Although it may not yet feel like it – what with all the heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures – spring is here at long last, officially at least. And with it comes the need to do a big old spring clean! Whether you are outwardly groaning or inwardly rejoicing at the prospect, there is one part which is a bit more fun: redecorating.
Yes, painting and so on can be a chore, but that’s not what we’re on about here. No, it’s time to put together a new furniture arrangement! Because it’s the first place for the family to all get together and spend some quality time in each other’s company, we’re going to be focusing on the living room, but it’s important not to neglect the rest of the house!
Here are our top tips; use them for a fabulous new living room.
Dividers
If you have a particularly large living room, one of the most popular things to do these days is to divide it up into smaller zones which can be used as conversation areas. Rearrange the furniture so that the majority of the seating faces the room’s focal point, whether that’s the 56 inch television, a fantastic ocean view or a magnificent Victorian fireplace.
A larger living room also allows for greater versatility and customisability, so try putting some of the bigger items of furniture on a diagonal to create a bit of visual pop. Use a rug to anchor the centre of each area of seating, if you have more than one.
If you like having people over for games, whether it’s Baccarat or Monopoly, consider placing a separate gaming area at the opposite end of the room to the television. This means that you can have two distinct groups – the gamers can enjoy their fun without fear of upsetting the TV watchers when Kamchatka is finally captured in that tense game of Risk!
Finally, if you are lucky enough to have an open plan living/dining room, put some sort of divider between the two so that it’s more easily distinguishable. Whether that divider is a settee or a curtain is up to you!
Stay Casual
Sure, you’ve got your plush sofa and chair set, but why not make things über-casual when you have guests over and provide them with beanbags and cushions to sit on? This works especially well if you have a fireplace or a large television combined with too few seats, and gives the whole room a laid-back aura.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve chosen conservatory-style furniture from www.2furnish.co.uk or you’ve gone for a retro vibe – casual seating can really loosen things up a bit.
If your living room is more compact, think about ditching the three piece suite in favour of four or five chairs which face each other; this facilitates easy conversation.
Quiet Zone
For an empty corner that you’re struggling to populate, simply pop in a cosy chair, or two if you have the room. Use this as a reading area or just a place to do the crossword. Put a little table in between the two for drinks and the like – lovely!