SITTING ROOMS

FABULOUS!!

Q

NARROW MODERN ROOM YET LOOKS INVITING

Q

BLUSH COLOURS

Q

West Elm UK SaveEmail Suite success In a small living room, if you have the space, one large sofa instead of multiple small pieces cuts the feeling of clutter and makes the room look less cramped. Again, choose a sofa that’s raised from the ground: the space between the floor and the sofa base keeps the floor on view. Warm up the floor with a generous rug that visually pulls the various elements of the space together. “It should sit almost half way under the sofa and cover all of the seating area,” says Alexeeva. “A small rug will disjoint the area and make the pieces of furniture look random and chaotic, making the space look even smaller than it is.” How you arrange your small living room can also affect your perception of space. “If you have a big window in the room, arrange the sofa to face it, so that when you or your guests are sitting down, they’re focusing on the open-air space rather than your small room,” advises Wilson. A simple way to trick the eye is to pull furniture slightly away from the wall, as seen here. Creating a small gap gives the illusion that the wall is further away than it actually is.

Q

Exercise spatial awareness Measure your room and check the dimensions of any furniture that’s caught your eye before making any purchases. That way, you can make sure that new pieces don’t end up overwhelming your space. And again, if you have modern floor-to-ceiling windows, as in this new-build, aim to let light through rather than block it with too-big furniture. It’s also important to think about foot traffic, and to be prepared to part company with some pieces of furniture to create a space that you can move around in. “Place furniture so that there’s good flow around the space,” says Painter. “Only keep what you need. Remember that in a small space, less is definitely more.” Once you’ve decided what to ditch and what to keep, consider how much space you need around each item. For example, a dining chair doesn’t always live under the table: you need to allow space to pull out a chair and for comfortable sitting. “It sounds simple, but if you get this wrong you’ll really notice it,” adds Painter.

Q

Celia James SaveEmail Boost light levels As already mentioned, new-build flats often lack interesting architectural features, so use multiple light sources to create instant interest after dark. For example, team downlights with lamps, which will inject drama and warmth into a room. Beware of using too many lamps: they’re great for mood lighting, but they can create a sense of clutter if you don’t have enough surfaces to perch them on. A couple of carefully sited lamps will serve your purposes better – there are lots of wall-lights on the market that don’t need wiring in to save even more space. Catherine Gillespie of Homeconcepts recommends dimmable lighting in a small space: that way, you keep surfaces clear but can adapt light levels to the time of day and the atmosphere you want to create. Mirrors are an excellent space enhancer, too, reflecting the natural light you have and creating more, thus enlarging the look and feel of a space. “Think about what will be reflected, and position your mirror to create the most pleasing effect,” explains Painter. “For example, a reflected pendant can transform a room and a mirror placed to reflect the outside view can make a room feel mo...

Q

Mix it up with wallpaper If panelling alone feels too severe, consider having your interiors cake and eating it, too, with a mixture of elements. In this room, bold panels of walllpaper break it up. Used alone, the wallpaper might have been overpowering; by contrast, floor-to-ceiling panelling could have felt a touch gloomy.

Q

Paul Craig Photography SaveEmail Create instant period grandeur Installing period-look panelling from floor to ceiling is a fast track to an elegant, country manor look, as shown in this living room in a Victorian villa. The panelling and beading might look original, but here it’s actually a well-crafted imitation. When considering panelling, think about the proportions of your room: in a smaller space, panelling half a wall might help it feel less cramped. Look for companies online that sell special, period-specific panels, either made to measure or off the peg. You can buy Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian designs, so consider the era of your property and what would be most sympathetic to its design.

Q