10 Stylists’ Tricks to Steal for the Living Room
Give your lounge a lift for the new season with these styling tips that balance form and function
Laura Wheat
5 February 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
If your living room is looking a little lacklustre, but you haven’t the time or the energy for a major overhaul, experiment with a few small tweaks to reinvigorate the space. Often it’s about switching one key detail or piece of furniture, and sometimes simply refreshing accessories, such as cushions, throws, lamps and pictures, can transform a so-so scheme into something special. Get to grips with the straightforward tricks that stylists use as you set the scene for cosy winter evenings and time spent with friends and family at home.
Double the fun
There’s nothing like an afternoon spent horizontal on the sofa to recharge your batteries, but if it’s secondary seating you’re after, look beyond the usual love seat or matching armchair options.
Instead, be brave and choose a pair of statement chairs in a different fabric to your sofa. This simple switcheroo will give your living room a lift and still provide ample seating for guests.
There’s nothing like an afternoon spent horizontal on the sofa to recharge your batteries, but if it’s secondary seating you’re after, look beyond the usual love seat or matching armchair options.
Instead, be brave and choose a pair of statement chairs in a different fabric to your sofa. This simple switcheroo will give your living room a lift and still provide ample seating for guests.
Aim for ambience
If your living room is primarily somewhere to spend time in the evenings, make this the focus of your décor decisions. Moody colours, low lighting options, touchable textures and smart upholstery will all work to imbue your space with added atmosphere.
Get expert advice on installing a wood-burning stove in your home
If your living room is primarily somewhere to spend time in the evenings, make this the focus of your décor decisions. Moody colours, low lighting options, touchable textures and smart upholstery will all work to imbue your space with added atmosphere.
Get expert advice on installing a wood-burning stove in your home
Style your shelves
In design circles, shelves are not merely a place to cram clutter and old paperbacks, but rather a primary spot for displaying attractive objects in an artful way.
Choose a style with cupboards built into the base for holding messy bits and bobs, and use your shelves to show off a seasonally changing selection of your favourite things. A mixture of books, plants, metallic elements, monochrome pieces and bright touches works well – but remember that less is more.
Get more ideas for creating the perfect ‘shelfie’
In design circles, shelves are not merely a place to cram clutter and old paperbacks, but rather a primary spot for displaying attractive objects in an artful way.
Choose a style with cupboards built into the base for holding messy bits and bobs, and use your shelves to show off a seasonally changing selection of your favourite things. A mixture of books, plants, metallic elements, monochrome pieces and bright touches works well – but remember that less is more.
Get more ideas for creating the perfect ‘shelfie’
Play with pattern
A plain scheme can be souped up with a delicate infusion of coloured fabrics in contrasting patterns. Choose an informal style, such as ikat or block prints, and mix in other geometrics with a similar feel.
In this room, the simple addition of vibrant lampshades and cushion covers transforms the space. You’re aiming for a layered look composed of complementary but not necessarily matching colours.
A plain scheme can be souped up with a delicate infusion of coloured fabrics in contrasting patterns. Choose an informal style, such as ikat or block prints, and mix in other geometrics with a similar feel.
In this room, the simple addition of vibrant lampshades and cushion covers transforms the space. You’re aiming for a layered look composed of complementary but not necessarily matching colours.
Keep to a theme
Although you may want all of your rooms to have different qualities and styles, by picking a few consistent elements and continuing them throughout your living room and nearby spaces, you’ll create harmony and balance. Repeating colours as well as visual cues, such as rugs and lighting, will have a powerful impact on the feel of a home, so ensure yours work together.
Make this aim the focus of your living room refresh, and you’ll find you’ve overhauled several areas with just one easy idea.
Although you may want all of your rooms to have different qualities and styles, by picking a few consistent elements and continuing them throughout your living room and nearby spaces, you’ll create harmony and balance. Repeating colours as well as visual cues, such as rugs and lighting, will have a powerful impact on the feel of a home, so ensure yours work together.
Make this aim the focus of your living room refresh, and you’ll find you’ve overhauled several areas with just one easy idea.
Shift your sofa
In most living rooms, there are only one or two positions in which a sizeable sofa can fit. However, perhaps there’s a prime spot you haven’t considered?
Placing a sofa in front of and away from the window is one idea. You could also try moving the couch and other furniture so it’s not pushed up against the walls, to lend a feeling of space. This subtle tweak may help with positioning smaller pieces, such as side tables and lamps, as well.
In most living rooms, there are only one or two positions in which a sizeable sofa can fit. However, perhaps there’s a prime spot you haven’t considered?
Placing a sofa in front of and away from the window is one idea. You could also try moving the couch and other furniture so it’s not pushed up against the walls, to lend a feeling of space. This subtle tweak may help with positioning smaller pieces, such as side tables and lamps, as well.
Harness the power of three
Designers understand the magic of three and often use groups of accessories in odd rather than even numbers. Bear this in mind if you’re shopping for an accessory to give your room a new focal point, and consider a trio for maximum impact.
It could be a cluster of three pendant lights, a set of framed photographs or, as with the wall-mounted oars in this living room, a threesome of interesting-looking objects with personal or thematic relevance.
Designers understand the magic of three and often use groups of accessories in odd rather than even numbers. Bear this in mind if you’re shopping for an accessory to give your room a new focal point, and consider a trio for maximum impact.
It could be a cluster of three pendant lights, a set of framed photographs or, as with the wall-mounted oars in this living room, a threesome of interesting-looking objects with personal or thematic relevance.
Opt for occasional furniture
Improve the look as well as the functionality of your living space by adding some well-placed side tables. These small but crucial pieces of furniture can be used to hold lamps, drinks and accessories – think of yourself as ‘setting the scene’ for relaxation. Try placing tables or stools at either end of the sofa, beside armchairs or in fireplace alcoves.
Improve the look as well as the functionality of your living space by adding some well-placed side tables. These small but crucial pieces of furniture can be used to hold lamps, drinks and accessories – think of yourself as ‘setting the scene’ for relaxation. Try placing tables or stools at either end of the sofa, beside armchairs or in fireplace alcoves.
Set up a sideboard
If there’s room in your living room for a sideboard, you’ll love the extra storage, surface space and styling options it will provide.
This midcentury beauty has been used as the basis for a simple vignette. Hanging a picture extra low to match the sideboard’s proportions grounds the sweet ensemble.
For space-starved rooms, adding a simple shelf will offer the same decorative opportunities.
If there’s room in your living room for a sideboard, you’ll love the extra storage, surface space and styling options it will provide.
This midcentury beauty has been used as the basis for a simple vignette. Hanging a picture extra low to match the sideboard’s proportions grounds the sweet ensemble.
For space-starved rooms, adding a simple shelf will offer the same decorative opportunities.
Source the right sofa
Buying a sofa is often a major investment, but it’s difficult to pick a style that meets your budget, looks right, fits the space and is comfortable, too. Interior designers usually plump for straight-armed designs, because they’re timeless and yet contemporary.
Foam-filled cushions keep their shape and require a lot less maintenance than feather-stuffed options, although they don’t have the same squidge factor.
If budget doesn’t allow for a replacement, try transforming the appearance of your existing model by almost entirely covering the back and cushions with luxurious blankets or throws.
TELL US…
What simple ideas have you tried to transform a room in your home? Share your tips or photos in the Comments below.
Buying a sofa is often a major investment, but it’s difficult to pick a style that meets your budget, looks right, fits the space and is comfortable, too. Interior designers usually plump for straight-armed designs, because they’re timeless and yet contemporary.
Foam-filled cushions keep their shape and require a lot less maintenance than feather-stuffed options, although they don’t have the same squidge factor.
If budget doesn’t allow for a replacement, try transforming the appearance of your existing model by almost entirely covering the back and cushions with luxurious blankets or throws.
TELL US…
What simple ideas have you tried to transform a room in your home? Share your tips or photos in the Comments below.
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A word of warning regarding 'entirely covering the back and cushions (of your sofa) with luxurious blankets or throws'. I have had a number of sofas over the years that have badly needed replacing but for one reason or another, usually financial, I have had to make the best of them. When I think back I have probably spent the equivalent to about a year of my life 'straightening up' the sofa. My top tip would be the heavier the throw the better (if you don't have an aversion to sheepskins etc these are brilliant) as they move around less. It also helps if you can anchor it down in some way ie if your seat cushions aren't too bad, drape a large throw over the sofa and put them on top. I recently saw a genius idea where they used a very large, heavy throw and put a pole down between the back of the sofa and the seat to hold it down. I haven't tried it but I suspect it could have saved me a lot of effort back in the day....
Great tips. I am still struggling with my sofa as well as it is cream with purple pinstripes and my carpets have red and blue in them and I just cannot get it to glue no matter what I try with cushions. Wall painting will be my last resort.
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