Friday, May 3, 2024

How to design a living room expert tips on planning, costs, decor and more

how to design living room

Invest in pieces that won't wear down over time, and only bring items you truly love into your space. Steering clear of fast-moving trends and focusing on the essentials is ultimately the key to designing an expensive-looking space. A luxe open-plan living room doesn't need to stick to just one purpose – make the most of your space by dividing it into 'distinct zones,' crafted specially for specific activities. This will make your living room feel bespoke, and like it's been designed with luxury in mind. Ewa suggests keeping the color scheme consistent across 'zones' to ensure your space doesn't feel fragmented or disorganized. From arranging furniture to layering living room lighting, there's so much opportunity for a layout refresh – and many options don't require anything new!

Paint It All Black

Before that, I studied Journalism and English Literature at New York University. I’ve moved around quite a bit in the last several years, most recently making the trip to London, and love transforming each new space into a comfortable retreat that feels like home. When it comes to decor, I’m most drawn to unique vintage finds and calming colors. 'While you don't have to spend a fortune on every piece of furniture, investing in high-quality basics like a well-made sofa or a sturdy dining table can elevate the entire room's appearance. By implementing these layout tricks and design principles, you can create a space that looks and feels luxurious without breaking the bank, she says.

Trial #3: Open Living Room + Dining

Bold colors, cozy textures, and modern design elements give this living room an eclectic feel. If you’re unsure where to start with your living room ideas, choose your largest piece of furniture first so you can use it as a starting point. Here, a leather sofa holds a collection of throw pillows whose colors and texture remind us of this Better Homes & Gardens Blue Diamond Geo Decorative Pillow ($20, Walmart).

Cohesive Color

how to design living room

We spoke with two interior designers who shared insight into what makes these rooms different and how you can style each of them. Though it often doesn't take up much space, lighting is an integral element of your living room's layout – and getting it right can really make the space. Jessica Cinnamon, interior designer and founder of Jessica Cinnamon Design, suggests decorating with mirrors, large-scale light fixtures and specialty lighting to make a grand statement in your space. Soft neutrals can be a great choice for a sophisticated and relaxing colour scheme.

Marie adds that taking a layered approach to living room lighting is also a surefire way to elevate your space. Adding a built-in bench under the window or hanging wicker chairs creates devoted seating areas within the spaces. Natural wood colors are effortless and calm when paired with tonal whites. Oftentimes, mixing multiple seating areas and using lighting as a kind of sculpture gives the room heightened appeal,' she says. "If any room in the home can take a deep shade, it’s a living room," continues Cathryn.

Working Overtime Studio Apartment

Plan both open and closed storage, to create space for items that look good on show and those that are best concealed. If you have kids and/or pets, it’s worth investing in good upholstered pieces, recommends Kylie Bodiya of Bee’s Knees Interior Design Studio in Massachusetts. ‘Those are the higher budget items, but that’s where you should put your invested dollars. More unusual choices include sleek contemporary polished concrete, while porcelain tiles or vinyl can create the look of surfaces such as wood or stone without the same care requirements.

If you're looking for a luxe living room, 'don't overpopulate the space,' warns Brittny. If there is one room you want to feel welcoming, warm and snug, it has to be the living room — and there are several design tricks to ensure your space feels cosy. "Sisal, seagrass and mountain grass all have smooth fibres and offer a crisp, neat effect," says Jon. "Coir is suitable for those seeking a rougher, more casual effect. Jute is the softest of the natural floor coverings, giving a comfortable feel underfoot. However it is less hardwearing and more absorbent."

Swap different finishings, textures and fabrics with ease and adjust as needed.Preview how your room will look in 3D and easily switch between 2D and 3D views. You can do virtual walkthroughs of your projects and share hi-res renderings with friends and family, or any contractors you hire to do the work for you. As you browse, you'll find plenty of advice pertaining to living room paint colors (we're loving green living rooms, but you can't go wrong with timeless white living rooms). You may decide to experiment with a trendy wallpaper, invest in a comfortable sofa, hang fresh curtains or arrange a gallery wall — which are clever, renter-friendly design ideas.

Inspiration

Jared Leto's calming living room design celebrates the 'quiet luxury' trend with a classic color scheme - Homes & Gardens

Jared Leto's calming living room design celebrates the 'quiet luxury' trend with a classic color scheme.

Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Use neutral hues in textures that suit your design style to give a gray living room a more personal look. Plush blankets and layers of taupe accent pillows create a cozy, lived-in look without distracting from the modern feel created by the coffee table and abstract artwork. Picture ledges are an easy living room idea for an alternative to built-in shelves that create an accent wall.

"Durable fabrics such as Crypton or indoor/outdoor options are a must-have for the family room," says Peltier. Above, extra seating can come in the form of ottomans and furniture that’s easy to move depending on whether you’re entertaining or just having a quiet night at home and want your fireplace clear. Pay attention to interiors that make you feel calm, at ease, and most like yourself, and channel them in your own home. Out of all the spaces you dwell in, your home is the only one you can control – take advantage of the opportunities ahead of you and design with mental wellness front of mind. Instead, design from a place that feels personal, and tap into what makes you happy and feel most balanced. For some people a dark and moody home feels oppressive, but for others it offers a quiet respite and a much-needed contrast to the harshly lit buildings we spend a lot of our time in,' she says.

No longer just reserved for period properties, paneling now comes in so many forms to suit all styles and can add just as much of an impact as decorating with bold paint or patterns. "Of all of the rooms in your home, this commonly used space should reflect you the most," says Gage. "You really can start with any piece, be it something you have and love or something you've been coveting and are ready to purchase," says Michelle Gage, the founder and CEO of Michelle Gage Interior Design. "For ease, it's helpful to start with a large one—like a sofa. That lays the foundation and helps to inform the furniture layout."

Pillows might find a new home in your living room and add a pop of color as well as comfort or interest. Meanwhile gathering artwork and photographs together and hanging on one wall or above furniture can ensure the group reads as one impactful piece. 'So many people hesitate to embrace bold or moody palettes in the common areas of their home, worrying that they might end up feeling dated. I like to remind clients that the world is a vibrant and colorful place, and that people love when homes reflect the beauty we see outside our windows. ‘In small living rooms 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.

She stopped short of extending it to the ceiling to allow the sunshine to permeate. For more inspiration, here are 10 clever ideas to help you live your life to the fullest…without cluttering your space, of course. A family room is a casual space for people to gather and relax, often directly set off from the kitchen. "The family rooms we are designing are always adjacent to the kitchen or fully open to it, and many times we call this space the great room because there's no separation between the two spaces," says Peltier.

"Typically, I think of living rooms as spaces that have more stationary furniture and may be a little more elevated," says Haywood. The focal point in a living room is often a fireplace, with a formal seating structure arranged around it, notes Peltier. "Typically a fireplace and a TV may or may not be part of the equation depending on the frequency of use and if there is another (more casual) family room in the house," she says. There are so many decisions to make, from choosing the right paint color to deciding on the layout of your furniture.

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