Five Elements of a Well Designed Living Room

So, your living room isn’t quite how you want it and you’re not sure where to start. Maybe it feels a bit flat or isn’t suited to the way you live. Perhaps you’ve downsized and the furniture you loved in your previous home doesn’t quite work in the new one.

We spend so much time in our living rooms. Whether the kids are relaxing on the couch, you’re entertaining friends or watching Selling Sunsets (don’t judge me!) the room needs to feel comfortable and work for everyday life.

I love helping people bring together the things they already own with carefully chosen new pieces. Sometimes a few changes are all it takes. Here are five elements I recommend looking at to help pull your living room together.

1. Artwork that Means Something to you

Choose artwork you love. It might be an original painting, a print collected on your travels or a framed drawing by your children. Pieces with a personal connection help make a home feel like yours.

Pay attention to scale. Above a substantial sofa, one small artwork can look lost. Choose a larger piece or group several smaller works to give the arrangement enough presence.

Hang artwork in relation to the furniture around it. Above a sofa or console, it should feel connected to the piece below. 

Designer Tip: When hanging art, the centre of the piece should be at eye level. For gallery wall I recommend laying the arrangement out on the floor before making holes.

2. Lighting for different levels

Include more than an overhead light. A combination of table lamps, floor lamps and one of my favourites, wall lights, gives you more control over how the room feels and functions.

Place a reading light beside your favourite chair and use table lamps to bring softer light into the seating area. Wall lights are a good option where floor space is limited.

I recommend warm white light for living areas and dimmers where practical. For reading, choose a light that provides enough brightness and directs it where you need it.

Think about lighting early so power points and wiring are in the right places. 

Designer Tip: Opt for warm toned light bulbs to create a cosy and inviting feel. Use brighter, cooler toned bulbs for task lighting in reading nooks or workspaces.

3. Rugs: Size Matters

I am a big fan of rugs! A rug adds warmth, colour and texture. It also connects the seating and helps define the living area particularly where you have an open plan area.

Choose a rug large enough for at least the front legs of your sofa and armchairs to sit on it. A small rug floating between the furniture can make the arrangement feel disconnected.

Before ordering, mark out the size on your floor with painter’s tape. Check it against the furniture, doorways and walkways.

If you’re starting from scratch, a rug can also guide the room’s colour palette. I often pull colours from it for upholstery, cushions and artwork.

Designer Tip: If you're unsure about the right size, if in doubt, I recommend going larger.

4. A Mix of Materials & Textures

A room with plenty of hard surfaces can feel cold, even when the colours work well together. Timber floors, a large television and streamlined cabinetry often need some softness around them.

Introduce a mix of materials through upholstery, curtains, rugs and cushions. Linen, wool, velvet, leather and timber each bring a different quality to a room.

You don’t need lots of accessories. A textured rug, curtains and a few well-chosen cushions may be enough. If you prefer a quiet colour palette, vary the textures to keep it interesting.

Build on what you already own. An older timber table or a favourite armchair can bring character to newer pieces.

Designer Tip: These sheers in the image above create a soft and luxe look in this space. They pair beautifully with the timber dining table for a warm and floaty look.

5. Greenery with the right scale and placement

Greenery brings a natural element into a living room and helps soften its edges.

Choose plants to suit the available light and the amount of care you’re happy to give them. One substantial plant can have more impact than several small pots scattered around the room.

Consider the pot as part of the design. Its size, material and colour should work with the plant and the furnishings around it.

I also like to cut a few branches from the garden and arrange them in a vase. It’s a simple way to bring greenery indoors without adding another plant to look after. 

Designer Tip: If you’re worried about keeping plants alive, opt for succulents or even faux plants. I like to keep it simple and snip a few branches or greenery from the garden to pop in a vase as it’s one of the easiest ways to spruce up a space.

Need help bringing your room together?

You don’t need to replace everything at once. Start by identifying what works, what you want to keep and where the room needs attention.

A Design Consultation can help you make those decisions. Whether you’re updating one room, working with existing furniture or planning new purchases, I’ll give you practical recommendations and a clear starting point.

Visit lninteriors.au to learn more or book a free discovery call.

Lorraine Newnham
LN Interiors | Canberra & Surrounds