How to Design Your Dream Living Room
It’s the space where you relax and unwind, chill as a family or entertain friends. Here are some expert tips on how to create the perfect living room.
Whether it’s for a Netflix binge or somewhere to chill out after a day of work, our living rooms are spaces where we spend a lot of time and it’s important that we feel comfortable. So sit back, relax and our interiors experts will help you create the right mood and atmosphere.
Get in the Zone
Living rooms can often be multi-purpose – open plan with the kitchen or containing a study area or dining table, for example. They may need to be used as a place to work and study as well as relax and eat. So it’s important to bear this in mind when planning your space. Susan White, Founder and MD at Phoenix Interior Design, says: “Multiple purpose furniture is key here. Such as desks that turn into coffee tables and have space to hide away your laptop.”
You can also use texture and light to zone your space. Sophie Fuller, Interior Design Manager at Berkeley, says: “Lighting is a great asset in defining different areas. Whether that be feature lighting over a dining table or a floor lamp next to the sofa, this helps zone the spaces as you use them throughout the day. Rugs are a great option in creating a defined area within a large space and they instantly create character and warmth.”
Splash on Your Sofa
A corner sofa is useful if you need to seat a few people
Image credit: Berkeley Group
The key piece in most living rooms is the sofa. You should consider what kind of sofa will suit your space, what colours you like and don’t forget the fact it has to fit through your front door!
When it comes to materials, fabrics like cotton and wool blends, are the most durable and come with stain protection treatments, so are great for messy little hands. Leather can make a gorgeous statement and is also durable – the more scuffed up it gets, the more character it has.
Susan says: “You’re going to spend a lot of time on your sofa, so it’s best to go out and try a few to see what sort of comfort you need. If you’re tall, think about the depth of the sofa when you sit back into it. If you have a big family you might consider corner sofas which are very popular as they can seat a few people.”
Turn on the TV
Make your TV a focal point by hanging it on the wall
Image credit: Berkeley Group
The first thing most of us do when we collapse onto the sofa is pick up the remote. We spend approximately 3.5 hours a day watching TV – over 78,000 on the average person’s lifetime so the TV is a key buy.
While the kids might want a swanky, home cinema experience, the best way to find the right size TV is to measure the viewing distance from it to your sofa. If you’ll be watching from less than 1.5 metres away for example, you’ll need nothing over 32 inches. Whereas if you’ll be over 3 metres away from the screen – you can pull out the big guns and go for a TV over 56 inches.
As a general rule you want to place the TV in the darkest corner of the room. If you want it as a key feature, you could wall hang it and if you’ve splashed out on bespoke storage shelves you could house it here. Or you could get creative and have it as part of a gallery, mounted on a wall surrounded by art. Wherever you put it – make sure there’s a good home for the controls so they don’t disappear down the sofa!
Storage Solutions
Books, vases and plants on display add charm to a room
Image credit: Berkeley Group
From showing off vintage vinyl to stashing away toys, most of us will need a good amount of storage in our living rooms. And it’s also a great way of adding some personality.
Sophie says: “If the budget can stretch, bespoke storage is always wonderful at creating a focal point. In living rooms this is fantastic for display as well as practicality. Shelving with books, photos in beautiful frames, vases and meaningful objects really adds charm. It also aids in discreetly hiding the TV cables.”
Ottomans are very handy here too and come in all kinds of materials, colours and patterns. Get one with a plush, velvet padding and you’ve also got the perfect footstool.
Be Bold
Choose a statement rug and use as inspiration for the rest of your design scheme
Image credit: Berkeley Group
The living room is your opportunity to be brave with design. Sophie Fuller says: “I like to start by selecting a few key pieces that form the basis for the space, whether that’s an amazing piece of art or rug and then start the design from the colours or textures within this. If this is daunting, start with neutral finishes on large expensive items (sofas, curtains) and add colour in through cushions, accessories and artwork which can all be changed quickly and easily.”
Susan White agrees: “Living rooms are a real expression of the family living in them. Use yours as a place to showcase special items – like pieces you’ve found on holiday – so you get to see them often.”