living room
for small living rooms, “You can trick a room into looking bigger by choosing furniture that’s comparatively modest in size,” Byrne says. “A large sofa in a small room, for example, will dwarf the space and accentuate its diminutive size. Choose a two-seater sofa, of compact design and raised on legs. This will allow for a greater sense of space and flow. Apply the same logic to every piece of furniture you choose.”Dorsch recommends bringing in a focal point. “That way, the living room’s smaller proportions won’t dominate and you’ll give the room its own identity,” she says. “Try a large piece of art or a fabulous chandelier to create a sense of indulgence.” “Add a built-in eccentricity that will give a personal touch to a small space,” Hill says. “It could be an oriel window where you can curl up and read a book, or a built-in seating space that ends up being used as a table by the little ones. “By taking a leap and introducing something bespoke and unexpected, you’ll bring up surprises,” he adds. “Each user will find a different purpose for it, making the room more personal and dynamic.”
for small living rooms, The best way to maximize storage in your small living room is to go for customized cabinets and shelves, rather than freestanding ones. “Use every millimeter of space,” says Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design. She suggests a balance of open shelves and closed storage. “Lots of open shelving can make a smaller living room feel oppressive and cluttered,” she says. “Storage that’s painted in the same color as your walls will not only give you somewhere to put stuff, it will also recede into the background.”
discussion greige with specific color examples
Neutral Sofas in Performance Fabric There was a time when few homeowners took the gamble on having a white or other light neutral-colored sofa in a living room. The inevitable spills and stains were too much of a deal-breaker. But with innovations in stain-resistant fabric, that’s no longer the case. Durable, easy-to-clean fabrics from companies like Sunbrella, Crypton and Perennials mean homeowners can now more confidently embrace light upholstered furniture. Designer Corinne C. Acampora of Acampora Interiors used a large sectional with white Crypton performance fabric to keep this Brookline, Massachusetts, family room feeling light and bright.
"In the space here, the television is set very close to the ideal viewing height from the sofa (the center of this TV looks to be ideally set at 42 inches above the floor), and yet the room focus feels equally balanced between the outside view, the fireplace and the television." How wonderful not to have the TV the only focus! Could cover it with a picture, of course.
built in cabinets and TV monitor
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