The living room is where you and your family likely spend most of your day. At the same time it's also the room that gives the first and biggest impression to any visitors, so you want it to look nice. If your living room's a mess, your trendy style won't make the impression you're looking for- even if the rest of your home's spotless! Save the pain and get down to some deep cleaning, this room is especially important!
Before getting down to the serious stuff, remove any small items of furniture and clear general mess and clutter away. After you've vacuumed and dusted around the remaining furniture, those can then be moved too- to let you get to the hidden dust underneath! It's important to do this because if you leave this dust it can easily travel back into visible areas the next time there's a draft or any movement of air. Pay special attention to any fabrics as these can easily trap dust, shake rugs and tapestries heavily and beat or vacuum them if necessary. Don't forget to clean the space under these items either!
Remember to wash and clean the individual pieces of your furniture too, it's all well and good having a spic and span sofa, but if the cushions or pillows are covered in grime and dirt you won't be smiling for long.