Living rooms
Ways to enhance the feeling of space and character
CHOOSING FURNISHINGS
‘Furnishings play an essential role in how a space is received. When working with less spacious living rooms, we recommend a considered curation of essential pieces – spreading a large rug as an anchor for the scheme and then building out from there, picking out tones from the rug and embellishing these throughout the room. A central table can create a focal point in a smaller room, best framed by inwardfacing armchairs which help create depth and volume.’ JAMES THURSTAN WATERWORTH, founder, Thurstan ‘Getting the furniture right in a living room is one of the biggest challenges in design. This needs to be a practical space, whether for watching TV or creating good conversation. What you choose needs to be stylish and contribute to the personality and harmony of the space. Inevitably, I find people often graduate to the smaller rooms of a house as they are more intimate and cosier, whereas big rooms can make you feel small and uncomfortable. Be bold with your little space and use large-scale furniture sparingly to give the illusion that the room is grander than it is.’
MIKE FISHER, creative director and founder, Studio Indigo ‘People often assume they should buy small-scale furniture for small rooms, but that actually makes a space feel smaller. Don’t be afraid to fill the room - get a rug that fully sits under all your furniture, and don’t buy a love seat if you can actually fit a three-seater sofa in the room. Not only will buying larger scale furniture look better, it will also make your experience of the space so much more comfortable: win-win!’ SHEENA MURPHY, partner, Nune ‘It is worth noting that a pair of armchairs can often take up more space than a small sofa. Certainly, a smaller armless sofa, complete with a little side table to put down a drink, and a floor lamp rather than a table lamp can be a much better use of space.’ LONIKA CHANDE, founder and creative director, Lonika Chande
WORKING WITH COLOUR
‘When a single colour is used on both walls and woodwork, a room suddenly feels bigger because having no contrast means that you are less aware of the confines of the space. The eye does not stop to register a second colour and glides straight out of the window to the view, blending the garden and room together.’ JOA STUDHOLME, colour curator, Farrow & Ball
USING PATTERN
‘The living room is a communal space and should reflect everyone who lives in the house. It is a room where we socialise, entertain and relax so the design should be functional, but also fun. I like to play with pattern and colour here. For example, I might use patterned scatter cushions on a sofa alongside occasional chairs and pouffes upholstered in fabrics of your choice. These themes can then be echoed in accessories such as ornaments with colourful designs.’ EVA SONAIKE, creative director, Eva Sonaike
CLEVER LIGHTING
‘Some people feel the need to flood small spaces with ceiling lights to make them feel brighter and therefore larger. However, I think atmosphere and dimension can be added to small spaces with different levels of controlled lighting. The lowest level might be lamps on side tables; the next would be lamps on a desk, console or chest. Finally, add fewer rather than more directional ceiling lights, positioned closer to the walls and angled away from the centre of the room to create a feature glow on, for example, a piece of wall art.’ CLAIRE SA, director, De Rosee Sa →