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Architectural & Project Management
Livingroom
Living rooms are spaces at the center of our homes – metaphorically if not literally. They’re rooms used daily by every member of the household, but they’re also the spaces into which we welcome friends and family.
While living rooms may not be as exacting as kitchens when it comes to their design, their twin uses as both family and entertaining area, plus the hours we spend in them, mean they demand thoughtful and informed design.
Layout, furniture, flooring, and decoration must all be factored in when considering living room ideas(opens in new tab) to create comfort, intimacy, welcome, practicality and durability.
A successful living room layout should take into account where the furniture is – the space in between that permits traffic flow within and through the room, but also avoids a cluttered atmosphere – the negative space, and focal points.
‘In small living rooms(opens in new tab) it might be tempting to move the furniture to its corners and have free space in the middle, but make sure that layout works for you,’ says London-based interior designer Louise Bradley(opens in new tab).
Emily June of Houston-based Emily June Designs(opens in new tab) agrees. ‘When designing a living room, a lot of homeowners automatically push their living room furniture to the perimeter of the room to make the space look bigger, instead of creating a furniture grouping. In most homes, floating furniture around focal points like a fireplace or a window can actually make a space look bigger.’
Rooms that have multiple functions demand a particular approach, and while this has been particularly crucial in the past year, it can apply in many homes in normal circumstances.
‘If you are sharing your space with the whole family, it might be better to create smaller pockets of space, which can have multiple uses, ensuring that everybody in the household can have a little space to relax or work in, that the children can do their learning and that you can have a little peace and quiet at the end of the day too,’ Louise says.
