and vibrant accent wall can add a pop of color and make a statement. On the other hand, if you have a lot of patterns and textures in your living room, a subtle and textured accent wall can add depth and interest to the space.

Another unique element to consider is the use of unconventional furniture pieces. Instead of sticking to the traditional sofa and coffee table combination, think outside the box and incorporate unexpected pieces. For example, a hanging chair or a sculptural chair can add a sense of playfulness and uniqueness to your living room. Additionally, using different textures and materials can also make a statement. Consider mixing and matching different materials like wood, metal, and fabric to create a dynamic and visually interesting space.

Incorporating unique and personalized artwork is another way to make your living room stand out. Instead of opting for generic prints or paintings, consider displaying pieces that have personal meaning to you. This could be artwork created by a family member or friend, a collection of photographs, or even a gallery wall of your favorite quotes and sayings. By showcasing artwork that is meaningful to you, you not only add a unique element to your living room but also create a space that truly reflects your personality and interests.

Lastly, don't forget about the power of lighting. Unique light fixtures can make a big impact in your living room and set the mood for the entire space. Consider adding a statement chandelier, a collection of pendant lights, or even a floor lamp with a unique design. These light fixtures can serve as both functional and decorative elements in your living room, adding a touch of elegance and uniqueness.

In conclusion, there are many ways to incorporate unique and standout elements in your living room. From accent walls and unconventional furniture pieces to personalized artwork and unique light fixtures, the possibilities are endless. By adding these elements, you can create a living room that is truly one-of-a-kind and reflects your personal style and interests. So go ahead, get creative, and make your living room stand out from the rest!

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Frequently asked questions.

In my living room, I have a comfortable sofa with plush cushions and matching armchairs. The coffee table is made of dark wood and has a glass top, which adds a touch of elegance. Additionally, I have a bookshelf filled with my favorite novels and decorative items, as well as a television stand with a large flat-screen TV.

The color scheme in my living room is neutral and inviting. The walls are painted a soft, beige color, which complements the dark wood flooring. I have added pops of color with vibrant throw pillows and a patterned area rug in shades of blue and gray. Overall, the color scheme creates a calming and cozy atmosphere.

The lighting in my living room is warm and adjustable. I have an overhead pendant light that provides general illumination, and I also have several floor and table lamps strategically placed around the room. These lamps have soft, white shades that give off a gentle glow, perfect for creating a relaxed ambiance.

I have included various decorative elements in my living room to add personality and style. On the walls, I have framed artwork and family photographs, which serves as a reflection of our interests and memories. I also have decorative throw blankets draped over the sofa and accent pillows that complement the color scheme. Finally, I have placed potted plants and fresh flowers in different corners, bringing a touch of nature into the space.

The overall atmosphere of my living room can be described as cozy and inviting. With its comfortable seating, warm lighting, and personal touches, it is a space that encourages relaxation and spending quality time with loved ones. The neutral color palette and carefully chosen decor create a harmonious and soothing environment, making it the perfect place to unwind after a long day.

• Kailyn Wolf Author Home Renovation Professional

• Brian Barr Author Editor Reviewer

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A Quick Writer’s Guide to Describe Interiors

Creating immersive descriptions of indoor spaces is more than just scene setting —it’s an invitation to the reader to step into your world. Describing the interior of buildings with vivid detail can draw readers into your narrative. So let’s explore how to describe interiors using multiple sensory experiences and contexts.

• Lighting: soft glow of lamps, harsh fluorescent lights, or natural light.
• Colour and textures; peeling paint, plush velvet, or sleek marble.
• Size and scale: is it claustrophobically small or impressively grand?
• Architectural features: high ceilings, crown mouldings, or exposed beams.
• Furnishings: are they modern, sparse, antique, or cluttered?
• Style and decor: what style is represented, and how does it affect the atmosphere?
• State of repair: is the space well-kept, neglected, or under renovation?
• Perspective and layout: how do spaces flow into each other?
• Unique design features: describe sculptural elements, or things that stand out.
• Spatial relationships: describe how objects are arranged—what’s next to, across from, or underneath something else?
• Describe echoes in large spaces or the muffled quality of sound in carpeted or furnished rooms.
• Note background noises; is there a persistent hum of an air conditioner, or the tick of a clock?
• Describe the sound of footsteps; do they click, scuff, or are they inaudible?
• Include voices; are they loud and echoing or soft and absorbed?
• Is there music? Is it piped in, coming from a live source, or perhaps drifting in from outside?
• Capture the sounds of activity; typing, machinery, kitchen noises, etc.
• Describe natural sounds; birds outside the window, or the rustle of trees.
• Consider sound dynamics; is the space acoustically lively or deadened?
• Include unexpected noises that might be unique to the building.
• Consider silence as a sound quality. What does the absence of noise convey?
• Identify cleaning products or air fresheners. Do they create a sterile or inviting smell?
• Describe cooking smells if near a kitchen; can you identify specific foods?
• Mention natural scents; does the room smell of wood, plants, or stone?
• Are there musty or stale smells in less ventilated spaces?
• Note the smell of new materials; fresh paint, new carpet, or upholstery.
• Point out if there’s an absence of smell, which can be as notable as a powerful scent.
• Consider personal scents; perfume, sweat, or the hint of someone’s presence.
• Include scents from outside that find their way in; ocean air, city smells, etc.
• Use metaphors and similes to relate unfamiliar smells to common experiences.
• Describe intensity and layering of scents; is there a primary scent supported by subtler ones?
• Describe people’s actions; are they relaxing, working, hurried, or leisurely?
• Does the space have a traditional use? What do people come there to do?
• Note mechanical activity; elevators moving, printers printing, etc.
• Include interactions; are people talking, arguing, or collaborating?
• Mention solitary activities; someone reading, writing, or involved in a hobby.
• Capture movements; are there servers bustling about, or a janitor sweeping?
• Observe routines and rituals; opening blinds in the morning, locking doors at night.
• Include energetic activities; perhaps children playing or a bustling trade floor.
• Note restful moments; spaces where people come to unwind or reflect.
• Describe cultural or community activities that might be unique to the space.

Decorative style

• Describe the overall style; is it minimalist, baroque, industrial, or something else?
• Note period influences; does the decor reflect a specific era or design movement?
• Include colour schemes and how they play with or against each other.
• Mention patterns; on wallpaper, upholstery, or tiles.
• Describe textural contrasts; rough against smooth, shiny against matte.
• Observe symmetry or asymmetry in design.
• Note the presence of signature pieces; a chandelier, an antique desk, or a modern art installation.
• Mention thematic elements; nautical, floral, astronomical, etc.
• Describe homemade or bespoke items that add character.
• Include repetitive elements; motifs that appear throughout the space.
• Mention historical usage ; was the building repurposed, and does it keep its original function?
• Describe architectural time periods; identify features that pinpoint the era of construction.
• Note changes over time; upgrades, downgrades, or restorations.
• Include historical events that took place within or affected the building.
• Mention local or regional history that influenced the building’s design or function.
• Describe preservation efforts; are there plaques, restored areas, or visible signs of aging?

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How to Describe an Apartment in a Story

By A.W. Naves

Are you writing an apartment setting? This post on how to describe an apartment in a story will help you! Read on to learn how you can add description to your fictional apartment through the use of the following 10 words.

Providing a feeling of comfort , warmth, and intimacy.

“She snuggled up in the cozy apartment, surrounded by soft blankets and dimmed lighting.”

“The cozy atmosphere of the apartment made him feel instantly at ease.”

How it Adds Description

The word “cozy” evokes comfort and warmth, transforming an apartment into a haven of tranquility. It invites your character to experience a sense of security and relaxation, offering respite from the outside world’s trials. Your character’s conflicts and struggles away from home make the “cozy” apartment a place of solace for them.

Having an old-fashioned appearance.

“My father’s new apartment was filled with quaint furniture and vintage decorations.”

“The quaint apartment sat atop her clothing shop, its front balcony overlooking the picturesque town square below.”

When you describe an apartment as “quaint” in your story, it gives the impression that the character living there has a fondness for the past or has an appreciation for unconventional and unique styles. The apartment’s quaintness can reveal a lot about the character’s personality and backstory, highlighting their specific tastes or sentimental attachment to earlier times.

3. Dilapidated

In a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect.

“The paint was peeling, and the furniture was worn in the dilapidated apartment she rented after getting her first real job.”

“She couldn’t believe someone lived in such a dilapidated place, but Sam didn’t seem to mind his shoddy little apartment in the least.”

“Dilapidated” is a word that describes an apartment that is in poor condition. It’s a place that has been neglected and is falling apart. Imagine a character living there who’s having money troubles or finding it hard to keep their living space in good condition. The run-down state of the apartment could symbolize the character’s hardships or show a sense of despair.

Full of energy , excitement, or activity.

“The lively apartment was filled with laughter and music, creating a vibrant atmosphere.”

“The bustling cafes and colorful street art located near her lively apartment led to a steady stream of unexpected visitors, but she loved their company.”

Using the word “lively” is about creating an atmosphere that’s full of life, energy, and excitement. The character who calls this place home is outgoing, social, and thrives in a bustling environment. This liveliness plays a significant role in shaping the character’s experiences. You can use this description to give them a sense of belonging or spark their creative juices.

Calm, peaceful , and untroubled.

“She found solace in the serene apartment, surrounded by plants and soft lighting.”

“The view from the rooftop garden revealed a lush landscape that matched the vibe of the serene apartment he inhabited below it.

The word “serene” paints a picture of pure tranquility and peace in your character’s apartment. Picture someone who craves a calm and soothing atmosphere, as an escape from a chaotic life. The serene vibe of the apartment can play a role in shaping your character’s journey. It could give them a special space for self-reflection, unwinding, and even healing.

Uncomfortably small or restricted in space.

“The cramped apartment felt claustrophobic, with barely enough room to move around.”

“Living in such a cramped space was starting to take its toll on her mental well-being.”

Describing an apartment as “cramped” demonstrates that is doesn’t have enough space. Your character may feel physically uncomfortable and frustrated because there’s no room to move about freely. This cramped place could affect their mood, relationships, or their daily routine. They might start seeking a bigger place or thinking of other ways to deal with the problem.

Fashionable , modern, or tastefully presented in appearance.

“The apartment’s stylish decor showcased a blend of contemporary and vintage elements.”

“She was known for her impeccable taste and always managed to create a stylish living environment.”

If your character lives in a “stylish” apartment, we can assume it is very appealing from a visual standpoint. The inhabitant has a great sense of fashion and design. Such a sense of style can show readers that your character is someone who pays attention to intricate details, cares about what others think of them or simply appreciates beauty and elegance.

8. Eclectic

Composed of a variety of styles , themes, or sources.

“The apartment’s eclectic furnishings showcased a mix of vintage, modern, and cultural elements.”

“He loved the eclectic apartment he found hidden among the diverse restaurants and shops of the quirky little town.

Use “eclectic” to portray an apartment that has a random display of mismatched styles. Such a place would house a character who is open-minded, appreciates various cultures, or has a love for combining assorted styles and influences. This environment can inspire their creativity, fuel their curiosity, and let them express themselves freely in a way that aids your plot.

9. Spacious

Having ample room, open and not crowded .

“The spacious apartment boasted high ceilings and generous living areas.”

“She felt a sense of freedom in the spacious apartment, allowing her thoughts to roam.”

“Spacious” indicates openness and roominess in the apartment where your character lives. It suggests that your character values freedom of movement, loves having people over, or enjoys having enough room for their hobbies. The spacious environment may impact your character’s mood and behavior by making them feel unrestricted or sparking a sense of potential.

Contemporary ; characteristic of the present or recent times.

“The apartment’s modern design featured state-of-the-art technology and appliances.”

“The modern apartment’s minimalist aesthetics were a selling point for her client, who loved the glass and stainless-steel accouterments.”

A character who lives in a “modern” apartment embraces the latest trends and stays up to date on innovative technology. It’s a useful way for you to show their preferences, interests, or social status. Adding a modern touch adds a sense of sophistication to the plot, highlighting the character’s connection to the current scene, their adaptability, or their craving for a progressive lifestyle.

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Novel writing ,

How to write descriptions and create a sense of place.

By Harry Bingham

Your first job as a storyteller is a simple one, and a crucial one. You have to get your passengers into your train – your readers into your story. Only then can you hope to transport them.

And that crucial first step doesn’t have much to do with characters or story or anything else.

What matters first is this: your fictional world has to seem real. It has to grip the reader as intensely as real life – more intensely, even.

Writing descriptions that  seem  vivid, with the use of evocative language, is therefore essential. The buildings, cities, places, rooms, trees, weather of your fictional world have to be convincing  there . They have to have an emphatic, solid, believable presence.

A big ask, right? But it gets harder than that.

Because at the same time, people don’t want huge wodges of descriptive writing. They want to engage with characters and story, because that’s the reason they picked up your book in the first place.

So your challenge becomes convincing readers that your world is real . . . but using only the lightest of touches to achieve that goal.

Not so easy, huh?

Start Early

Set the scene early on – then nudge.

It may sound obvious but plenty of writers launch out into a scene without giving us any descriptive material to place and anchor the action. Sure, a page or so into the scene, they may start to add details to it – but by that point it’s too late. They’ve already lost the reader. If the scene feels placeless at the start – like actors speaking in some blank, white room – you won’t be able to wrestle that sense of place back later.

So  start early .

That means telling the reader where they are in a paragraph (or so), close to the start of any new scene. That early paragraph needs to have enough detail that if you are creating a coffee shop, for example, it doesn’t just feel like A Generic Coffee Shop. It should feel like its own thing. One you could actually walk into. Something with its own mood and colour. One vivid descriptive detail will do more work for you than three worthy but colourless sentences.

And once, early in your scene, you’ve created your location, don’t forget about it. Just nudge a little as you proceed. So you could have your characters talking – then they’re interrupted by a waitress. Then they talk (or argue, or fight, or kiss) some more, and then you drop in some other detail which reminds the reader, “Yep, here we still are, in this coffee shop.”

That’s a simple technique, bit it works every time.

One paragraph early on, then nudge, nudge, nudge.

As the roughest of rough guides, those nudges need to happen at least once a page – so about every 300 words. If it’s natural to do so more often, that’s totally fine.

Be Specific

Details matter! They build a sense of place like nothing else.

Gabriel García Márquez, opening  One Hundred Years of Solitude , introduces his village like this:

Macondo was a village of twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a river of clear water that ran along a bed of polished stones, which were white and enormous, like prehistoric eggs.

Boom! We’re there.

In his world. In his village. Already excited to see what lies ahead.

And yes, he’s started early (Chapter 1, Page 1, Line 1). But it’s more than that, isn’t it? He could have written something like this:

Macondo was a village of about twenty houses, built on a riverbank.

I hope it’s obvious that that sentence hardly transports us anywhere. It’s too bland. Too unfocused. Too generic. There are literally thousands of villages in the world which would fit that description.

In short, what makes Marquez’s description so vivid is its use of telling detail. They’re not just houses, they’re  adobe  houses. The river doesn’t just flow over stones, its flows over  polished stones  that are  white and enormous, like  (wow!)  prehistoric eggs .

The sentence works so well because Marquez has:

• Created something totally non-generic
• Via the use of highly specific detail, and
• Uses surprising / exotic language to make those details blaze in our imagination.

That basic template is one you can use again and again. It never stales. It lies at the heart of all good descriptive writing.

So here, for example, is a more ‘boring’ space . . . but still one redolent with vividness and atmosphere thanks to the powerful use of atmospheric specificity. In Margaret Atwood’s  The Handmaid’s Tale , Offred introduces her room with details that not only grab us but hint at something dark:

A chair, a table, a lamp. Above, on the white ceiling, a relief ornament in the shape of a wreath and in the centre of it a blank space, plastered over, like the place in a face where the eye has been taken out. There must have been a chandelier once. They’ve removed anything you could tie a rope to.

Those clipped words transport us straight to Offred’s enclosed, and terrifying, space. We’re also told just enough to give us an image of that place, enough to heighten tension, enough to tease curiosity. This is just a description of a room – but we already feel powerfully impelled to read on.

Be Selective With Your Descriptive Details

Be selective – don’t overwhelm.

It might be tempting to share every detail with us on surroundings.

Even with a setting like Hogwarts – a place readers really do want to know all the hidden details of – J.K. Rowling doesn’t share how many revolving staircases it has, how many treasures in the Room of Requirement, how many trees in the Forbidden Forest. That’s not the point. (And it would write off a little of Hogwarts’ magic and mystery.)

If you’re describing a bar, don’t write:

The bar was approximately twenty-eight feet long, by perhaps half of that wide. A long mahogany bar took up about one quarter of the floor space, while eight tables each with 4 wooden chairs occupied the remaining area. There were a number of tall bar stools arranged to accommodate any drinker who didn’t want to be seated at one of the tables. The ceiling height was pleasantly commodious.

That’s accurate, yes. It’s informative, yes. But it’s bland as heck.

The reader doesn’t want information. They want atmosphere. They want vivid language. They want mood.

Here’s an alternative way to describe a bar – the Korova Milk Bar in  A Clockwork Orange.  This description delivers a sense of intimacy and darkness in a few words:

The mesto [place] was near empty … it looked strange, too, having been painted with all red mooing cows … I took the large moloko plus to one of the little cubies that were all round … there being like curtains to shut them off from the main mesto, and there I sat down in the plushy chair and sipped and sipped

We’re told what we need to know, thrown into that murky Korova atmosphere and Burgess moves the action on. All we really have in terms of detail are those mooing red cows, some cubies (curtain booths?), and a plushy chair. There’s lots more author Anthony Burgess could tell us about that place. But he doesn’t. He gives us the  right  details, not all the details.

And if that’s not enough for you, then try reading  this .

Write For  All  The Senses

You have a nose? So use it.

Visuals are important, but don’t neglect the other senses. Offering a full range of sensory information will enhance your descriptive writing.

Herman Melville, say, describes to us the chowder for the ship’s crew in  Moby Dick : ‘small juicy clams, scarcely bigger than hazel nuts, mixed with pounded ship biscuits and salted pork cut up into little flakes.’ Such descriptions are deft, specific, and brilliantly atmospheric. Where else but on board a nineteenth century American whaler would you get such a meal? By picking out those details, Melville makes his setting feel vibrantly alive.

Here’s another example.

Joanne Harris’ opening of  Chocolat  plays to readers’ senses, as we’re immersed straightaway in the world of her book through scent, sound and sight:

We came on the wind of the carnival. A warm wind for February, laden with the hot greasy scents of frying pancakes and sausage and powdery-sweet waffles cooked on the hotplate right there by the roadside, with the confetti sleeting down collars and cuffs and rolling in the gutters .

These non-visual references matter so much because sight alone can feel a little distant, a little empty.

By forcing the reader’s taste buds to image Melville’s clams or Harris’s pancakes – or making the reader feel that warm February wind, the confetti ‘sleeting’ down collars – it’s almost as though the writers are hauling the readers’ entire body into their scenes.

That’s good stuff: do likewise.

(And one easy test: take one of your scenes and highlight anything that references a non-visual sense. If you find some good references, then great: you’re doing fine. If not, your highlighter pen remains unused, you probably want to edit that scene!)

Get Place And Action Working Together

That’s where the magic happens!

Use the atmospheric properties of a place to add to other properties of the scene. That doesn’t mean you should always play things the obvious way: no need for cliché;.

You can have declarations of love happen in idyllic meadows, as in  Twilight  by Stephenie Meyer, but why not at a bus stop in the rain? Shouted over the barriers at a train station?

Your character also brings one kind of mood to the scene, and the action that unfolds will bring other sensations.

Lynda La Plante’s crime novel  Above Suspicion  makes a home setting frightening after it becomes obvious a stranger has been in protagonist DS Anna Travis’ flat, and she’s just been assigned to help solve her first murder case.

So the place is influenced by action, once Anna notices:

Reaching for the bedside lamp, she stopped and withdrew her hand. The photograph of her father had been turned out to face the room. She touched it every night before she went to sleep. It was always facing towards her, towards the bed, not away from it. … In the darkness, what had felt safe before now felt frightening: the way the dressing-table mirror reflected the street-light through the curtains and the sight of the wardrobe door left slightly ajar.

Here a comfy, nondescript flat becomes a frightening place, just because of what else is going on. Go for unfamiliar angles that add drama and excitement to your work.

Descriptions As Active Characters

You know the way that a place can turn on you? So (for example) a place that seems safe can suddenly reveal some other side, seem menacing, then almost try to harm the character.

That’s an incredibly powerful way to build descriptive writing into your text – because it feels mobile, alive and with a flicker of risk. You can use  plotting techniques  to help structure the way a reader interacts with a place: starting with a sense of the status quo, then some inciting incident that shifts that early stability, and so on. The inciting incident can be tiny – discovering that a photo frame has been moved, for example.

Having your characters voice their perceptions of a place in  dialogue  also adds to its dramatic impact, because now the reader sees place both through the eyes of a narrator and through the eyes of the characters themselves. Good, huh?

Do you need more help? Did you know we have an entire video course on How To Write? That course has had awesome client reviews, but it’s kinda expensive to buy . . . so don’t buy it!

We’ve made that course available, in full, to members of Jericho Writers. Our members don’t just get that course, they also get:

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We’ve made the offer as rich as we know how to – and made it incredibly affordable too. You can find out  more about our club here . Remember: we were founded by writers for writers – and we created this club for you. Do find out  more … and we’d absolutely love it if you chose to join us.

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Use Unfamiliar Locations

And smart research ALWAYS helps.

Using unfamiliar settings adds real mood and atmosphere.

Stephenie Meyer, when writing  Twilight , decided she needed a rainy place near a forest to fit key plot elements.

Like protagonist Bella, she was raised in Arizona, but explained the process of setting  Twilight  in an unfamiliar setting on her  blog :

For my setting, I knew I needed someplace ridiculously rainy. I turned to Google, as I do for all my research needs, and looked for the place with the most rainfall in the U.S. This turned out to be the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. I pulled up maps of the area and studied them, looking for something small, out of the way, surrounded by forest. … In researching Forks, I discovered the La Push Reservation, home to the Quileute Tribe. The Quileute story is fascinating, and a few fictional members of the tribe quickly became intrinsic to my story.

As her success has shown, it’s possible to write successfully about a place you don’t know, but you must make it your business to know as much as you can about it. (Or if you’re writing a fantasy or sci-fi novel, plan your world down to its most intricate details.)

And to be clear: you’re doing the research, not because you want that research to  limit  you. (Oh, I can’t write that, because Wikipedia tells me that the river isn’t as long / the forest isn’t as thick / or whatever else.)

On the contrary:

You are doing the research, because that research may inspire and stimulate a set of ideas you might not have ecountered otherwise .

The key thing is to do your research to nail specifics, especially if they are unfamiliar, foreign, exotic.

Just read how Tokyo is described in Ryu Murakami’s thriller  In the Miso Soup :

It was still early in the evening when we emerged onto a street in Tsukiji, near the fish market. … Wooden bait-and-tackle shops with disintegrating roofs and broken signs stood next to shiny new convenience stores, and futuristic highrise apartment complexes rose skyward on either side of narrow, retro streets lined with wholesalers of dried fish.

There’s authenticity, grit to this description of Tokyo, as opposed to using ‘stock’ descriptions that could apply to many modern cities.

Note this same thing with foods: in Japan, your protagonist could well be eating miso soup, as per Ryu Murakami.

Or say if your story was set in Hong Kong, you might write in a dai pai dong (a sort of Chinese street kitchen), something very specific to that city if you’re describing a street there.

Alternatively, if you are setting something in the past, get your sense of place right by doing your research right, too.

In historical novel  Girl with a Pearl Earring  by Tracy Chevalier, set in Holland in 1664, maid Griet narrates how artist Johannes Vermeer prepares her for her secret portrait, musing, to her horror, that ‘virtuous women did not open their mouths in paintings’.

That last is just a tiny detail, but Griet’s tears show us how mortified she is. Modern readers won’t (necessarily) think about seventeenth-century connotations like this, so if you’re writing a scene set in a very different era or culture to what you know, research so you’re creating a true sense of place.

Use Place To Create Foreshadowing

A brilliant technique – we love it!

Descriptions of place are never neutral.

Good writers will, in overt or gently subtle ways, introduce a place-as-character. If that character is dangerous, for example, then simply describing a place adds a layer of foreboding, foreshadowing, to the entire book.

Just read how J.R.R. Tolkien describes the Morannon in  The Two Towers : ‘high mounds of crushed and powdered rock, great cones of earth fire-blasted and poison-stained … like an obscene graveyard.’ It’s obvious from this description trouble lies ahead for Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee.

But even if you’re not writing this sort of fantasy, character psychology and plot (as we saw above) can also render seemingly harmless places suspect, too. A boring apartment in  Above Suspicion  becomes scary when it seems someone’s been inside.

In the same sense, we thrill to the sense of a place with excitement and promise, too, like when Harry makes his first trip to Diagon Alley (in  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ) to shop for Hogwarts equipment with Hagrid.

There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels’ eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon. … They bought Harry’s school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk.

Just weave place and action together like this to create atmosphere, excitement, tension, foreboding.

Think About Your Words – Nouns And Adjectives

Specific is good. Unexpected is great!

One final thought. When you’ve written a piece, go back and check nouns.

A bad description will typically use boring nouns (or things) in settings, i.e. a table, chair, window, floor, bar, stool, etc.

If you try to fluff up that by throwing in adjectives (i.e. a grimy table, gleaming window, wooden floor), the chances are you’ll either have (i) made the description even more boring, or (ii) made it odd.

Of course, this works for that first passage we looked over from Margaret Atwood.

We sense Offred counting the few things she has in the little room she calls hers, the window and chair, etc., in terse phrasing. We sense her tension, her dissociation, and we feel trapped with her.

All the same, play with nouns, with taking your readers to new surroundings. Give them a Moloko. Play with surroundings, how you can make them different, how you can render the ordinary extraordinary. With the right nouns in place, you’ll need fewer adjectives to jazz things up – and when you do use them, they’ll feel right, not over the top.

Happy writing!

About the author

Harry has written a variety of books over the years, notching up multiple six-figure deals and relationships with each of the world’s three largest trade publishers. His work has been critically acclaimed across the globe, has been adapted for TV, and is currently the subject of a major new screen deal. He’s also written non-fiction, short stories, and has worked as ghost/editor on a number of exciting projects. Harry also self-publishes some of his work, and loves doing so. His Fiona Griffiths series in particular has done really well in the US, where it’s been self-published since 2015. View his website , his Amazon profile , his Twitter . He's been reviewed in Kirkus, the Boston Globe , USA Today , The Seattle Times , The Washington Post , Library Journal , Publishers Weekly , CulturMag (Germany), Frankfurter Allgemeine , The Daily Mail , The Sunday Times , The Daily Telegraph , The Guardian , and many other places besides. His work has appeared on TV, via Bonafide . And go take a look at what he thinks about Blick Rothenberg . You might also want to watch our " Blick Rothenberg - The Truth " video, if you want to know how badly an accountancy firm can behave.

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Little Ghost Hands

Even a single voice can lure masses into the forest

• Jan 26, 2021

Room Description? How?

Hello, lovelies!

So, giving a good description of anything in your story tends to give any author a mini heart attack. However, describing a room seems to be particularly difficult.

Writing tips often range from "be as detailed as possible" to "don't be detailed at all, it will bore your audience". Well, what are we supposed to do then?

The truth is, there isn't a single step-by-step way of bringing a room to life. It typically all depends on the author's own style and the genre they are writing in. You wouldn't use the same words to describe a cold, damp prison, as you would a cosy, little tea-shop, for example.

However, there are some techniques I have found in practise, that have been extremely helpful in my own writing. These can both give the audience a feel for the atmosphere the room is supposed to have, and give some concrete clues to what the room looks like.

So, I thought I would share them with you!

Whenever a reader is introduced to something new, particularly a new room, the easiest way to settle their imagination is to start narrowing down the space. This way, when you start adding things like furniture, colours and decorations, it will fit easier in their mind.

You don't need to add those things right after having described how big, wide, or tall the room is, however. Rather let those things come out as they become relevant to reader. I will address this further later on.

For shape, you don't necessarily have to add any descriptive words, since most rooms are either square or rectangle anyway. Only when the room defects from that, like round or triangular, is it handy for you to add the shape of the room, otherwise it may come across as either patronising or overbearing.

The size and height of the room is what will inform the reader the most in terms forming a basis of an image in their head. On top of that, depending on the wording you use, it's an ideal moment to give off whether the reader should feel comfortable or unsettled in this room.

For two short examples: if a room is small, the word 'tiny' or 'snug' is going to bring out a more positive reaction, as supposed to 'cramped' or 'suffocating', and if a room is tall, the word 'towering' is going to make the reader feel more overwhelmed than 'elevated'. So, if the character is meant to feel uneasy in this room, or is simply not in a good place mentally themselves, using words with more negative connotations to describe a room is a good way to illustrate that. The same goes for positive words if the character is meant to feel comfortable.

This works as an initial description if the furniture isn't overwhelmingly packing up the space or if the room isn't depressingly empty. However, if the furniture does have a deep effect on the room in terms of how it fills it up, that is what a character will most likely notice first.

This is an excerpt of the paragraph where I describe the dining room of the Girl House in my in-progress novel:

"Chipped, white paint on long rows of chairs on either side of an equally long table filled most of the long, narrow space, packed further by a stone fireplace on the right and a cabinet full to bursting with plates, cutlery and cups on the left. Not to be outdone, the top of the cream-coloured curtains were adorned by various bundles of holly and mistletoe, their bright red and white berries intertwining with the dried green of the leaves, scraping over the greyish brown-painted walls."

-Chapter 1. Morning Cinnamon

I chose to address the table here first, because not only did it tell something about how it affected the space around it, but it also led me easily into describing the rest of the things in the room, since it's the central piece of furniture.

However, had the table, or any other furniture, not been such an overwhelming presence, it would've been a better call to start describing the room as a long, slender room with a fireplace at the end, and then start describing what else the character sees in it.

So, first determine whether you want to start from the room size to what's inside, or start from the furniture, and allow that to tell the size of the room. This will mostly depend on which one will be most noticeable to the character.

In my own excerpt, I chose to immediately describe the rest of the scene in one fell swoop. However, that doesn't mean it works with everything, If a room is particularly detailed, or the character is sitting at an angle where only part of it is visible to them, it doesn't make sense to immediately describe everything. If a room is less hectic, and is in full view of the character, you can get away with it more.

Another reason to keep part of a room in the dark, is if there is something in there that's relevant to the plot that can't be discovered yet, and so it's not paid attention to. However, if room is needed for a couple of more scenes, and therefore has to be established to the reader already, it makes more sense to describe it fully. That was my reasoning for the way I wrote the excerpt above.

Colour and Light:

Similar to space, the way you describe colour and lighting is going to partially depend on the mood you are trying to convey, either because of the season, time of day, or just the general atmosphere.

Lighting especially plays a big part in this, since it will determine the shadow angles, what a character is able to see, and how dull or bright the material and colours are going to be visible to them. So, first decide what the light source in the room is going to be, in order to have a focus point. Then determine how strong the light source is, so you know its reach and how much of the room it will show. Finally, think of the warmth and colouring of the light, because this will act as a 'filter' of some sorts for what the room will look like to the reader and the characters. A small, flickering candle is going to make a room look a lot different to midday winter sunlight coming through floor-to-ceiling windows. So, make sure you have a clear image of what is causing the room to be visible.

The 'filter' of the lighting is going to influence the colours of walls and furniture to some extent as well, but more than anything, the colours and lighting are going to work together to form 'the aesthetic'. Any colour can be mixed with any lighting, but each combination is going to have its own atmosphere, which you can use to your advantage.

For example: the living room in the Girl House is first introduced when it is dark, meaning that the light source comes from the large fireplace. This gives me a filter of reddish orange light with a limited reach, so the furniture and ceiling are going to have a lot of long shadows. This works for me, because a ghost story is about to be told, and I can use the shadows to convey an unsettling mood. The walls here are already a warm, brown colour, because of the wood, so the colour warmth is amplified by the light filter. The same goes for the furniture, which are variations of faded red and brownish yellow.

However, had the colours been different, the mood and feel of the room would have been different as well. The already warm colours are both meant to give a sense of homeliness and cosiness, but also act as a contrast to the dark, freezing winter outside. If the colours were of a colder variety, like grey or blue, that contrast wouldn't be as strong, and the room may have a more calm or tranquil feel, as supposed to cosy. However, with the light from the fireplace, the colours also wouldn't be as pronounced, because of the clash of warm and cold.

So, if you want your room to have a pronounced feeling, make sure the lighting and colours both match the atmosphere of that feeling, and enhance each other. If you want it to be more muted, or even distorted, you can make the colours and light clash instead. This will help you bring out the atmosphere you want in a more practical way.

Surfaces, Smell, and Sounds:

Sight isn't the only way you can inform the reader about a room, especially when it comes to surfaces. A character will typically touch the furniture or move around the room in some way, meaning they will experience the room in more ways than just through their eyes.

Think about the material and the quality of the furniture, and whether they feel soft, hard, smooth, stringy etc. Think about whether they are comfortable for the character or not. Even consider whether they make a sound when being sat on or not.

How a surface feels can tell you a number of things about not only the state of the room, but also the people occupying it. Specifically, by telling the reader about the age of the furniture, and how well the room is being cleaned and taken care of, they can get a feel for both the economical state of the characters, or simply how much they care about hygiene and appearance.

Each room also tends to have a distinctive scent, whether because of cleaning, incense, age, fabric, smoke, or other factors. These can help distinguish one room from another, as well as tell something about the people occupying the room in question. For example: the room smells very heavily of perfume, it may indicate that particular space is mainly used by wealthy ladies. Or, if a room smells awful, it can show it hasn't been cleaned in a while.

I said before you should consider the sound of furniture when it's being used, but the sound of the rest of the room is just as important. A floor's material, for example, can be explained just by the sound of footsteps alone. Smooth, marble isn't going to creak, and heels on carpets aren't going to click in echoes.

Consider the space as well when thinking of the sound, particularly how the voices of the characters are being carried through the air. Small rooms with flat ceilings, for example, aren't going to have as much as of an echo as large, tall rooms with a curved ceiling.

These can be considered details, which can add character and depth to a room. So, you don't need to immediately address these when first introducing the room to the reader. However, as the room gets explored, they are handy tools in creating the atmosphere you want, without having to just rely on the room's looks to do so.

I hope these are at least somewhat helpful for you all, and if you have something you would like me to cover, let me know in the comments!

Goodbye, lovelies!

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Living Room Design and Experience Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

My living room is undoubtedly the favorite room in my house. It is the room where I relax when I am tired. I entertain my friends and any other guests in my living room. My living room is designed in such a way that windows are facing the hills. These hills offer extraordinarily beautiful scenery, and one can just look at them the whole day without noticing how time flies by. At the foot’ of the mountains is incredibly beautiful vegetation comprising mainly of cedar trees and blue lilies. My friends love coming to my home just to have a view of the beautiful snow-capped hills.

I have painted a light green color on the walls of my living room and a cream color on the ceiling. The green tint offers a therapeutic and comfortable feeling since it matches well with the environment around my home. The domain itself is remarkably green and provides a great sense to one’s body and soul. Cool colors are useful when it comes to painting or decorating one’s house. Dull colors create a feeling of discomfort and may even stress the guests. In fact, my home is painted with only cool colors.

Since my living room is not very big, I had to plan wisely before furnishing it. I also wanted it to look warm and to accommodate my guests who visit me once in a while. I tried to arrange it in such a way that it would fit the necessary furniture without looking congested. The cost of furnishing it was another issue that I carefully considered. I wanted to buy things that were fashionable and comfortable yet not very expensive. After careful thought and consideration, I decided to purchase sofas, two chairs, a rug, a table, a bookshelf, 42-inch television, curtains, and a table.

The sofas look comfortable as I decided to buy a set that has enormous cushions. The collection of sofas is cream in color and, it blends very well with my cream flowery curtains. The location can accommodate at least five people at a time. When I am entertaining more than five people in my house, the chairs come in handy.

The shelves in my living room hold a number of books and magazines. The brackets look like a small library and, one can get books on different topics. I also have novels from mainly bestselling authors, which my friends borrow from time to time. They also exchange my stories with theirs. My magazines are mostly lifestyle magazines that have information about different international celebrities. I also make sure to buy a newspaper daily to keep up with current affairs.

My LCD television is silver in color. This is where my friends and I catch up on recent blockbuster movies. We also watch football games, especially from our favorite soccer teams. The stand that holds the television is designed with a mahogany tree and has small shelves where I place my Nintendo Switch console and game cases for it.

I always entertain my guests with some soft cool, music whenever they pay me a visit. My Bluetooth speaker is not that big, but it plays soothing music. This makes my living room to be particularly lively and welcoming. My floor rug, which covers most of the room, ensures that my guests are warm since the bare floors can a bit cold. My table is made from camphor and looks fantastic in the middle of the room.

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IvyPanda. (2021, January 22). Living Room Design and Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-room-design-and-experience/

"Living Room Design and Experience." IvyPanda , 22 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/living-room-design-and-experience/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Living Room Design and Experience'. 22 January.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Living Room Design and Experience." January 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-room-design-and-experience/.

1. IvyPanda . "Living Room Design and Experience." January 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-room-design-and-experience/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Living Room Design and Experience." January 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-room-design-and-experience/.

A Guide to Descriptive Writing

by Melissa Donovan | Jan 7, 2021 | Creative Writing | 9 comments

What is descriptive writing?

Writing description is a necessary skill for most writers. Whether we’re writing an essay, a story, or a poem, we usually reach a point where we need to describe something. In fiction, we describe settings and characters. In poetry, we describe scenes, experiences, and emotions. In creative nonfiction, we describe reality. Descriptive writing is especially important for speculative fiction writers and poets. If you’ve created a fantasy world, then you’ll need to deftly describe it to readers; Lewis Carroll not only described Wonderland  (aff link); he also described the fantastical creatures that inhabited it.

But many writers are challenged by description writing, and many readers find it boring to read — when it’s not crafted skillfully.

However, I think it’s safe to say that technology has spoiled us. Thanks to photos and videos, we’ve become increasingly visual, which means it’s getting harder to use words to describe something, especially if it only exists in our imaginations.

What is Descriptive Writing?

One might say that descriptive writing is the art of painting a picture with words. But descriptive writing goes beyond visuals. Descriptive writing hits all the senses; we describe how things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel (their tactile quality).

The term descriptive writing can mean a few different things:

• The act of writing description ( I’m doing some descriptive writing ).
• A descriptive essay is short-form prose that is meant to describe something in detail; it can describe a person, place, event, object, or anything else.
• Description as part of a larger work: This is the most common kind of descriptive writing. It is usually a sentence or paragraph (sometimes multiple paragraphs) that provide description, usually to help the reader visualize what’s happening, where it’s happening, or how it’s happening. It’s most commonly used to describe a setting or a character. An example would be a section of text within a novel that establishes the setting by describing a room or a passage that introduces a character with a physical description.
• Writing that is descriptive (or vivid) — an author’s style: Some authors weave description throughout their prose and verse, interspersing it through the dialogue and action. It’s a style of writing that imparts description without using large blocks of text that are explicitly focused on description.
• Description is integral in poetry writing. Poetry emphasizes imagery, and imagery is rendered in writing via description, so descriptive writing is a crucial skill for most poets.

Depending on what you write, you’ve probably experimented with one of more of these types of descriptive writing, maybe all of them.

Can you think of any other types of descriptive writing that aren’t listed here?

How Much Description is Too Much?

Classic literature was dense with description whereas modern literature usually keeps description to a minimum.

Compare the elaborate descriptions in J.R.R. Tolkien’s  Lord of the Rings  trilogy  with the descriptions in J.K. Rowling’s  Harry Potter series  (aff links). Both series relied on description to help readers visualize an imagined, fantastical world, but Rowling did not use her precious writing space to describe standard settings whereas Tolkien frequently paused all action and spent pages describing a single landscape.

This isn’t unique to Tolkien and Rowling; if you compare most literature from the beginning of of the 20th century and earlier to today’s written works, you’ll see that we just don’t dedicate much time and space to description anymore.

I think this radical change in how we approach description is directly tied to the wide availability of film, television, and photography. Let’s say you were living in the 19th century, writing a story about a tropical island for an audience of northern, urban readers. You would be fairly certain that most of your readers had never seen such an island and had no idea what it looked like. To give your audience a full sense of your story’s setting, you’d need pages of detail describing the lush jungle, sandy beaches, and warm waters.

Nowadays, we all know what a tropical island looks like, thanks to the wide availability of media. Even if you’ve never been to such an island, surely you’ve seen one on TV. This might explain why few books on the craft of writing address descriptive writing. The focus is usually on other elements, like language, character, plot, theme, and structure.

For contemporary writers, the trick is to make the description as precise and detailed as possible while keeping it to a minimum. Most readers want characters and action with just enough description so that they can imagine the story as it’s unfolding.

If you’ve ever encountered a story that paused to provide head-to-toe descriptions along with detailed backstories of every character upon their introduction into the narrative, you know just how grating description can be when executed poorly.

However, it’s worth noting that a skilled writer can roll out descriptions that are riveting to read. Sometimes they’re riveting because they’re integrated seamlessly with the action and dialogue; other times, the description is deftly crafted and engaging on its own. In fact, an expert descriptive writer can keep readers glued through multiple pages of description.

Descriptive Writing Tips

I’ve encountered descriptive writing so smooth and seamless that I easily visualized what was happening without even noticing that I was reading description. Some authors craft descriptions that are so lovely, I do notice — but in a good way. Some of them are so compelling that I pause to read them again.

On the other hand, poorly crafted descriptions can really impede a reader’s experience. Description doesn’t work if it’s unclear, verbose, or bland. Most readers prefer action and dialogue to lengthy descriptions, so while a paragraph here and there can certainly help readers better visualize what’s happening, pages and pages of description can increase the risk that they’ll set your work aside and never pick it up again. There are exceptions to every rule, so the real trick is to know when lengthy descriptions are warranted and when they’re just boring.

Here are some general tips for descriptive writing:

• Use distinct descriptions that stand out and are memorable. For example, don’t write that a character is five foot two with brown hair and blue eyes. Give the reader something to remember. Say the character is short with mousy hair and sky-blue eyes.
• Make description active: Consider the following description of a room: There was a bookshelf in the corner. A desk sat under the window. The walls were beige, and the floor was tiled. That’s boring. Try something like this: A massive oak desk sat below a large picture window and beside a shelf overflowing with books. Hardcovers, paperbacks, and binders were piled on the dingy tiled floor in messy stacks.  In the second example, words like  overflowing  and  piled are active.
• Weave description through the narrative: Sometimes a character enters a room and looks around, so the narrative needs to pause to describe what the character sees. Other times, description can be threaded through the narrative. For example, instead of pausing to describe a character, engage that character in dialogue with another character. Use the characters’ thoughts and the dialogue tags to reveal description: He stared at her flowing, auburn curls, which reminded him of his mother’s hair. “Where were you?” he asked, shifting his green eyes across the restaurant to where a customer was hassling one of the servers.

Simple descriptions are surprisingly easy to execute. All you have to do is look at something (or imagine it) and write what you see. But well-crafted descriptions require writers to pay diligence to word choice, to describe only those elements that are most important, and to use engaging language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Instead of spending several sentences describing a character’s height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, and clothing, a few, choice details will often render a more vivid image for the reader: Red hair framed her round, freckled face like a spray of flames. This only reveals three descriptive details: red hair, a round face, and freckles. Yet it paints more vivid picture than a statistical head-to-toe rundown:  She was five foot three and no more than a hundred and ten pounds with red hair, blue eyes, and a round, freckled face.

10 descriptive writing practices.

How to Practice Writing Description

Here are some descriptive writing activities that will inspire you while providing opportunities to practice writing description. If you don’t have much experience with descriptive writing, you may find that your first few attempts are flat and boring. If you can’t keep readers engaged, they’ll wander off. Work at crafting descriptions that are compelling and mesmerizing.

• Go to one of your favorite spots and write a description of the setting: it could be your bedroom, a favorite coffee shop, or a local park. Leave people, dialogue, and action out of it. Just focus on explaining what the space looks like.
• Who is your favorite character from the movies? Describe the character from head to toe. Show the reader not only what the character looks like, but also how the character acts. Do this without including action or dialogue. Remember: description only!
• Forty years ago we didn’t have cell phones or the internet. Now we have cell phones that can access the internet. Think of a device or gadget that we’ll have forty years from now and describe it.
• Since modern fiction is light on description, many young and new writers often fail to include details, even when the reader needs them. Go through one of your writing projects and make sure elements that readers may not be familiar with are adequately described.
• Sometimes in a narrative, a little description provides respite from all the action and dialogue. Make a list of things from a story you’re working on (gadgets, characters, settings, etc.), and for each one, write a short description of no more than a hundred words.
• As mentioned, Tolkien often spent pages describing a single landscape. Choose one of your favorite pieces of classic literature, find a long passage of description, and rewrite it. Try to cut the descriptive word count in half.
• When you read a book, use a highlighter to mark sentences and paragraphs that contain description. Don’t highlight every adjective and adverb. Look for longer passages that are dedicated to description.
• Write a description for a child. Choose something reasonably difficult, like the solar system. How do you describe it in such a way that a child understands how he or she fits into it?
• Most writers dream of someday writing a book. Describe your book cover.
• Write a one-page description of yourself.

If you have any descriptive writing practices to add to this list, feel free to share them in the comments.

Descriptive Writing

Does descriptive writing come easily to you, or do you struggle with it? Do you put much thought into how you write description? What types of descriptive writing have you tackled — descriptive essays, blocks of description within larger texts, or descriptions woven throughout a narrative? Share your tips for descriptive writing by leaving a comment, and keep writing!

Further Reading: Abolish the Adverbs , Making the Right Word Choices for Better Writing , and Writing Description in Fiction .

I find descriptions easier when first beginning a scene. Other ones I struggle with. Yes, intertwining them with dialogue does help a lot.

I have the opposite experience. I tend to dive right into action and dialogue when I first start a scene.

I came across this article at just the right time. I am just starting to write a short story. This will change the way I describe characters in my story.

Thank you for this. R.G. Ramsey

You’re welcome!

Great tips and how to practise and improve our descriptive writing skills. Thank you for sharing.

You’re welcome, Bella.

Hello Melissa

I have read many of your articles about different aspects of writing and have enjoyed all of them. What you said here, I agree with, with the exception of #7. That is one point that I dispute and don’t understand the reason why anyone would do this, though I’ve seen books that had things like that done to them.

To me, a book is something to be treasured, loved and taken care of. It deserves my respect because I’m sure the author poured their heart and soul into its creation. Marking it up that way is nothing short of defacing it. A book or story is a form of art, so should a person mark over a picture by Rembrandt or any other famous painter? You’re a very talented author, so why would you want someone to mark through the words you had spent considerable time and effort agonizing over, while searching for the best words to convey your thoughts?

If I want to remember some section or point the author is making, then I’ll take a pen and paper and record the page number and perhaps the first few words of that particular section. I’ve found that writing a note this way helps me remember it better. This is then placed inside the cover for future reference. If someone did what you’ve suggested to a book of mine, I’d be madder than a ‘wet hen’, and that person would certainly be told what I thought of them.

In any of the previous articles you’ve written, you’ve brought up some excellent points which I’ve tried to incorporate in my writing. Keep up the good work as I know your efforts have helped me, and I’m sure other authors as well.

Hi Stanley. Thanks so much for sharing your point of view. I appreciate and value it.

Marking up a book is a common practice, especially in academia. Putting notes in margins, underlining, highlighting, and tagging pages with bookmarks is standard. Personally, I mark up nonfiction paperbacks, but I never mark up fiction paperbacks or any hardcovers (not since college).

I completely respect your right to keep your books in pristine condition. And years ago, when I started college, I felt exactly the same way. I was horrified that people (instructors and professors!) would fill their books with ugly yellow highlighting and other markips. But I quickly realized that this was shortsighted.

Consider an old paperback that is worn and dog-eared. With one look, you know this book has been read many times and it’s probably loved. It’s like the Velveteen Rabbit of books. I see markups as the same — that someone was engaging with the book and trying to understand it on a deeper level, which is not disrespectful. It’s something to be celebrated.

Sometimes we place too much value on the book as a physical object rather than what’s inside. I appreciate a beautiful book as much as anyone but what really matters to me is the information or experience that it contains. I often read on a Kindle. Sometimes I listen to audio books. There is no physical book. The experience is not lessened.

I understand where you’re coming from. I used to feel the same way, but my mind was changed. I’m not trying to change yours, but I hope you’ll understand.

You’ve provided some great information and advice. One thing I might add–it is helpful to consider the POV character. For example, what will they notice in a restaurant? A police officer may notice the placement of the exits, the tattooed man carrying a side-arm, the security cameras on the ceiling, etc. The descriptive items he would notice would be very different from those of an elderly grandmother or a fifteen-year-old teenaged girl.

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Lea`Brooks Contributor Contributor

How would you describe this room.

Discussion in ' Word Mechanics ' started by Lea`Brooks , May 20, 2016 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); This is essentially what a bedroom looks like in my story (though it's much wider). Two solid walls and two others covered with these open archways. But I'm struggling to write it so that it makes sense. Any pointers?  

Witchymama Active Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Ok first of all, I now know what I want for my dream bedroom. You could describe it as open air. I don't know, but I would probably describe the room based on directional views from inside it. What does the character see when on the bed? While sitting at the vanity?  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Witchymama said: ↑ Ok first of all, I now know what I want for my dream bedroom. You could describe it as open air. I don't know, but I would probably describe the room based on directional views from inside it. What does the character see when on the bed? While sitting at the vanity? Click to expand...

SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); A colonnade style bedroom, its high ceiling supported by ornate and proud alabaster columns, each arched precisely to the other. All grand inside too with a marbled open space that's purposely mezzanined fore and aft to afford views of the city and countryside.  

matwoolf Banned Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Open air room with big concrete posts supporting the ceiling, and a flush vanity.  

Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); matwoolf said: ↑ Open air room with big concrete posts supporting the ceiling, and a flush vanity. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Really, what was the curious slogan scripted over the way to Geoffrey's chamber, and in this place of such atmosphere, she stroked her neck.  

Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); It reminds me of something either from an Italian Villa, or of a Romanesque inspiration. Though I would like to think there would be windows on a bedroom that lavish and extravagant, otherwise it would be littered with all sorts of things you would not want in there. Otherwise that is what I would describe it as in terms of what it looks like, using the main features of the room itself. It was of columns that held the ceiling high and off the marble floor, and the large panes of glass filling the archways of the ornate pillars.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Cave Troll said: ↑ It reminds me of something either from an Italian Villa, or of a Romanesque inspiration. Though I would like to think there would be windows on a bedroom that lavish and extravagant, otherwise it would be littered with all sorts of things you would not want in there. Otherwise that is what I would describe it as in terms of what it looks like, using the main features of the room itself. It was of columns that held the ceiling high and off the marble floor, and the large panes of glass filling the archways of the ornate pillars. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); They had glass, but ok... Can I get a partial credit for ornate pillars and archways?  

peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); A columnated breezeway that the garden was starting to claim. Vines had already woven through the archways.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Cave Troll said: ↑ They had glass, but ok... Can I get a partial credit for ornate pillars and archways? Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Four stumps, thick, cold stumps, stretched to an ornate high roof, decorated in our legends of antiquity. I touched the clasp of my toga, and caught by gust it flew seawards, my message clear to Mark Anthony. 'Huh, hmm, huh, huh, errr,' he said, spirit forces caught in his throat. The senator tore at his groinplate, and candle lit, draped the plate across my full Arabian breasts. 'Retain modesty of Aristotle,' he said, his penis swinging in shadow, the one horizontal stump climbed this house of vertical attraction. I knew how it would not be long, how our bath time together, how a dozen individual slaves attending to our sexual whims would bring us to the verge of very, very burst on this mountain top, under gods. Oh do shut up, dick head.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Never mind.... (whistling and walks away) @Lea`Brooks  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); I built it in the Sims, but it's not letting me upload it....  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Lea`Brooks said: ↑ I built it in the Sims, but it's not letting me upload it.... Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Ha-ha! I figured it out. Observe: Preferably, the brown fences in arches would be stone fences. But I don't have the option to do that.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); Fab–but (as mentioned on a concurrent thread) poss a bit draughty. If that bed were mine I'd be draping the 4 poster with material all diaphanous like for excluding mozzies and a more secure sense of snug. Stop press. Cue Twilight Zone leitmotif. Wifey here has just loaded up Minecraft and by strange coincidence is crafting something similar (not asked for her motive); I was peering into this writing forum world at your image while over the lid of laptop something quite similar is being worked on in another virtual arena. I think it's spooked me a little.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); SethLoki said: ↑ Fab–but (as mentioned on a concurrent thread) poss a bit draughty. If that bed were mine I'd be draping the 4 poster with material all diaphanous like for excluding mozzies and a more secure sense of snug. Click to expand...

IHaveNoName Senior Member Community Volunteer

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_bc96cacce9e48333e19271fe748aa2df'); }); The room was large, tiled in marble, with a small fireplace at one end. Two of the walls were colonnades; beyond them lay balconies.  

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List of Great Adjectives to Describe a Room

Table of Contents

To portray the right picture, you need adjectives. You need adjectives to describe a room if you’re writing a story or an essay.

Descriptions give you concrete details and show that you’re capable of thinking critically in writing. In your English speaking and writing tests, you need adjectives to impress the teachers who will grade your essays.

You must be able to describe things in a way that holds your readers’ attention. For a room, you must write in a way that vividly shows you know your room by discussing furniture, accessories, decorations, or paintings.

This article teaches how to describe a room in great detail. Let’s Jump right into it!

What Is a Room?

A room is an enclosed space within a building, defined by its walls, floors, and ceilings. Anything that divides the space is a room, such as stairwells, hallways, and windows.

The distinction of “room” is a somewhat subjective classification. Rooms depend on their purpose, but we recognize them as spaces within one large building.

Sentence Examples of a Room

• The room has lots of books in it.
• Mike’s room has coral walls.
• Take the room located on the second floor.
• The room has an ambiance of peace and rest.

Best Adjectives to Describe a Room

These adjectives give a general idea about the character of a room . Some of these adjectives are bland, crowded, cozy, dark, and plain. The description of a room might be the following:

• Old-fashioned
• Controversial
• Filled with natural light

Synonyms Related to Room- Meanings and Sentence Examples

Many words can replace the word “room.” Other words describing a room are chambers, hallway, living room, and study.

1. Chambers

A chamber is a room, usually with one or more openings, in a building. We can also describe a chamber as an ample space typically used for formal gatherings.

Sentence Example: “The Jacksons live in a chamber near the high school.”

A hallway is a passage (usually indoors) that connects one room or area to another. It is generally long and narrow (up to 4-meters wide in buildings), constituting a path through the building.

Sentence Example: The hallway is full of all types of students.”

3. Living Room

The living room is a living space where visitors relax after a long and tiring day. This might not be the most important room. It can also be defined as the central living space in the home of a family or an individual.

Sentence Example: “The living room was full of loud noises and music.”

The word “space” is any area with no fixed boundaries and cannot be filled with other setups, objects, or geography. It’s important to remember that space is a fluid term that can signify many different things.

On the other hand, we can also describe space as a large area that can be used by anyone who wants to.

Sentence Example: “The space was so empty that it was eerie.”

A bedroom is where one sleeps, wakes up, or relaxes. It is usually a private room in the home of someone who values privacy.

Sentence Example: “Your bedroom is a mess; Fix it!”

Many words can be used as adjectives to describe a room . We hope you had fun with this article and learned something new!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Setting Description Entry: Bedrooms

October 4, 2008 by BECCA PUGLISI

bed, night stand, dresser, armoire, make-up table, desk and chair, picture frame, window, closet, mirror, bookshelf, clothes hamper, wastebasket, wall shelves, phone, lamp, computer, notepads, books, rug, curtains, shade/blinds…

female: frilly, flowery, lacy, soft, pink/purple/yellow, hearts, stuffed animals, make-up/hair products, perfume, decorative pillows, canopy bed, diary, fuzzy-topped pencils, nail polish, bracelets, bangles, earrings…

male: sports memorabilia, geometric, spartan, darker colors, rumpled bedsheets, clothes on the floor, messy, dusty, CD collection, posters of girls (beach babes, film stars, Army, Action movies), toy guns, airsoft guns, action figures…

Music blaring, murmur of TV or talking on the phone, laughter, tick of a clock, radio alarm, click of computer keys while IMing, cat or dog scratching to get in, trill of a cell phone, squeaky bed spring, whispering, outdoor sounds leaking in through…

Perfume, hairspray, nail polish, model glue, body spray, deodorant, clean linen, sweat, rotting food, bubblegum, fabric softener, dust, wet towels, a whiff of dinner cooking in the kitchen, a spicy cheese smell from an open bag…

Bubblegum, the bitter taste of hairspray, breath mints, peanut butter and jam sandwich on a plate, a banana, granola bar, sugary pop, water…

silky, clean sheets, the unwelcoming hardness of pressing the alarm button, cool, smooth desktop, fuzzy sweaters, itchy sweaters, slippery t shirts, rough Cotton jeans, cool walls, soft, sinkable bead, balling up paper, tossing it into a garbage bin…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1:  When I could put it off no more, I tiptoed into Great Aunt BeeBee’s room. The floor was cold and gritty, dust and crumbs and who knows what else clinging to my bare feet. My only light came from a slit between the sagging curtains at the window, the feeble brightness barely enough for me to make out anything. I crept closer, trying to not gag on the smell of sweat and sickness. On the floor beside the bed I could just make out a twisted lump of blankets, but I couldn’t get up the courage to touch it. Please don’t be dead, I thought. I strained my ears for the sound of her rusty breath, and again remembered the sickening thump that had woken me…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Simile)  I followed on Anna’s heels, catching the bedroom door seconds before it could slam in my face. Enraged, I sucked in a deep breath and pushed the door wide. My words curdled into nothing at the mess greeting me–clothes, text books and muddy shoes lay across the floor in knotted clumps, pages from a teen magazine peppered the walls and CDs marched across the unmade bed like a ticker tape parade…

Think beyond what a character sees, and provide a sensory feast for readers

Setting is much more than just a backdrop, which is why choosing the right one and describing it well is so important. To help with this, we have expanded and integrated this thesaurus into our online library at One Stop For Writers . Each entry has been enhanced to include possible sources of conflict , people commonly found in these locales , and setting-specific notes and tips , and the collection itself has been augmented to include a whopping 230 entries—all of which have been cross-referenced with our other thesauruses for easy searchability. So if you’re interested in seeing a free sample of this powerful Setting Thesaurus, head on over and register at One Stop.

On the other hand, if you prefer your references in book form, we’ve got you covered, too. The Urban Setting Thesaurus and The Rural Setting Thesaurus are available for purchase in digital and print copies. In addition to the entries, each book contains instructional front matter to help you maximize your settings. With advice on topics like making your setting do double duty and using figurative language to bring them to life, these books offer ample information to help you maximize your settings and write them effectively.

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers —a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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Reader Interactions

April 16, 2015 at 8:35 pm

I’m not sure if I missed it or if its somewhere else on the website, but I’m looking for descriptive ideas for explaining the noises of a house at night. Specifically those, sort of, tinkling sounds of the materials expanding and contracting with the temperature. Any thoughts or directions on this would be hugely appreciated!!! 🙂

April 17, 2015 at 11:11 am

Hi, Elizabeth. We don’t have a thesaurus for noises, but you should be able to find many house sounds by looking at the different house-related entries in The Setting Thesaurus: attic, basement, bathroom, bedroom, etc. Each entry has a SOUNDS field; by looking through those entries, you might find the sounds that you’re looking for. Best of luck!

December 3, 2018 at 7:04 pm

i know its a little late but descriptives for what your looking for would be EX: hrough a window I could hear the risings and fallings of a conversation being held on a porch near the corner, chatting and yapping and playing and shrieking; a car passed on the street the creaking, the sea noises, and the night birds outside. or I was surrounded by the musty, oily, salty smell of the ship and the ocean, and realized how sharp one’s senses become in the dark. Every place has its own scent, a peculiar mixture of organic growth and human industry, of must, paint, wood and vermin.

July 19, 2014 at 10:50 pm

I hadn’t seen these entries yet! Now I REALLY want a setting set of books…. 😀

July 21, 2014 at 1:32 pm

You’re in luck, Kimbra! We’re working on the first draft of the Settings Thesaurus right now. No firm publication date yet, but we’ll place periodic updates here at the blog. You could also sign up for our free newsletter (link below), which will bring notifications about our upcoming books and other info right to your inbox :).

https://writershelpingwriters.net/newsletter-archive/

June 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm

It is possible we would, but if so it would be when (and if) we put the Setting Thesaurus into a book version. 🙂 So glad this is helpful to you! 🙂

June 22, 2011 at 11:33 am

I love your blog, thank you for pointing out the little things that go unobserved but are a great importance to each and everyone of our stories! By any chance would you be writing any of these for different time periods? Either way, thank you for the inspiration!

October 6, 2008 at 9:06 pm

Brilliant! This could actually double, somewhat, for a hotel room (with a few minor tweeks and add ons….smell…blech). Anyways, great stuff! Thanks for the inspiration!!

October 6, 2008 at 8:40 am

Boy do I know about bedrooms! My room was ALWAYS such a total and complete mess that my dad put a sign on my door that read, “Danger Disaster Area Three Feet Deep.” It remained on my door for many years.

October 5, 2008 at 11:10 am

*Gives some warm milk to PJ*

Thanks for coming over Rachel–we’re glad you found us!

October 5, 2008 at 12:02 am

Hey, wandered over from AW and poked around! These thesaurus posts are incredible. What a fantastic resource.

October 4, 2008 at 10:28 pm

I’m sleepy just reading it! Love this! Thanks!

October 4, 2008 at 11:46 am

I like the interior design mags too. I think it’s because I have a hard time imagining the potential of a room without some visual aids. I’m currently looking into remodling my kitchen, and my head reels at all the options and choices there are! Becca must be much better at this than I (and I wish she lived closer!) because she recently did a big reno in her new home.

Gutsywriter, one of the best things about this blog (and all online writing groups) is the ability to learn together. Becca and I have had such a great experience by pairing up and working through our writing woes, it was something we wanted to share on a bigger basis.

Each time we do an entry, we learn as we go, flexing the imaginative muscle to come up with descriptions and emotional actions that feel real.

October 4, 2008 at 10:49 am

Thanks for helping us again and again in our writing. It must take you a long time to put together your postings. A lesson plan in itself. I still have your emotional thesaurus on my laptop every time I rewrite a chapter and need more show and less tell.

October 4, 2008 at 9:35 am

This detail leaped out at me :

“the unwelcoming hardness of pressing the alarm button”

Sounds like a bedroom of the rich and famous. 🙂 I love looking at pictures of bedrooms in books on decorating and interior design and imagining how I’ll decorate my bedroom some day. Maybe I’ll have one of those low tables with padded tops as well.

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Descriptive Essay: Not Just Any Living Room

Not Just Any Living Room

If you walk into my living room, you’ll see nothing out of the ordinary. Just a cozy little room with two sofas that lay against two of the four walls. The third wall has a TV and VCR case with many pictures and certificates put on display. The fourth wall has a computer table with a little desk on the side. In the middle of the room lies an oval rug with swirly patterns and on top of that lies a small coffee table. This room has everything that any other living room would have in it, but for me it has more than just something normal. In this room are many artifacts that carry memories that belong to me.

On the left side of the TV case, on the second shelf towards the bottom stands my 8th grade graduation diploma. Whenever I look at the certificate with the leather bound cover I remember of when I first received it.

“Jasmin Husain,” called Ms. Knight, our school counselor.  It was time for me to go and take my diploma from Ms. Sydnor. I slowly walked around the empty and barren stairs in front of me until the top of the glossy wooden stairs of the stage. I went down the stairs one by one carefully holding on to the cold steel railing in case I trip on my dress because of these ridiculous heels. After I make it down the stairs I walked two feet over to Ms. Sydnor. She shook my sweaty hand saying the words “Congratulations Jasmin, you’ve come a long way and you have a long way to go.” She handed me the navy blue, leather bound diploma. Caring the thick diploma I started to follow my friend out of the Gymnasium door.

This is one of the most important memories in my life. It was a moment in my life where I made a transition from middle school to high school. I felt accomplished, like a just arrived at a goal that I was waiting to reach my entire life. I feel like my diploma represents that goal that I’ve reached. It shows that I am in a way that I was growing up. Not in inches or centimeters but from feeling completed.

As I look back at the TV case more artifacts start to bring back more memories. On the bottom shelf of the TV case lies an old, dusty, black VCR with two buttons missing. I start to remember how many times in my childhood my family had to replace the VCRs because my little sister and me breaking them. As I observe the broken buttons another memory runs across my mind.

This was the fourth time that we were going out to Wal-Mart to buy a TV since we had come to Philadelphia. The first two times it was my fault. The first time I stuck sugar daddy candies into the new cassette holder. The second time I’d spilled Pepsi. At least now I was a big girl, I was seven years old and I knew how the world worked. I’ve matured over the past two years. I know all the specific things that make dad upset. So I have long ago stopped committing those crimes. Tajnia on the other hand still hasn’t learned the lesson.

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Discussions about the writing craft.

Writing a character entering a room

I understand ideas like how a character would notice things that are important or obvious first and stuff like that. I’m more focused on a character entering a room that has other characters already there that we haven’t met yet.

Should I acknowledge them immediately before moving on to describing the room? How much detail should I give about each right off the bat? Or should I wait until they become relevant to the scene and ignore them until then? What if they are all doing different things in the room?

Should I just go down the list starting with who the main character sees first and then moving to the next?

Basically, how do I triage the introduction of this scene?

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How To Talk About The Living Room In English

Do you have to talk about your living room in English?

Maybe as part of the IELTS speaking test … Or as part of your work?

If so, let me show you how to talk about your living room in English.

Table of Contents

What is the Living Room?

Most family homes have a living room.

This is a room where all the family can be together. Usually, they are watching TV together. Or they could be eating dinner together (many families eat dinner in the living room).

Or it could be a place where all the family can be together and relax, play games, talk about things or sit together quietly.

Where is The Living Room?

In a house, the living room is usually located on the ground floor and at the front of the house.

But in an apartment, the living room is usually at the front, and often the first room you see as you enter the apartment.

Why not check out these other great guides?

How To Talk About The Park In English

How to Talk About the KITCHEN in English

How to Talk about Going to the Bank in English

A Basic Description of The Living Room

Depending on the house and the size of the house, the living room can be very small or very big.

Most living rooms in an average house in the UK are big enough for all the family to sit together. So about big enough for four or five people to sit comfortably.

The living room is a room for living.

Traditionally, it was the room where all the family were together in the evening.

Nowadays, we have many devices and people may stay in their bedrooms or different rooms of the house. But many years ago, there was just one TV in the living room — and that was where everyone stayed.

Size of The Living Room

It really depends on the house.

Some living rooms can be very small. Others can be huge.

But most standard living rooms will have enough room for four or five members of the family to sit comfortably together.

There is usually a sofa — and this can seat three people.

Then there could be two armchairs — these can seat two more people.

Not big enough to do activities like dancing or playing badminton.

But big enough for everyone to sit down together.

The Location of The Living Room

Like I said before, in a normal house in England, the living room is on the ground floor of the house — and at the front of the house.

The windows usually look out of the front of the house.

But some living rooms are at the back — facing the garden.

If in an apartment, the living room is the first room that you see as you enter through the front door.

Things We Can See in The Living Room

Let’s look at the things we can see in the living room.

This is a list of furniture items you can find in most living rooms.

Coffee Table/Tea Table

Side Tables

Other Items in The Living Room

Television/tv.

Stereo/Music System

Curtains/Blinds

Light/Lighting

Useful Sentences About Things in The Living Room

Here are some sentences you can use to talk about furniture in the living room.

I love to stretch out on the sofa and watch TV All my family can sit on the sofa together comfortably

My dad has his favourite armchair and no one else sits in it My mum bought this armchair that can recline back. It is very comfortable!

In our living room, there is one easy chair — it’s very comfortable so there are arguments about who can sit in it!

We have a wooden coffee table in front of the sofa. It’s where we can put our drinks or some snacks. I sometimes do my homework on the coffee table in the living room

The bookshelf in our living room is crammed full of books We keep some encyclopedias and other useful books on the bookshelf

There are two side tables — one on either side of the sofa. Mum forbids us to put hot drinks on the side tables in case we damage the surface.

And here are some sentences you can use for the other items in the living room.

We have a big flat-screen TV in the living room, but the only person who watches it is my dad.

My parents have a big music system in the living room. But they like to listen to all their old music. I go to my room and listen to music there.

There are many shelves in our living room. Full of books, plants and some ornaments too.

My mum loves to keep plants around the house. We have two big plants in the living room. It makes it feel more comfortable.

We have pictures of the family on the living room walls. Me and my brother as kids and some pictures of my mum and dad too.

There’s a small mirror on one of the living room walls. I don’t think anyone uses it though.

Under the coffee table, we have a large rug. It’s nice in the winter because the floor can get a little cold.

My mum closes the curtains as soon as the sun goes down.

It’s nice to use the fan on hot days in the living room.

We have two lamps in the living room. Both of them are on the side tables on each end of the sofa. The lamp in the living room provides a much softer kind of light.

There is a ceiling light, but it is very bright so we usually use the lamp.

My mum loves to have flowers in the living room. So she bought this really nice glass vase to put flowers in.

There’s a clock on the shelf in the living room. I don’t know who uses it to tell the time as we all have smartphones.

Things We Can Do in The Living Room

Here are some things that most people do in the living room.

Playing board games

Watching tv, playing computer games, sleeping or napping on the sofa.

Useful Sentences About Things We Can Do in The Living Room

And here are some useful sentences you can use about things we do in the living room.

We are a family of book readers and we all love to read in the living room. There’s nothing I like better than reading while lying on the sofa.

Sometimes I do my homework in the living room. But in the evening it is too noisy.

My mum doesn’t always allow us to watch TV so we might have one or two evenings a month where we only play board games.

Our living room is very quiet and faces out to the garden. So it is a relaxing place to spend time.

The living room is the only room with a TV in our house so that’s where we watch TV shows.

If no one else is around, I like to use the big flat-screen TV for playing computer games in the living room.

The living room can be very quiet sometimes. Perfect for sleeping on the sofa or taking a quick nap.

Now You Try!

Try talking about your living room. Use the following questions to form answers.

• Describe your living room. What does it look like?
• What items of furniture do you have in the living room?
• Do you have a sofa in your living room?
• What colour is it?
• What is its style?
• Is it comfortable?
• Is there a coffee table/tea table in your living room?
• What is it made of? What is its style?
• Describe everything that is on the table.
• What is it used for?
• Are there any pictures on the walls of your living room?
• Describe the pictures.
• Why do you have these pictures on the wall?
• What is the story behind these pictures?
• Do you have a bookshelf in the living room?
• What kind of books do you have on the bookshelf?
• Are you a family of readers?
• Who bought the books?
• Are there any old books there? Who bought them?
• What kind of things do you like to do in the living room?
• What does your father do in the living room?
• What does your mother do there?
• Do you have family get-togethers in the living room?
• What kind of things do you do there?
• Are there any items in the living room that have a special story about them?
• Tell the story.

I hope this can help you talk about your living room with more ease.

Keep practising and you will get there!

Don’t forget to leave a comment below…

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