The living room is the heart of any home. It’s where the family gathers to spend time with each other. It’s where you do most of your entertaining. It’s the place where you retreat for a cozy night in front of the TV, which is why it’s vital to style this space, the right way. From the color palette choices to the sofas, each decision you make can have a big impact on the comfort and impression this room gives.
Colors for this season are moving quickly through blues and into relaxing greens. Olives are particularly popular for the summer. This color gives a fresh feeling and works well with most woods, leathers, and fabrics in the room. The best effect is with metals. Brasses, burnt, chrome, and brushed effect metals all complement shades of green. Think about applying new door handles or knobs for sideboards to bring out the the best of your room this season.
Furniture is looking quite square this season. It remains very chic and stylish despite its modernist and minimalist roots. For those who have young families and pets, leather may be an expensive extravagance that can easily be damaged; instead, choose slipcovered sofas that are machine washable. They look very stylish as well as being practical and some have interchangeable covers for the next time you redecorate.
Chunky wooden sideboards and coffee tables continue to dominate trend lists this year. Those with ornamental metal fittings are working very well in most settings. Choose lighter oak furniture for small rooms to help keep the room light and airy. This color complements most color palettes and can sit well on wood, carpet, or tiled floors. Keep personal items on the furniture to a minimum to avoid that cluttered, cottage-like feel.
Lighting makes the world of difference to a room. If you tend to use the room only after the sun has gone down then it’s essential to get the fittings and the bulbs just right. Choose from wall fittings, ceiling fittings, standards or lamps. A combination of two or three of these will illuminate a room beautifully. It will also highlight any wall art or ornaments you have on display. Metal light fittings and stands are looking good for this season. Choose warm tone bulbs for greens and woods, or colder tones for reds and deep blues.
Wall art in the modern style is very popular at the moment. Pictures are not trending this year, so look to curves, lines or geometric shapes. Impressionistic art is still effective. Look for pieces that work with your room tones rather than standing out too much. Two or three pieces on the wall, plus the same number of expressive, sculptured ornaments can add a great deal of interest to a room.
Perhaps you are looking for a stylish center for entertaining or a relaxing retreat for the end of a long day; your living room can be designed to fit all of those needs. The positioning of the furniture can also be changed quite easily to offer better views or facilitate conversation.
Enjoy the room you create by taking the time to plan your room effectively.
Photo by Nakita Cheung
Romina Nabhen
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