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Q I keep hearing about conversational seating, and how it’s all in the furniture placement. How do I get it right?
One of today’s biggest trends in interiors is creating pools of seating to bring people together. Chairs can aid conversation by the way they are positioned and shaped, bringing a feeling of intimacy to social spaces for friends and family. Firstly, think about where you want this kind of ambience in your home. Adding a pair of small armchairs with a coffee table in a bay window (one that looks out onto a garden, perhaps) or in front of a fireplace can create a reflective space for conversation complete with a natural
Chairs angled inwards help to encourage chatter; chairs by Soho Home focus to draw the eye. Conversational seating also works well with three or four small chairs dotted around a central sofa, making sure the focus is on group conversation so that everyone feels included. Think carefully about spacing and distance between the chairs, as you want to avoid spacing seats too far apart – two metres apart is a good rule of thumb if you have the room. When picking your chairs, a statement piece will make the area stand out from the rest of the home’s design; a cloud-like armchair upholstered in bouclé, a cosy love seat to sink into, or a pair of small chesterfield-style chairs will beckon your guests to take a seat. Finally, add a statement cushion – a long, soft mohair or velvet rectangular cushion will add comfort and tie the space together.
Q I’ve just bought a room divider bookcase to zone my open-plan living room, but how do I style it?
Easily! A bookcase divider is the perfect solution to zoning an open-plan scheme, and it also gives you a great opportunity to put your personal stamp on the whole space. While free-standing bookshelves and units create physical and visual separation, they double up to provide more storage and places for your prized possessions to sit proudly on display. Don’t overwhelm your shelves with books, and leave some shelves free for a favourite vase or ceramic to take the stage. You could even order your books by colour, creating a cheery rainbow aesthetic, or you can use your divider to display coffee table reads – position these upright with the cover on show like a piece of artwork. Your shelves are perfect for those personal trinkets, too. Show your personality through your collection of vinyl records, or perhaps it’s a couple of framed family photographs. Finally, plants are the ultimate accessory for your bookcase. Pick a trailing plant that is easy to care for (like a string of hearts or devil’s ivy) that will cascade elegantly down the bookcase.
Send your questions to oonagh.turner@futurenet.com