Your living room is the one room in your home that can truly define you. This is where you can showcase your personality through the furniture you choose, their placement and the pictures and works of art you display.
As bespoke furniture designers, we have worked with clients whose tastes have varied from the quirky to the contemporary to the classical; the one element that has remained consistent is the need for symmetry, balance and harmony in furniture placement and colour, texture and finish.
We thought we’d share some suggestions based on our experience.
Furniture setting
Your living room is a social hub. Place furniture in a way that creates a social setting so that people can talk to each other and interact. Arrange sofas and chairs opposite or adjacent to each other with perhaps a coffee table or nest to allow for conversations over tea and biscuits. If your area is small, consider the option of chairs instead of immovable sofa’s that you can shift around when people come over. Use corners wisely. A large corner sofa is perfect to lounge on, but can be a little anti-social. Perhaps a footstool or a sofa chair opposite might be a useful idea (If space permits).
Focal point
Choose a focal point. It could be your fireplace or your television, depending on the purpose of your space. Is it an entertaining space, a place for quiet time & reflection or a family lounge? It’s a good idea to use the focal point as guide on furniture placement.
Lighting
Don’t ignore the lighting in your living room. It sets the tone for how the space is used. Soft lighting gives a gentler, calming feel. Whilst spotlights are ideal for a well-lit room, don’t be afraid to add additional lighting like a chandelier or a floor lamp to add some character.
Colours
This is probably the most important element defining your living room. It’s the colours and their combination that often sets the room ambience. You could have two sofas of the same colour with a contrasting chair. Or you could have different colour sofas with the same patterns of pillows. Light, pastel colours give the room a sense of calm and relaxation, with the darker, stronger colours adding the energy. Don’t shy away from experimenting and don’t be scared to used contrast. At the same time, avoid using a multitude of colours. We’ve often found one or two complementary colours and shades of these work as great combinations.
Rugs
Rugs and carpets are often undervalued elements when it comes to thinking about living room harmony. They are a great way to connect spaces that may seem disjointed and can also be handy in adding colour or texture to your room. If you have furniture that’s muted in for example, grey or beige shades, a warm-coloured or bright rug could give the room the uplift it needs, complementing the furniture.
And finally, don’t clutter the room with too many pieces of furniture… Sometime less is more.
These are just a few pointers from us based on our experience. If you’d like some more ideas and suggestions for your living room specifically, please give us a call on 0207 228 5339 or drop us a line at [email protected] to arrange an appointment or better still, pop into our showroom in Battersea. We’d love to have a chat.
