1 – Define your needs
The living room is a living room that often combines functions. In a studio or in a small apartment, the living room sometimes also serves as a bedroom. Another classic is the space combining living and dining areas. With the emergence of teleworking, the living room can now also be improvised as an office.
To design your living room, it is important to first determine what your needs are, and structure the space accordingly.
2 – Invest the available space
Too often still, the reflex is to arrange the living room by scrupulously aligning the furniture against the walls. However, this option is far from being the most effective for optimizing space! To design your living room, do not hesitate to experiment: you could well save space.
In addition to moving the sofa away from the wall, dare to use an angled orientation: not only does this bring dynamism to the room, but in addition, it becomes possible to install a sofa larger than you imagined!
The fact of freeing the wall sections of the living room allows you to use them by installing storage or a desk, depending on your needs.
3 – Respect the proportions
While it is possible to arrange the living room furniture in such a way as to save space, it is nonetheless impossible to push the walls. While this can be frustrating, it’s important to resist the temptation to overcrowd the room: the living room should remain a space in which you can move around smoothly. When choosing armchairs and sofas, the trick is to respect the proportions.
Even in a space of XXL dimensions, it is important to avoid rooms that are too large. Two sofas are thus smarter and just as functional as a single, overly massive model.
In a small living room, we focus on small-sized furniture, favoring rounded shapes, which make each room appear more compact than it really is.
4 – Structure the space
When the living room combines different functions – and in particular an office area – it is essential to structure the space well. And contrary to popular belief, it is all the more important in a small living room.
The sofa is most often the most imposing part of the living room. Well positioned, it easily acts as a partition, allowing for example to isolate the corner dedicated to the office.
The framework in a living room under the eaves, or a simple window in a traditional apartment: each feature of the room can become an ally to subtly structure the room.
Simple and effective: color is a widely proven option for shaping the space, especially in the living room.
If it is tempting to arrange the furniture against the walls, it is because it helps to create an enveloping, reassuring and very cocooning effect. If you opt for an installation in the center of the room, bet on a carpet – or on an accumulation – to recreate this bubble effect.
5 – Take care of the lights
Light plays a major role in the living room. Of course, it is essential to be able to read comfortably, or to be able to relax in a very cozy atmosphere. But this is far from the only function of the lights in the living room!
While large volumes are appreciable, they can also turn out to be a little chilly! To create an intimate and warm space after dark, trust lighting. When the ceiling height is important, choose suspensions that fall low enough.
In a small living room, the rule governing the choice of lighting is the same as that governing the choice of furniture: respect the proportions. We therefore rely on more discreet lighting, even if it means multiplying the light points. In order to visually enlarge the space, we also take care to illuminate every nook and cranny.
6 – Take care of the choice of colors
To be able to relax in your living room, it is important that you feel good there: no way, therefore, to neglect the decoration, and in particular the choice of colors.
Dynamic colors like yellow, red or orange create an energizing atmosphere. They are ideal for creating a cheerful atmosphere in the living room.
Cool colors are a good choice if you want to set up a lounge dedicated to relaxation and relaxation.
Adept of the cocooning lounge, bet on muted colors and neutral shades. This type of palette is particularly smart if you are the type to quickly get bored of your decor, because you just need to play with the accessories to quickly revamp the room.
7 – think about storage
Books, DVDs, not to mention the television… There is no shortage of things to cram in the living room. No question, therefore, of neglecting storage. Storage units with facades are an excellent choice, as they have a large storage capacity.
One of the smartest pieces in the living room is the TV cabinet / storage unit combo. To bring it a little lightness, think of suspended furniture, asymmetrical … or both at the same time!