Antonia’s choice: FURNITURE LAYOUT
When it comes to a functional living space, it’s all about positioning your furniture in the right way – here’s our expert guide
You might feel your living room needs a bit of a redesign, or have plans to invest in new furniture or storage. Or maybe you’re looking to rejig what you have to give your space a style boost. Either way, there are plenty of tricks that can help you make the most of its potential.
Begin by thinking about how you use the room
You may use the space for watching telly, the kids doing homework, reading a book as well as entertaining friends. Considering its function will help you understand what lighting, seating and storage you need.
Choose a focal point
‘In a family room, a TV will likely be the focal point,’ says Charlie Marshall, founder of Loaf. ‘But it’s also one of the things I hate to see in a smart living room, especially mounted above the fireplace. That space should be reserved for something beautiful, such as a mirror or painting. The furniture itself could be the focus – for example, a statement armchair could add a wow factor when people enter the room.’
Create a sense of space and balance
‘Always give furniture space to breathe,’ advises Lisa Mitchell, design director of Interior Style Studio. ‘Decide where you want the eye to focus, then layer around it. Contemplate the layout as you would a picture – a 10cm nudge to one side can make all the difference. A two- or threeseat sofa and a pair of armchairs opposite with upholstered pouffes balances well.’
Avoid common mistakes
‘Your home should reflect your personality, so don’t go too stark,’ says Charlie. ‘If you don’t need to make the room look larger, then don’t paint it white but opt for darker colours to make it cosy instead.’
TV’S Laurence Llewelyn-bowen says, ‘The idea of a feature wall is to make one wall much stronger than the others. So why use the chimney breast, which is already a dominant piece of architecture?’
BE SURE TO TEST A SOFA BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE - EVEN THE BEST LOOKING SETTEE COULD BE DISAPPOINTINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE