EASY LIVING
This summer, it’s time to put the spotlight on relaxing living rooms. Here are our top tips for creating a soothing space you’ll be happy to spend time in
Living rooms have always been places where we head to relax, but these days they’re so much more besides. Maybe you use yours for dining and entertaining; perhaps it’s where you indulge your creative side and display your art collection, or where you wind down with some meditation. As well as playing all these roles, it’s likely to have a more practical use, too, as a place for kids’ playtime, watching films in the evenings or even working from home.
This season, John Lewis & Partners is focusing on the living room and how we can use this multipurpose space to enhance our wellbeing. The first step to a more tranquil space is, of course, your colour scheme. Soft, pale shades make the most of natural daylight and calm the senses. According to colour psychologists, the most relaxing hues include earthy browns (which feel grounding), pale pinks (nurturing) and powder blues (certain cells in your eyes are especially sensitive to blue, relaying messages to the brain that reduce blood pressure). Layered with warm whites, these shades create an airy, uplifting mood.
Looking to nature will also make for a more relaxing space. Surround yourself with as many natural, sustainable materials as you can – think wood, linen, wool and ceramics. They’ll not only make you feel good from an ethical point of view, but they’re also better for your health, as they’ll reduce the amount of chemicals released in your home. Aim to have plenty of living greenery, too – houseplants pump oxygen into the atmosphere, so it’s fresher to breathe, and they also help to filter out any toxins in the air (some studies have even suggested that plants can also improve sound levels, reduce stress and aid concentration). Bamboo, palms and ivy are especially good at purifying your home.
Next, think about the way you arrange your furniture. Try not to have everything positioned against the walls – pulling chairs and sofas into the centre of the room feels less stiff and formal. It’s important that you have plenty of freedom to move around, so work with the shape of your room to create open spaces where you can spread out, do yoga or just open the windows and let the air flow through. Low-level furniture gives an uncluttered look that’s very calming – it invites you to lie back and relax, as well as allowing light to bounce around more easily.
Last but not least, use pleasing aromas to soothe your mood. Take a tip from perfumer Lyn Harris, who uses scented plants and foraged materials such as moss, ivy and pine cones to organically fragrance her home. Position plants where warmth and sunlight will help them to thrive and diffuse their natural perfume – scent is the finishing touch to any relaxing space.
For more inspiring ideas on how to create the perfect living space, visit John Lewis & Partners in store or online at johnlewis.com