The living room: a place to call home

The living room is one the most visible rooms in the house. We invite family and friends there for special occasions. It is a sanctuary where we can relax at the end of a busy day. It should therefore be made a welcoming, comfortable living area. The following ideas will help you achieve this goal. Let’s visit the living room.

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The room’s function
Furnishings and styles
Colour inspiration
Spotlight on floors
Curtains, sheers, blinds and more
Lighting
The magic of accessories
The art of furniture arranging
Decorating the walls
Decorating solutions for common problems

The room’s function

Designing the living room can sometimes be a puzzle because of its different potential uses. So, before deciding on style and colour, you need to know its function. Will it be used daily as a family room or reserved for more occasional visits from relatives and friends? Will there be a reading corner or an office area? Do you want to include a television or will that be reserved for the home theatre?

The room will be designed according to its main function. If it is reserved for "visiting" then it is a more formal room where aesthetics and decorative aspects will take precedence over durability of furnishings. In that case, a sofa in a delicate fabric or a chair with an original design (but not necessarily ergonomic) may be in order. In a living room that also serves as a daily place to relax, comfort and convenience will take priority, as it will be the most frequented room in the house.

Now you know what you want? Let’s talk decorating!

Furnishings and styles

Sofas and chairs are central elements of the decor. The style of these will set the general style of the room. Furniture with straight, clean lines is very "in" right now. But new trends are looking toward more ample, contoured forms. You intend to buy new furniture? Given the variety of models, choosing is not easy. Sofa or loveseat? Sectional or reclining? Armchair with or without footrest? Available space will play a big role in your decision. A loveseat with two armchairs will be easier to fit into a small room than an L- or U-shaped sectional unit. Or you may opt for a condo sofa, longer than a loveseat but smaller than a three-person sofa. Intended use will also influence your choice. For watching television or reading, deep, comfortable seating is better. Firmer, upright armchairs are more suitable for the office corner or conversation area. In response to the demand for home theatres, manufacturers now offer sofas and armchairs with built-in speakers; some even vibrate. Chaise longues or recliners with footrests are a favourite with more and more people, and understandably so. Just try one — you’ll love the comfort. But they do take up a lot of space and are therefore better suited to larger rooms.

Once you have decided on style and form, it is time to think of coverings. Here again, the choice is wide: leather, fabric, natural fibre, even suede. Leather is resistant and easy to care for. Small spills disappear with a quick wipe of the cloth. But watch out for sharp objects. Leather needs to be treated occasionally with a special coating product to keep it supple and prevent it from cracking. Leather can be shiny, giving a colder look, or matte, which looks warmer. Woven fabrics are more resistant than printed fabrics. Always check that the weave is tight, otherwise the stitches may catch and pull loose. Coverings in natural fibres (wool, cotton) should be reserved for the formal sitting room because they do not stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Suede microfibre, which appeared a few years ago, quickly gained popularity for its durability and easy care. This is ideal for the much-used family room.

If you want to work around several existing pieces of furniture, think of giving your sofa a second life with a slipcover. Available in a wide variety of colours and models, they can be adapted to any style of sofa.

Coffee tables play a decorative and practical role. A centre table is placed in front of the sofa, at just the right distance. Placed too close, it will hinder circulation. Too far away, it will not be harmonious, and it will be difficult for people sitting on the sofa to reach. End tables are a good place to stand lamps for extra lighting and to display accessories. Tables with shelves underneath add useful storage space. For small rooms, go for nesting tables (very practical because they stack away into each other) or glass tables, which appear weightless. Large footstools serving as tables are losing popularity. These are being replaced by pouffes or multipurpose footrests with removable, easy-clean slipcovers, making it easy to change the look as desired.

For the television and other electronic appliances, a closable storage hutch is always a good choice, as long as you have room for it. It should blend in with the decor and not overwhelm it. If the room is small, it may be better to put the television and its accessories on a small stand to free up space. Corner cabinets are significant space savers. Wall units are more discreet but just as useful with their open or closed storage capacity.

If the room is going to include an office area, you will need to choose furnishings that fit well with the decor. The conventional, wood veneer office desk rarely integrates well with the rest of the furniture. Better to go with a table that matches the style of the room. If you work long hours there, choose an ergonomic chair (which could be covered in a fabric matching the decor). If the office is for occasional use only, opt for a chair or armchair that can be used for everyday seating as well. To store books and knick-knacks, a bookcase, high or low, is essential.

Colour inspiration

For colour choices, let a painting, a cushion or even a sofa cover inspire you. Avoid the mistake of first choosing your colour then looking for furniture to match. This will be very difficult. Think of furniture in classic neutral tones (beige, grey) that harmonize with a large palette of wall colours. Or, if you decide on a brightly coloured sofa (very trendy), go for sober tones on the walls. To create a look that will always be in style, choose black and white, the eternal duo. Monochrome, using one colour in several tones, also stands the test of time. You can then easily add accent colour using accessories. For those who want to create a decor using colours currently in vogue, keep in mind that pastels are back. The new ranges of shades are joyful and tasteful. Tones of nature, like botanical green, sand or earth, are very popular.

What kind of finish should you choose? Ideally, a flat, velvet or pearl finish is best. A surface painted with a flat – or matte – colour is less noticeable, which is great for hiding imperfections. This type of paint gives the room a soft, velvety appearance. A pearl finish is less shiny than satin or gloss. Satin finishes are used to make mouldings stand out. For doors, window frames and furniture, gloss finishes are best because of their resistance to stains.
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