Room of the Day: How to Create a Living Room that Makes a Bright First Impression

The living room is usually the place where we spend most of our free time at home. We could be sitting there by ourselves, entertaining some guests, or simply having a cup of coffee with our loved one. Because of this, we want to make it as comfortable and as beautiful as possible. We buy a new sofa, a new coffee table or a side table, but we often forget about the details that complete the look. Things like decorative pillows, mirrors, vases, rugs or even shutters, can make or break the space if you don’t choose carefully.

Decorate With Cushions

Using cushions is one of the easy ways to spruce up your living room. They’re a nice inexpensive solution to adding a new flare to the space. When it comes to buying cushions Australia has a lot to offer. But before going to the store or ordering them online, there are some things you should take into consideration. The first one is size.

Getting the right dimensions is crucial so they don’t overtake the sofa or get lost in it. The standard size for a cushion is 50cm. Of course, you have smaller and bigger options as well. You can play with sizes and arrange them in different ways, so you get a different look with each set. Then there’s the shape which is also a big factor. The most common one is square because it pairs with any furniture, a sofa, bench, couch or chair.

The rectangle is next in line. This shape works well with chairs or the centre of the couch. There are box-shaped cushions which are very interesting to the eye but hard to implement in small spaces and sofas. Bolster cushions work well as armrests at the end of the sofa or in the bedroom as a decoration. You might think round cushions are outdated, but if you combine them with other shapes, they can make any room cheerful and pretty.

When it comes to colour, cushions should match the overall pallet of the room. You can either combine them with the furniture or pair them with the curtains, rugs, or flooring. If the room’s pallet is neutral, you can go with brighter coloured cushions to add some contrast. But if the pallet is already vivid, you can add neutral-coloured cushions to tone down the place.

Be bold and add some patterns as well. You have so many choices, geometrical shapes, flowers, lines, polka dots and so much more. One patterned pillow can make all the difference. If you want to experiment, the texture is always something you can go for. This way you can add complexity and brightness to the room. You can choose from linen, leather, faux, silk, wool even velvet. All of them are different, some fluffy, some silky and some a bit harsh. It all depends on your personal preferences.

Spread the Rug

Your living room can be easily transformed with the right rug. You can add brightness to a space that has dark walls, floors, or furniture. You can move it around to divide the room and set a theme. Because a rug is a fantastic way to bring colour and texture to any area, it will for sure complement and improve the interior décor. Plus, it softens our footsteps and reduces slips and falls, which means fewer injuries.

The rug can serve as a disguise for any imperfections or cover up any cracks and crevices you may have in the flooring. Rooms with hardwood flooring can be very acoustic, and rugs are excellent sound absorbers. Their capacity to retain heat and make the area warmer is another extra feature. The rug has the power to bring cohesion to the space, help you express your personal style and set the tone for the room.

Take into consideration the number of family members, your maintenance time, and whether you own a pet, before choosing the material. Jute is one of the most popular materials. It’s durable, sustainable, looks natural and it’s very easy to clean and maintain. Wool rugs bring comfort to another level. They’re warm and soft, regulate their temperature and absorb moisture better than any other material. People with small children often choose wool because it’s hypoallergenic and easy to clean.

Nylon rugs are affordable, low maintenance and great for families with pets and small children because they’re not absorbent and won’t hold stains. Cotton is a breathable and non-absorbent material. It’s affordable and low maintenance. Plus, it comes in many different colours, patterns, and weaves, so you can combine them with the large variety of cushions Australia has. Sisal is probably the least popular material, but it’s worth buying. It’s eco-friendly, biodegradable, easy to clean and breathable.

Complement With Shutters

You shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to the living room’s decor. With window shutters, you can effortlessly control the level of privacy and brightness in the room while also boosting its appearance. This will define the style of the shutters. If the windows don’t face the sunny side, you’ll want shutters that let in as much light as possible. But if the windows overlook the neighbours, you’ll want shutters that offer a lot of privacy. You have plenty of styles to choose from:

• Full height – full coverage, easy to install, variety of colours;
• Tier on tier – unique aesthetic, practical, stylish, easy configuration;
• Café style – less privacy, easy to adjust, chic appeal;
• Waterproof – moisture resistant, made from ABS, work in every room;
• Tracked – good privacy, nice aesthetics;
• Shaped – don’t take extra space, available in many shapes;
• Blackout – extra insulation, achieve near blackout, easily controlled;
• Solid panel – block noise, good insulation, stylish.

Embrace Art

A well-styled living room should have at least one art piece implemented into its design. Art is a perfect way to add colour, dimension, and harmony to a space. Of course, the first thing to consider is size. Large paintings can conceal a small room and small paintings can get lost in bigger living rooms. They can also visually aid the room. Placing a painting horizontal makes the room wider, and vertical placement makes it higher.

When deciding on the colour of the artwork, you should think about the colour of the furniture, walls, curtains, floor, and ceiling. The wall will be the background of the painting, and you can create contrast or match the colours and let the frame stand out. When it comes to style you have many options. If you like minimalism, one large piece of gorgeous canvas wall art will be enough. Place it in the centre of the wall and don’t let it have more than three colours.

If you like the classics, a panoramic landscape will be perfect. You can also get a portrait of famous painters, poets, or artists, or even have one custom-made for you. If Scandinavian is your style, keep it simple, airy, and spacious. Use delicate colours and images of animals, plants, birds, and nature. It should be modest, simple, and elegant. Black and white photographs are great for loft-style living rooms. Maps, portraits, and posters framed with garlands over a brick wall look amazing.