Your family living room is an important space in the house, where you can retreat after a hard day to share some time together and relax. But too often our spaces are designed quite formally, with occasional guests in mind. It’s important to give priority in the space to the needs of the family, and look at how it is actually being used. It is possible to find the perfect blend and create a space that’s beautiful and welcoming for guests while also serving your family needs as the main users. Here’s how to make little adjustments to the space that you have to create the perfect room for your brood:
Get Inspired
Clippings from interiors magazines, the latest articles on Elle Décor and of course, good old Pinterest – cast your net far and wide when it comes to getting design inspiration. Seeing new ideas can jolt you out of your interiors comfort zone and have you considering a scheme that is modern and fresh. Anything that gets you thinking, no matter how abstract, is great. At this stage, don’t worry about budgets and possibilities – just see what you are drawn to and create a mood board for your new room. There are often ways to achieve the feel you’re after in less expensive ways.
Find The Best Seating Layout
A living room needs to be a hospitable and welcoming space, and that comes from having adequate, comfortable seating for all. You should always have space for more than your immediate family, to easily accommodate guests. Adding a couple of corner sofas, especially ones with a modular design, can provide flexible seating options, and you could also consider other items that could do double duty, such as an upholstered ottoman that provides storage and an extra place to sit, or a window seat. If you have space, consider creating different areas with groups of seating and lighting.
Elevate The Details
Often it’s the little touches that can take your family space from drab to fab. You can use these to set out different task areas within one large space, such as adding a patterned area rug, side tables and raised or lowered seating areas. If you need to subdivide a large space, low shelving or moveable occasional tables and screening can help to bring the family together while pursuing separate activities. Add softness and richness with contrasting textures, such as a woollen throw on a chenille sofa or a fluffy rug and velvet curtains.
Take One Thing Away
The best-designed spaces have an elegant restraint about them that comes from being selective with the artwork and decorative objects you choose to have. Too many fussy knick-knacks can make a place look cluttered, less spacious and worn. Group similar objects together to create a gallery-style display with impact, rather than dotting them all over a room. Not pushing the furniture up against the walls also helps to create a feeling of more space. Vary the types of lighting in the room so that it can be adjusted for studying, movie nights, curling up with a book or hosting a party, by adding in a few well-designed lamps but be careful to place them out of the main thoroughfares.
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*This is a collaborative space*