Where to buy Claire’s style
Tub armchairs, £110 each; bench, £113; Bamboo side table, £29.99; Anthracite Grey column radiator, £270, all ebay. Paint shades DCO273 and DCO2001 colour match emulsion, £21.99 for 2.5ltr, Decorating Centre Online. Click-fit blinds, £319, Blinds2go. Tawny Chestnut click-fit laminate flooring, £20sq m, Howdens. Round mirror, £55, Dunelm. Wall lights, £32.99 each, Amazon. Lantern ceiling light, £45.42, Wayfair. Tall Green bottle vase, £12.50; Gold candleholder, £4; Grey face ornament, £3, all Jysk. Black and White cushions, £19.99 each; Yellow cushions, £3.99 each, both H&M. Round rug, £99, nuloom. Grey dinner candles, £5 set of five, Tusk Collection. Reed diffuser, £16.95, The Somerset Toiletry Co
How to plan a living room comes down to how you wish to use it, and indeed how much space you have to work with. The basics to think about when creating a functional and inviting living room space are style, layout and costs.
How do I decide on a look?
‘When setting out to design your living space it’s worth considering whether you’d like it to be a formal or more informal space,’ advises Jessica Robins, senior designer at LUXE by Andrew Henry Interiors.
Thinking about your largest or most impactful pieces first: that is, the sofa, wallcoverings and whether you have any existing furniture you want to include in the space. ‘Once you’ve decided on the finishes of your largest items, and whether these will include any bold patterns, you can then layer textures and hard finishes to add depth to your design.’
How do I set a budget?
The key to good planning, for any room of the house, is to set a strict budget. It’s good to be realistic at this stage of planning, to make the best of what you can afford. If your budget can’t stretch to your dream space, invest in the most important things now – like flooring and good electrics for lighting. Where you can live with certain elements, do so for now, with the intention to change things at a later date.
Having a budget allows you to plan exactly where to spend, and where you can afford to save. Look for smart and simple living room ideas to keep costs on track.
What wall colour should I choose?
The wall colour creates the backdrop on which to build the rest of the space. When looking at colour swatches be sure to test the shade in different lights, from early morning to night time with only artificial light. If you’re looking for timeless appeal, go for a neutral living room to create a blank canvas to which you can add pops of colour with furniture and accessories. ‘Nothing defines a room or the person who
KATIE LION, interior designer at Kitesgrove lives in it more than the creative joyful use of colour,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. ‘It results in a look that is completely unique and intensely personal, with no other design quite like it to compare your home against.’
Is there a rule for arranging furniture?
The beauty is, you can change up your furniture as frequently as you like to transform the space without it costing a single penny!
‘Decide where you want the eye to focus and layer around it,’ says Lisa Mitchell, design director and founder of Interior Style Studio. ‘Stand back and contemplate the room as you would a picture. Sometimes a 10cm nudge to one side can make all the difference. A two- or threeseater sofa and a pair of armchairs opposite with upholstered pouffes always works well to balance a room.’
‘IF YOUR LIVING ROOM IS ALSO A HOME OFFICE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TIDY AWAY WORK THINGS ALLOWING YOU TO RELAX IN THE SPACE’