6 Ways to Create a Stylish But Comfortable Living Room with Absolute Ease.
If there is any room in our homes that sees the most activity, it would more than likely be the living room. Having a beautifully decorated living room that you can escape to when you need to relax and unwind, or even entertain is essential for any home so, we sat down with Megan Bond from OBJEK (Architecture and Interiors), to chat about her recommendation on how to ensure your living room is trendy yet comfortable and functional. Here’s how to bring the life back into your living room with absolute ease.
Design for comfort and entertainment:
“These days most of us spend more of our time in the living room, explains Bond. “Whether you’re watching the telly, gathered cosily around the fireplace, or entertaining friends – the living room is where a large part of our home life happens. So, my first piece of advice would be to design for comfort and entertainment.” According to Bond, a comfortable living room is all about layout; it is about creating conversational seating and building a space that is comfortable, functional and visually stimulating.
Layout is key:
According to Bond, a comfortable living room is all about layout; it is about creating conversational seating and building a space that is comfortable, functional and visually stimulating. “If your living room allows for it, circular seating arrangements are most inviting. They allow easy movement, great sight lines and most importantly ease of conversation,” explains Bond. “If your room isn’t designed to accommodate this, try creating smaller furniture groupings that will still encourage intimacy and connection amongst your guests, and that can be moved around if a larger group is coming round.”
Add interest with accessories, colour and prints:
Bond says that using new fabrics and interesting rugs makes updating your space easy. But, if you want to ensure that your living room sets the tone for the rest of your home, try incorporating colour coordination. Follow a specific colour scheme or alternatively, draw one strong colour throughout the home via the use of accessories. ” This will create a sense of balance throughout your home,” says Bond. “And, it will look more organised and well coordinated.
Work within your budget:
While Bond says that open-plan spaces are key for modern day living and comfort she also warns against making sure you stick to what you can afford. “It is easy to get carried away making changes and upgrades, and sometimes our taste doesn’t always correspond with our budgets or our space,” explains Bond. In these tricky situations, invest in a great, large sofa! “Deep seating, comfy cushions and luxurious soft fabrics are what make a living room. The other bits and pieces can come later, when your budget allows.”
Avoid clutter in small spaces:
“Working with a smaller space, you should not over clutter,” says Bond. “Keep the space simple and clean. A central coffee table isn’t always necessary, use smaller side tables that you can move where needed when friends are over.” Another great tip is to create a point of focus, enhance light and add depth all at the same time by using wallpaper and mirrors. If you are able to hang your mirror across from a window— the mirror will reflect the view outside, giving the impression of an extra window and more space.
Ensure you also choose small-scale furniture in a small space. You don’t necessarily need large sofas and bulky armchairs. Antique shops are a great place to look for small-scale furniture – “look for small settees, love seats and chairs that can work for your space,’ says Bond. You can also use multifunctional furniture. “Think of using ottomans that work as a coffee table or extra seating, nesting side tables that can be moved around as needed or versatile little stools that can be seats or tables.”
Less is more:
“There is never a need to over-furnish or over-accessorise; less is more, especially in one’s home,” says Bond. Clutter simply minimises floor space in a home, and that makes the home itself look that much smaller. So, when decorating or redesigning your living room, always remember that it’s an active space that sees quite a bit of foot-traffic – “keep things simple, warm and inviting,” says Bond.