Whether your style is classic, chic, or eclectic–your living room should be a respite where you can feel unburdened and spend quality time with loved ones. Crafting an aesthetically pleasing space that suits all of your needs requires careful consideration. That’s why it’s essential to arm yourself with knowledge before embarking on any sort of redesign journey with a professional. Here are some designer tips and tricks for creating the ideal living area!
1. Mix Light and Dark
Incorporating both light and dark hues into your living space can instantly create an inviting atmosphere that is a beautiful balance of depth and harmony. Too much white or black alone may leave the room feeling too “sterile” or cave-like, but together they add texture to any design scheme. So if you’re looking for something special, don’t be afraid to try combining the two – no matter how subtle!
2. Contrast Your Neutrals
An inviting and luxurious living room relies not only on the incorporation of white and black, but also a harmonious array of contrasting neutrals. In this example, notice how white walls work with caramel leather and brass hardware to create contrast; while grey sofa pairs well with blue-gray cabinets which all emphasize each element’s unique finishes. With these primary neutral shades in place, other textures such as color or pattern can be added to complete the look!
3. Play With Texture
When you’re decorating your living room, texture should not be underestimated; even though we can’t physically see it, its presence is essential to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Incorporate an assortment of textures like leather, cotton wool, metal stone glass plants etc – the greater the variety more cozy your space will feel! Adding both soft touches that are appealing to the sense of touch as well as harder elements for contrast creates balance and dimension in any home.
4. Work in Some Wood
Transform adjoining rooms painted in dramatically different colors into one harmonious space easily and To truly command a sense of coziness in the living room, wood is king. There are numerous creative avenues that can incorporate this material into your décor – wall paneling, end tables, rolling stools, photo frames and even sculptural art pieces bring an element of authentic warmth to any space. Don’t limit yourself; explore all possibilities for adding wooden elements to make your home feel comfortable and hospitable!
5. Mix Up Your Upholstery
Shopping for furniture can be daunting, especially when presented with the option of purchasing an entire living room set in matching upholstery. But you shouldn’t think twice about taking a different approach! If your goal is to create a formal seating area that exudes maturity and order, then matching upholstery may be just what you’re looking for. However, if warmth and coziness are more important to you than anything else, then consider mixing and matching various pieces of upholstered furniture to establish a unique design that reflects your personality.
6. Choose Practical Fabrics
Picking the perfect upholstery for your living room is an important task – it should not only be comfortable but durable. Your family’s needs will determine what type of fabric and color that you need to look for. Do you have young children or babies, pets? Are they messy eaters? Medium tone fabrics are always a safe pick as lighter shades can quickly show dirt and wear from frequent use, whilst dark tones won’t hide them completely either.
Leather stands out for its unparalleled stain-resistant qualities; simply wipe away spills, and you’re all set. Unfortunately, leather is more prone to scratches than other fabrics–so if your family includes pets or kids who like to play rough with furniture, it’s probably not the best choice. On the plus side though, a broken-in look or pattern may actually enhance that stylishly aged finish of leather!
If you’re in search of a material that is both inviting and long-lasting, denim and corduroy could be the perfect choice! Plus, they provide an interesting deviation from the usual plain cotton or wool upholstery found on most furniture pieces. To make sure you get the best combination of natural and synthetic fabrics for your living room furnishings, take advantage of bend tests to check if any backing materials are exposed through tight weaves.
7. Add a Dash of Color
When designing your living room, don’t be afraid to add a splash of color! Even just a hint can really bring the space together and create an inviting atmosphere. blues are especially great for this purpose – they provide the perfect contrast between warm elements such as leather or wood furniture, while still being neutral enough that it won’t clash with future accent colors you may add in.
8. Add a Patterned Rug
Pattern adds dynamism and presence to a living space, masking any stains or signs of wear. A patterned rug is the perfect way to spruce up your fifth wall – that’s right, the floor! It works as an anchor for seating arrangements while giving off a lively aura throughout the room. If you already have carpeting in place, consider adding some rugs into your lounge area too; it will be worth it when spills occur and all you need to do is roll up your rugs instead of grandly replacing them entirely.
9. Choose Movable Tables and Stools
With lightweight tables, stools, ottomans and side chairs that can be shifted around with ease, your living room will become much more comfortable. You and your family will have a plethora of options available for putting up feet or setting down drinks every day; you could even seat an extra guest! To give yourself better maneuverability within the space, use some smaller pieces like the plush footstool depicted here that can easily be scooted closer to or farther from main seating as desired.
10. Consider Conversational Distances
Regardless of the size of your living room, it’s crucial to maintain a comfortable distance between seats so that conversations can flow naturally. For an intimate environment and cozy atmosphere, 8 feet is generally ideal. This means that if you have multiple couches or a couch with side chairs in your seating area, they should be arranged around 4-feet away from the center point.
When it comes to cultivating a comfortable living room, using fewer, smaller seating pieces pushed in closer together is usually preferable than one single large 12-seat sectional sofa. This will keep the atmosphere intimate and inviting for everyday use as opposed to an oversized piece meant for hosting parties.
