Living Room Ideas
Dufner Heighes Inc Save Email 10. Add a work area If you wish you had space for a study in your home, make the table behind your sofa a little wider so you can use it as a desk. Being handy to the living area means you can do a spot of work while still being with the family, or children can do their homework in view of adults cooking dinner. It does require discipline to pack away laptops and paperwork when not in use so you aren’t constantly reminded of work, however. Pro tip: Look for a shape that’s also an attractive place for displaying nice things, and can double as a back-up table or buffet when there’s a crowd for dinner. Add a lamp that’s a pretty accent, not just a workaday piece.
A more modern option, particularly if the space between two zones is a thoroughfare, is a low bench seat. The eye naturally looks down at a low arrangement when passing by. Choose a bench seat that spans the length of the sofa for balance and impact. Pro tip: Make a display of your bench seat with a pot plant, ornaments and coffee table books so it doesn’t tempt people to make it a dumping ground for junk.
8. Make a mini-spot If there is a wide space between a dining and large living area, create a second intimate seating spot. Position matching chairs and a small table behind your sofa for a spot for quiet conversations removed from the bigger group. Pro tip: Arrange the chairs at a slight angle to make them that much more inviting to sit on.
Here, a shapely chair anchors a small sitting area, but allows people to move through the French doors and light to flow around the room. A great way to draw your furniture in closer in a large open space is to add a narrow table or shelf behind a sofa. Decorating with a changing display of ornaments, art and mirrors of varying heights and pot plants keeps the living space lively.
6. Create a corner Alternatively, to create a more distinct room-within-a-room, use an L-shaped sofa (with a good-looking back side, obviously). Position the back of the sofa to section the living zone off from the kitchen and dining areas and create a sense of separation. Use sectional sofa combinations to vary the size of the space, choosing between sections with arms and backs, and adding ottomans or chaises.
Soften the sound With the whole family working or hanging out together in one space, there’s a chance that noise levels will be increased, so consider choosing quiet appliances such as dishwashers and extractor fans, and TV viewers won’t be disturbed. You can also use plenty of soft furnishings like plush rugs, thick curtains and upholstered furniture, to diffuse the noise.
Use colour and texture as definers Contrasting materials, such as timber cabinetry against white walls, will help to visually divide the space, while combining a mix of patterns in complementary colours creates a harmonious feel without looking too monotonous. “For today’s open-plan living, I prefer to combine a generous mix of natural materials for warmth and texture, in the form of wood, porcelain, and textural elements on cabinetry,” says Interior Designer Susan Cleveland of Susan Cleveland Design. “These elements don’t have to match, but they must complement each other in tone and interest.“
Save Email Play with scale Rugs are classic definers, and by introducing a few different sized designs, you can determine the area dedicated to a particular zone. In this long narrow room, a slim runner is placed alongside the kitchen units to specify the cooking area and separate it from the dining table, while a huge standout rug marks off the rest of the room as the living space. Placing the legs of an armchair and sofa on the rug anchors the seating in this zone and creates a sense of connection between the living room furniture.
Bring focus to a space with artwork When the walls are the same colour throughout the space, you can go one step further in defining zones by hanging artwork in the centre of each space to bring focus to that area. Be sure to choose prints or paintings that are similar to each other, whether it’s through their colour or theme, to ensure they also work in harmony.
Perfect symmetry. Just because you love minimalist design doesn’t mean you have to go without when it comes to storage. This unit combines ample space in the lower cabinets with plenty of display space up above. The natural timber contrasts nicely with the tiles wrapping around the fireplace surround. Custom-made cabinets are often the way to go for a polished and professional-looking finish. The cabinets work so well here because they align precisely with the top of the fireplace.
Floating shelves These floating shelves look superb set against a dark background. Floating shelf fittings (which have extra supports hidden within the shelf when fitted) are reasonably easy to assemble and good if you don’t have lots of heavy things to store, but do still make sure you use good-quality screws and rawlplugs. I often discard the screws included with self-assembly furniture and use alternatives, as they are often not great quality. Cheap screws are tricky to use, unreliable and often incredibly difficult to remove, so it’s worth spending a bit extra for a selection of decent-quality ones.
simple fireplace
beige simple fireplace
white fireplace wall
fireplace wall
fireplace wall
shelf mantle
grey simple with mantle
nice stone surround
bookcase
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