At My Bespoke Room, we understand the importance of getting your living room right the first time, after all - it’s the heart of the home.
We’ve gathered some of our favourite living room design projects and expert tips for creating the ultimate lounge space, so you are armed with all the tools you need to get renovating.
1. Deciding on a living room colour scheme
The colour of your living room should be a shade you both love and that complements your furniture and décor seamlessly.
Consider the quality of light and space you have in your lounge; lighter colours can often make a room feel brighter and lighter, while darker shades will bring cosiness and comfort to your space.
If you’re a little lost, consider drawing inspiration from existing pieces like artwork or soft furnishings.
Before committing, test paint samples on your lounge wall to see how they look in various lights throughout the day. Trust us, they can completely change.
The number one rule is to always choose a colour that resonates with you, not the latest trend. To inspire you, we’ve gathered some of our projects
Soft, warm neutrals
If you’re looking to create a relaxing atmosphere, warm neutral shades such as ivory, taupe or tan might be for you.
Opting for neutral tones allows for colour accents elsewhere; you can inject colour through soft furnishings, artwork, or even houseplants for a dynamic space.
In this living room, the off-white walls are the perfect clean palette to compliment the muted shades of sage green and dusky pink. To avoid the space feeling cold, natural and warm textures were weaved in through the use of wooden sideboards and timber tables.
Dark and dramatic shades
Going bold shouldn’t be scary as these darker shades can help to bring comfort into your living room.
For example, the living room above was a very large space and the clients were struggling to make the room feel cosy.
By choosing a dramatic deep blue shade, the walls were made to feel closer and the space immediately felt more intimate.
If you don’t want to commit to the full effect, you could tie in dark colours with the use of feature or half painted walls.
2. Arranging your living room furniture
Our Interior Designers always start every project by asking how you will use the space.
Is it used to cosy up in front of the TV or a social space to host parties?
By establishing the function of your living room, you can tailor the layout and furniture arrangement to best suit your needs and lifestyle.
Create a focal point
Begin by establishing a focal point when arranging. Many of our top designs rely on focal points to anchor the space.
For instance, if your living room is meant for socialising, position your sofas and armchairs to face each other around a coffee table.
If your room is large, bring your seating in from the walls. It will make conversation easier and guests can move around easily without interrupting the flow of conversation!
If it's all about entertainment, point it towards the TV. They might not be the prettiest of things, but it's a reality! Disguise your TV by painting the wall behind a dark colour or surround it with artwork to incorporate it into a gallery wall.
Top tip: When arranging your furniture, don’t forget about the traffic flow by making sure pathways in and out of your room remain unobstructed.
Small living room ideas
Laying out a small living room can be challenging, so to make it easier, start by purchasing smaller-scaled and slimmer furniture.
Furniture on legs is always our go to as it reveals more of the floor beneath tricking the eye into thinking there’s more space.
To go the extra mile, try to find multifunctional pieces, such as ottomans that double up as both a footstool and storage.
When laying out your small lounge, try to maximise your vertical space by using tall shelves which allow for extra storage while taking up less floor space.
3. Living room lighting ideas
As Interior Designers, we often see lighting being taken for granted in client’s homes.
Lighting is crucial to making your living room feel cosy and inviting. By layering different levels of light, you can create a relaxed environment.
For example, in the design above, we added table and floor lamps to help draw you down into the space in the evenings.
Remember to consider your bulb temperature; choose warm white (<2700K) for your living room to create a cosy ambiance reminiscent of soft candlelight.
4. Complimenting your property's features
When looking for living room inspiration, consider harmonising with the architectural style of your home. Select furniture and layouts that complement the era in which your home was constructed.
Modern homes
If you’re leaning into the modern style of your home, opt for sleek and minimalist furniture with clean lines to accentuate the modern aesthetic.
Try to keep the space open and airy by using multifunctional furniture like nesting tables to maximise space.
Finally, embrace a monochromatic colour scheme with pops of bold accent colour like we did for our client in the image above, for a vibrant yet sophisticated look.
Period properties
With period living rooms, it’s all about accentuating the original features.
If your home features dado rails or built-in shelves, try painting them a bolder or darker shade to draw the eye in.
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, we suggest arranging your furniture around it to make it the focal point of the space.
When purchasing décor, look out for vintage style pieces that match the period of your home and choose light fixtures that evoke the style of the era, such as chandeliers or wall sconces.
Don’t be afraid to bring in modern pieces that you love. The contrast between old and new can create a truly unique and memorable space.
6. Personalising your lounge
When it comes to incorporating your own flair in your living room, there are so many options.
One of our personal favourites is a gallery wall which can be totally customised to suit the style of your living room.
If you are going for more of a bright and bold colour scheme, like in our design above, you may want to keep your gallery wall sleek and simple. To craft this look, go for matching picture frames and make sure the gaps between the frames are even.
But if your living room is more neutral, try an eclectic gallery wall. This can be created with varying frames and art styles.
Plus, you don’t have to stick with framed prints only - experiment with mini tapestries, macrame hangings or china plates!
To create more visual interest in your living room, try styling your shelves with personal items and décor.
By mixing and matching, books, plants, photos, sculptures and meaningful objects, you develop a dynamic look which is also bound to spark joy.
Finally, to add a further touch of comfort to your living space, make sure to layer your soft furnishings.
Use rugs, throw blankets, and cushions to give your space warmth and make it more welcoming.
Make sure to incorporate textiles that feature different patterns and textures, while keeping to your colour scheme, to create a visually interesting but coordinated living room.
If you love our living room design ideas, why not get started on your own project? Our Interior Designers are ready to create a living room you will love for just £450, get in touch today!
Get the WOW-factor from £395 per room
We’re so sure you’ll love My Bespoke Room, we’re offering all Zoopla readers 20% off your first room design. Use the code ZOOPLA20 to claim your discount on a room design where you'll collaborate with your own dedicated interior designer plus so much more!
