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Emphasise space Show off the scale of your living room with a rug that stretches its full length. A neutral hue can never be accused of being ostentatious and the peek of parquet around the edge of the room works like a tantalising glimpse of ankle. Some rooms don’t need to shout about it – they’re just gorgeous.
Complete a period piece Given the right tradespeople and budget, most people could complete a restoration project, but adding soul to your home is another matter. That’s where textiles come in, specifically, a vintage rug like the one in this image. Faded grandeur works brilliantly as an era-appropriate contrast to a crisp, classic setting.
Go for curves The curved backs of these beautiful built-in storage units give this home a sense of grandeur and a wonderful backdrop to show off an array of quirky and eclectic objects. Paint shelves like these in the same muted shade as the surrounding walls to make the decorative objects stand out even more.
Add mirrors If you’re hankering after a luxe look for relatively little outlay, mirrors can be cut to the size of your alcoves to create a wonderful backing to team with glass or metallic shelves. Favourite vases and collectables will really sing in such a setting, or why not dot them with a few choice coffee table books displayed with the cover artwork facing forwards rather than the spines?
Flow into the dining area Having an open-plan living and dining area like this will create a hang-out mood, as the party will naturally spill back into the living area once everyone has eaten. When you’re entertaining a crowd, it’s natural for different clusters to emerge and an arrangement like this allows each group to find its own space.
Include perches for drinks If friends and family often descend on your home, it’s probably because you’re known not just for having a comfy living room, but for your excellent hospitality, too. So as well having a coffee table, make sure you have side tables at either end of the sofa for guests to rest their drinks and nibbles on. A nest of tables can also come in useful.
Use all levels Go multi-tiered with your storage by offsetting tall, skinny alcoves with long lean units that won’t crowd your space as one big piece might. The different zones can then be used to stash different bits and pieces – books in one, DVDs in another for instance – for easy-access storage.
Build a storage wall Storage walls can be a godsend for living rooms, offering both essential storage and display space. These often bespoke creations can be built around your needs, and incorporate areas for a TV, pictures, ornaments and books. Consider having some sections closed for less-than-lovely items. If you’re using off-the-peg units, you could buy a few boxes that fit the sections snugly and use them as ‘drawers’ for pieces you wish to hide away.
Work around a corner Don’t stop your storage simply because you’ve come to a corner. A tailor-made shelving unit can be designed to ‘hug’ your walls and will offer a bigger boost to your storage capacity – as well as looking look far more aesthetically pleasing – than two freestanding units propped up at right angles.
Squeeze in a desk If you don’t have space for a designated office, think of an area in your home with less traffic and try to convert it into a mini office. A desk in the corner of a room, or one that can be folded into a bureau or folded against the wall, will still give you a designated space in which you know you need to focus. It certainly beats trying to get some work done on a coffee table in front of the TV.
Invest in whiter bulbs If you find you’re more productive after dusk, or have enough work to keep you going into the evening, a good way to keep productivity high is to ensure your bulbs are closer to white than yellow light. Yellow light is more soothing and can make us feel relaxed, while white light is brighter and aids concentration.
Create open shelving Don’t automatically assume the under-stairs area should be reserved for hiding the Hoover and sundry shopping bags. Open shelving can look stylish, as these chic box shelves prove – more conventional horizontal shelves might have been messier. Here they provide a home for oversized art and travel books, while the soft grey woodwork contrasts with the hallway and adds an elegant feel. Tip Note these shelves are fairly shallow – you could decide to divide up your under-stairs cavity into narrow display shelves, while retaining a skinnier hidden cupboard behind.
Be inventive with lighting A mixture of lighting is key in the hallway to make it feel less corridor-like. Avoid the airport runway look of spotlights and instead choose interesting pendant and wall lights that will cast pretty shapes on the walls. This unusual wall light looks striking, and leads the eye down the space.
Dare to shine If you prefer high glamour with an Art Deco edge, black lacquered walls (or gloss paint if you’re on a budget) could be the answer. Not only does this finish win some serious points in the style stakes, the high-shine finish will bounce the light around and create a mirror-like reflective surface.
Mix in plenty of white If these examples are a bit too bold and experimental for your tastes, tone the look down by opting instead for a dark blue or indigo shade and team with light wood flooring and white woodwork for a Scandi feel. Opting for glass-panelled doors will steal extra light from neighbouring rooms, too.
Keep (some) things bright Dark hallways don’t have to mean a moody, enveloping space. Here, although the walls are painted deep grey right down to the floor, the feel of this space is airy and fresh, thanks to the addition of pale wood furniture, refreshing greenery and vibrant blooms.
Install a runner A great way to welcome people and draw the eye into the space is rolling out a runner. Hall runners are great because they help to dress the space, providing a soft landing underfoot. They also protect your floor, inject colour if you need it and couldn’t be easier to add.
Add in a coat rack The humble coat rack or row of hooks can be one of the best things to consider if you don’t already have one. This is a smart, functional addition that keeps things neat and out of the way. It also saves time, as you won’t have to go into your wardrobe every time you come home or go to leave, or be tempted to chuck your jacket on the sofa!
Add in a table An obvious and functional first choice for a hallway is to add a table on which to prop floral arrangements, lamps… and your keys, handbag and things you generally want to set down as soon as you enter your home. If you have the space, choose a table that packs in storage. Look for consoles with drawers and, big bonus, cubby space underneath to stash shoes, stowaway stools and maybe even more storage baskets. Short on space? Round tables work well as they have softer edges than square and fit more easily into awkward spots. Console tables, meanwhile, have the benefit of being narrow, so they don’t take up too much
Curate a mini art gallery Sometimes less really is more, and a clutter-free understairs area needn’t be seen as wasted space. Add in your favourite pieces of art and some comfy seating to create your very own gallery.
Create a kids’ playroom Don’t think Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, but rather a magical den your little ones will adore. Paint the interior with a bold colour – let them choose their favourite – and fit in some simple items (cubes, rugs, shelves and toys will do the trick nicely). Replace the door with a pretty length of fabric so there’s no fear of anyone getting locked in.
Plan a doggy den Your canine friend will love their very own dedicated nook under the stairs. It’s so central to the rest of the house, and it’ll free up space on the kitchen floor, where their bed, bowl and toys might usually go.
Build a wine cellar While we might dream of a spacious, built-in wine cellar stacked neatly with our best bottles of vino, for most of us this isn’t an option. As a creative DIY alternative, an open space under the stairs can be fitted out with wine crates stacked on their side. Even if you find you don’t have enough bottles to fill them, the unused recesses come in handy as extra shelving. The result: a unique, upcycled wine rack that doesn’t take up any space in the kitchen.
Make a statement The void above a staircase is the perfect place to hang a show-stopping chandelier. This spiral design acts almost like statement jewellery for the home, adding sparkle and visual interest whether it’s lit or not.
Switch on stylish lighting Hallway lighting is notoriously difficult to get right and the choice available can feel bewildering. For a modest space, look at simple pendant styles with glass surrounds to allow lots of light transfer; lantern designs work well, as they often have multiple bulbs, or try a bare bulb design like this. Bear in mind how you’ll maintain consistency with your upstairs landing – use either the same style of light fixture or try simple spotlights on a dimmer for a subtle effect.
Make magic with mirrors It’s an oldie but a goody – mirrors help to reflect light and enhance the feeling of space in a small hallway. This piece of mirror has been specially cut to fit neatly into the wall at the foot of the stairs. Not only is it a smart design trick, it also creates the perfect place to check your hair before dashing out of the door.
Corral wet umbrellas They may seem old-fashioned, but umbrella stands are incredibly useful and will ensure your hall floor doesn’t get stained with rainwater or strewn with drying brollies. Umbrella stands now come in all kinds of shapes, designs and materials, so you should be able to find one that works nicely with your interior.
Exploit the space under your stairs Too often, the under-stairs space in our homes is simply walled up and turned into a cupboard that’s difficult to access and becomes a dark dumping ground. Being more creative with the space and squeezing in a couple of appliances is the perfect way to incorporate your laundry equipment. This design also has a warm spot for the cat to sleep too!
Consider a cupboard No space is too small if you plan it carefully. This cupboard squeezes in a washing machine, tumble dryer and shelving to create the ultimate bijou utility area. It would work really well in a hallway.
Illuminate your task areas Keep your focus tight and on point with well-planned lighting. Pools of light from different fittings can make for an inspirational space with an emphasis on clarity. The glowing shelves, friendly standard lamps and ceiling spots all add to the atmosphere of this carefully designed office, while the glass pendants draw the eye to the central meeting place.
Show your individuality with a feature wall Wallpapers and murals offer a multitude of options for creating a bespoke wall with a message. The wall of musical notation in this room provides a unique insight into the sort of work that goes on here. Many companies offer a bespoke mural design service, so you just need to decide which image defines you. Alternatively, there are wallpaper designs featuring rows of books, cityscapes and peaceful forest vistas, all of which would make an equally dramatic statement.
Look away from the wall A desk that faces into the room rather than staring at a blank wall gives a broader perspective when you’re searching for inspiration. Most desks are set against a wall to maximise space (and potentially hide wiring). However, if you can find a way to rearrange these elements, switching around your aspect is a simple way to enjoy the benefits of an extended horizon.
Remind yourself of your mission Place around you some visual encouragements – an inspirational quote, an object which has meaning for you, or a painting – for those days when you might be tempted to forget what it is you actually go to work for. This cool monochrome desk space is surrounded by interesting photographs and postcards, including a typographic reminder to be creative.
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Pop it on the side Seating arranged around a coffee table is wonderfully grown-up and says this living space is about hanging out and socialising as much as watching the box. There’s no attempt to hide the TV, but its position at 90 degrees to the sofa and chairs means it plays a less central role in this room.
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