You recently got a promotion and want to surprise your wife with a gift she will remember? Forget about the stereotyped dinner-in-a-restaurant or yet another watch. Give her something she will see and remember for years to come - the refurnishing of the living room you have always planned but never got down to actually doing for lack of finances or the right mood.

Surprise her by hiring a good interior designer to suggest you themes and a layout for your house. The professionals usually have good knowledge of what is available in the market to suit each budget and taste, and would be able to advise you on this aspect as well. They would probably be able to suggest a theme to suit your personal preferences and help you make your decisions accordingly.

Alternatively, you could involve your wife as well and use her creativity to select something she always wanted. Having put your own ideas to practical usage will result in higher levels of satisfaction for both of you. Use your own ingenuity and knowledge to save on costs and utilize the knowledge you have of your own home.

If you are the wife, you could do the same to surprise your husband when he is back from the long business trip abroad. He will surely be thrilled to see a redone up living room that is so inviting, comfortable and classy. Or you could get him to plan out the layout and design with you over a lazy weekend. Either ways, you can both enjoy the fruits of your labor fro a long time.

Start with a theme - you can decide on a traditional or a modern look. While hand crafted stuff like bamboo furniture is more suited to the traditional look, the modern look and feel is accentuated by the use of smart wooden or leather furniture. A set of leather sofas adds a touch of class to any living room, and is associated with aristocracy and elegance. You can choose from a variety of colors such as black, brown, red etc to go with the overall look of your room. Choose black or dark brown for a touch of sophistication that gels with your overall image. Go in for lighter shades like fawn only if you do not have small children -while it definitely looks chic, it suffers from the disadvantage of getting dirty very quickly. Brighter shades like red or green would look good if you have overall designer settings. Even if the color of your set is a sober black or brown, you can add red leather recliners to add a dash of color to the settings.

Look for a smart center table to go with the overall settings. Glass tops are mostly preferred for their elegant looks and large variety in which they are available. A combination of a glass top and chrome-plated frame is the latest ‘in' thing, and will definitely give that extra special look to your room.

Look at the placement of your sectional sofas next. Preferably, the largest piece; i.e. the three or five-seater, should be placed along the longest wall. If your settings are in a large hall, place your five-seater so that it does not constrict the entry and the exit spaces. Place the single pieces evenly in comparison to the three/five-seater. They can either be placed along one side of your living room, or placed one each on either side of the main sofa. The latter is better if you have another sofa set to place, or have a five-piece set that needs more space, and would balance out the settings.

Choosing this unique gift will not only enhance your standing in the eyes of your beloved, it will stay as a reminder to your love for each other. And every time some guest praises your settings, you will be happily reminded of the time and effort spent together by you in making your decision.

The author has set up a beautiful home in the heart of the city. The sectional sofas are light brown and cream. She has bought brown leather recliners and leather sofas to go with the overall decor.