11 Ways to Make Your Living Area Social (Not Just About the TV)
Take your living area from cold and characterless to cosy and conversational with these 11 expert tips
Your living room is about more than just watching television – it’s somewhere to kick back, recharge and connect with friends and family. But all too often, a poor furniture layout can see too much focus on the screen and not enough on the conversation. Three interior designers reveal 11 ways to get people talking again.
Rebecca Farrow, interior designer and founder of Elska Interiors, says:
1. Mix up textures
Bringing texture into your living room is a shortcut to cosiness. Without it, a space can feel harsh and unforgiving.
Create a relaxed, cocooning vibe by layering up rugs, cushions and throws in different textures in a variety of natural materials such as leather, wool and jute.
Seek out pieces in soft, nature-based hues that evoke feelings of calm and comfort, such as sage, dove grey, clay and the blue of early-morning skies.
Finish off with a medley of indoor plants to further boost the connection with nature.
2. Provide different seating options
Living spaces are the ultimate multi-taskers as somewhere to relax, entertain, binge watch your favourite television series and more. As such, they require flexible furniture set-ups to suit different activities.
Include different seating options in your living room that allow people to talk to each other comfortably and see the screen with ease. Depending on the size and shape of the room, you might include a couple of sofas and armchairs, a chaise longue, or a single sofa with an armchair or two and some beanbags for younger members of the family.
Need extra flexibility? Choose armchairs that swivel.
3. Light it right
The ability to adjust your light levels is key to a successful living-room lighting scheme. Opt for overhead lights and lamps on dimmers so you can adjust lighting levels to suit the mood as you move throughout the day and into the night. Having greater control over lighting in the evening will also help your body’s natural circadian rhythms.
Your lighting scheme should also allow for natural daylight to enter the room – sheer curtains, shutters or venetian blinds will all keep glare at bay while letting soft light filter in.
And never underestimate the impact of candlelight, even if it’s just a single scented candle on the coffee table. Not only is candlelight calming, but essential oils can boost relaxation and clarity of mind, making way for more focused and engaging conversations. Consider essential oils such as ylang ylang, clary sage, lavender and bergamot.
4. Choose the right-size furniture
Often people select furniture that is not the right size for their living room – and whether it is too small or too large, the end result is the same: the room doesn’t feel right.
When you’re selecting furniture, first consider the scale of your room. Lots of small furniture pieces in a small living room will make the space feel more cluttered. Instead, choose fewer, more generous pieces. If your living room is large, capitalise on this with generously proportioned pieces.
While some negative space (the empty space in a room) is good as it allows your eye to rest, too much will make your room feel empty. Make sure you measure your living room and create a basic floor plan before buying anything. As a guide, allow 75 centimetres between furniture to walk around comfortably and 35 to 45 centimetres between sofas and tables so you can place a drink down with ease.
Also, assess whether the scale of a sofa is right for the people who will be seated there. Does it have enough depth and height for all members of your family to sit comfortably? Is it low and comfortable or upright and formal? The best way to assess this is to visit the showroom and sit down together for a while before you buy.
5. Add a few tables
Any good social setting requires somewhere to rest your wine and nibbles, so you’ll want to include a mix of options such as side tables, coffee tables or ottomans that can hold a tray. Position them close enough to people so they can place their drink down comfortably while seated.
A current trend is to place a side table beside a coffee table, creating different heights and interest. As an added bonus, a side table is often light enough to lift up and move closer to where you need it when necessary.
6. Smarten up your storage
Clutter is one of the biggest killers of a cosy, conversational atmosphere. I’ll commonly enter a client’s home and see multiple small pieces of furniture housing a bunch of wires poking out from under a television, a stack of games, collections of trinkets and papers.
Clutter not only causes distraction but it also increases cortisol – your stress hormones. One or two pieces of beautiful closed cabinetry will allow you to tuck things away that aren’t for display purposes.
Minimise the number of items you have on display so your favourites have a chance to shine.
Lisa Santamaria, interior designer at Santamaria Design, says:
7. Lay a rug (that’s big enough)
To create a cosy feel in a living room, a floor rug is a must – it will not only warm up a hardwood or tiled floor, but it can also help zone the living area if you have an open-plan space. Choosing one in soft wool with a chunky, knitted pile will add to the cosy feel.
When it comes to rug size, go as large as the room will allow so the legs of furniture, such as the sofa, can sit on it.
8. Create a focal point
All rooms should have a focal point and none more so than a social spot such as a living room. Consider placing a sofa and armchairs around a gorgeous fireplace to create an inviting feel – you’ll find guests will naturally gravitate towards it.
Complement this set-up with a large-scale artwork or a beautifully framed mirror above the mantel.
9. Avoid matchy-matchy
Having everything in your living room match perfectly can create a cold and unwelcoming feel, particularly when you have lots of smooth textures such as a shiny leather armchair and a glossy coffee table.
Instead, choose interesting pieces in a mix of different shapes and textures to add a rich feel and character to the space.
10. Personalise with artwork and greenery
Add artwork to your living room and watch the space come alive. Not only does art add colour and energy, but it also gives an insight into your personality and style. We have some incredible artists in Australia and investing in a key piece or two is a great way to support our local industry.
Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your art selection. Choose pieces that speak to you and that complement your decor.
Greenery is the perfect finishing touch to a cosy living space – give the room an instant lift and bring the outside in with a medley of luscious indoor plants in different-size pots.
Kate Barakovska, creative director at Moda Interiors, says:
11. Steer clear of straight lines
Positioning all the furniture in your living room in a straight line, such as along one wall facing a television, makes it feel less than social.
Instead, arrange sofas and armchairs in a conversation-pit style – with furniture on at least three sides of the room. This will ensure people’s focus is on each other rather than on the screen.
…And how do I detract attention from the TV?
Farrow says:
- Place furniture in positions that allow people to face each other, rather than just the TV.
- Offer alternative focal points to the television, such as a beautiful artwork, a fireplace or a window with a garden view.
- Hide the television in plain sight by painting the wall behind a dark colour such as Haymes Black Olive.
- Surround the television with art and photos to create a gallery wall.
- Conceal it inside a television cabinet with a sliding door (leaving the other panel open to display collectibles is a nice touch).
- Consider upgrading to a television that doubles as art such Samsung’s The Frame TV.
Originally published by Houzz.
