How to design and decorate a living room
One of the most popular rooms I get asked to design for is the living room. A room that often has to work for multiple purposes (think playroom, office space, exercise corner), as well as being somewhere that you can relax in at the end of the day, the living room is certainly a room that needs to work hard to fulfill multiple roles.
So how do you decorate a living room to make the most out of this space, big or small? Read on for my decorating ideas for living rooms.
Work out the function of the room
Is your living room used during the day? Or is it a space just for relaxing in the evening? Assessing how many people you need to seat and working out how the living room will be used will guide you on what type of furniture you need in the space. What time of day you use the living room also determines what type of lighting you will need in there.
Image by Jade Lisa Interiors
Make sure the furniture fits
Space planning is integral to decorating a living room. It’s no good falling in love with a sofa only to find out it doesn’t fit in your space! Considering the layout (I can help with this!) is your number one priority before you start decorating your living room. A corner sofa is great if you are short on space, maximising seating and wall space. However, creating zones within a living room also works well if you have the space - sofas can face each other to create a focal point around a fire, for example. You can also use armchairs to zone a corner for reading.
Images via Snug and Nordic Living In Colour
Choose a colour scheme
If you have a dark living space, consider decorating your living room with lighter colours to reflect light and open up the room. Darker colours will create a cosy ambience - go the full hog and colour drench your room head-to-toe in one colour for a cocooning effect. Whatever colour scheme you choose to decorate your living room in, go with something you love, as it’s your space and home to enjoy!
Images via Cate St Hill and Jemma Watts
Think about storage
If your living room functions as a playroom too, think about sofas and footstools with hidden storage for toys. Bookcases or deep shelves are also great for storing baskets of toys, and likewise shelving units are perfect for adding interest with some carefully styled accessories. If you need to use the living area as a home office, make sure your desk has drawers to hide away any clutter, to help keep the living room a relaxing space.
Image by Jade Lisa Interiors
Layer up lighting
Make sure you have multiple different lighting options in your living space to really make the most of the room. Spotlights or a central pendant light are great options for functional bright light when you need it, but switching on floor lamps, wall lights or table lamps creates the perfect soft light to relax in the evenings.
Image via Loaf
Don’t neglect the floor
If your living room will be a high traffic area frequented by pets and children, think about having a hardwood or laminate floor, that is easy to maintain and clean. You can soften the look and anchor the space with a large machine washable rug. If you prefer the look and feel of carpet, wool is a good option, as its natural fibres make it hardwearing and resistant to marks from furniture.
Images via Ruggable and Pinterest
Add interest to the walls
Panelling is a great idea for decorating your living room - it’s a super simple way to add interest to walls and creates a focal point where there would otherwise be none. See tip number 5 on this post I wrote about adding character to a new build home. Likewise, create a focal point with a gallery wall of artwork or photos.
Images via Pinterest and Melanie Jade Design
If you would like me to help you with how to design and decorate a living room, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to find out more.
