Designing a living room often starts with one thought: 'Once we choose the perfect sofa, everything else will fall into place.' But here's the reality: the sofa is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle. From layout and lighting to rugs and traffic flow, there are countless decisions that transform a room from 'fine' to 'exactly what you've been dreaming of.' We're sharing our do's and don'ts to help you design a living room that's not just beautiful, but actually works for how you live.

Green Sofa And Pink Walls For Living Room

DO plan the layout first

Planning the layout carefully is vital for creating a living room that actually flows and works. It's not just about where the sofa goes. You need to consider storage placement, how many people can comfortably sit, and whether rugs are needed to zone the space. Figuring out the layout at the start also means you'll know exactly where to place lighting, which is particularly helpful if you're renovating and adding or changing plug sockets and light switches. We start all of our customer design schemes with the layout to ensure the room can do what they need it to.

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DO choose a colour scheme in the beginning

Deciding on a colour scheme in the early stages gives you a clear guide to stick to throughout the entire design process, which helps prevent you from going off track as you shop. It also means you're far less likely to make costly purchasing mistakes. When you're browsing for cushions, throws, artwork, or accessories, you'll already know exactly what colours and patterns you're searching for, making shopping more focused and efficient.

DO get samples

Samples are essential when designing your living room, from paint colours and flooring to sofa, curtain, and blind fabrics. We would never purchase or choose colours without ordering a sample first. You need to actually see the fabric or paint in the light of your room and alongside everything else it needs to work with. How a sofa fabric looks in a store or how a paint colour appears on a chart can be very different once you have it in your own home. Always get samples to ensure you avoid any costly mistakes. You'll also have the samples to take with you when you're out shopping, making sure everything works together.

DO layer your lighting

Layering up the lighting can help you achieve that warm, cosy, and inviting living room you've been dreaming of. You want to add pockets of lighting throughout the room, from table lamps and floor lamps to wall lights, which will give you a mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting. For instance, a floor lamp next to the armchair acts as a reading light, while a table lamp on the side table adds height to the space and creates cosiness. Layering up the lighting has also become much easier in recent years with the rise of battery and rechargeable table lamps, floor lamps, and wall lights. The bonus? No electrician is needed to instantly add light to your space. And of course, don't forget the main ceiling light (otherwise known as the big light!). Yes, it may not be turned on very often, but this can be a feature in the room that draws the eye upward. That's why it's important to get the scale right when choosing lights. Too small and it will look lost in the room. Even in smaller living rooms, we recommend going for a substantial size ceiling light.

DO mix patterns and textures

Patterns and textures are what bring a living room to life and make a space feel interesting and curated. Without a mix of patterns and textures, a living room can feel flat and one-dimensional. But we understand that knowing how, when, and where to use pattern and texture can feel daunting. This is something most of our customers say they struggle with. They want to incorporate patterns, but they don't know how to do it confidently. You could opt for a textured sofa paired with a patterned armchair and footstool, then layer up the textures with cushions and throws. It's all about gradually building it up, and it doesn't need to be in the larger pieces of furniture. The smaller soft furnishings are often where patterns can come in most easily, allowing you to experiment without committing to a bold sofa or rug.

How To Mix Pattern and Texture In Living Room

DON’T forget storage

Storage is something that's often overlooked when planning a living room, as it can be seen as boring and not the exciting part. However, incorporating plenty of storage is going to be essential to making your living room work better for you, especially in a busy family home where you may need to store books, toys, and everything else family life throws at you. Storage doesn't have to be boring either. There are clever ways to add storage, from footstools with hidden compartments and coffee tables with drawers to built-in window seats and alcove units. These solutions keep clutter at bay while adding functionality and style to your living room, meaning you can maintain that beautiful, curated look without sacrificing practicality.

DON’T choose a rug that's too small

This is one of our favourite tips, as adding a rug to your living room can make such a difference. Not only can it bring the space together and help zone furniture, but it can also warm up the living space and make it feel cosy. However, when choosing a rug, it's important to go large and avoid choosing one that's too small for the area. The main thing is you don't want a small rug floating in the middle of the room. Instead, you want at least the front feet of your sofa and chairs to sit on top of the rug so that it anchors the seating area.

The Living House Living Room Mid Century Modern Design Online Interior Design

DON’T neglect the traffic flow

When planning the layout of your living room, you want to ensure you don't neglect the traffic flow and how you're actually going to be able to walk around the space comfortably. When designing our customers' layouts, we always take into consideration the path of travel and the space between furniture. A great way to see how the traffic flow is going to work in reality is to use masking tape to mark out the furniture on the floor once you have your layout sorted. You'll then be able to walk around the space and know whether that sofa is a little too deep or if you'll be knocking into the side table every time you enter the room. This simple step can save you from expensive furniture mistakes and ensure your living room functions as well as it looks.

DON’T believe everything you see you instagram

Instagram is a great source for home inspiration, but remember it isn't always the reality. That perfectly styled corner of someone's living room will likely have a messy area just behind it (Instagram vs. reality!). This also links to trends. Go with something because you really love it, not because it's a trending style or product you're currently seeing everywhere on Instagram right now. Trends come and go, but if you truly love something, it will never date. Design choices made from genuine personal preference rather than following what's popular will stand the test of time and ensure your living room feels authentically yours, not like a carbon copy of every other home on your feed.

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DON’T buy the matching furniture set

When it comes to buying furniture for your living room, avoid going for the matching set. Opt for a mix with your sofas, armchairs, and furniture pieces. This will create a well-designed and thoughtful space that looks considered and curated over time rather than bought all in one go. Mixing up your furniture and upholstery works especially well with the transitional interior design style. Instead of a sofa and armchair in identical fabrics, try pairing a textured sofa with a patterned armchair, or mix different wood finishes in your coffee table and side tables. The key is to ensure your pieces are tied together through your colour scheme and overall style direction, so the mix feels intentional rather than random.

If you want to avoid costly design mistakes, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re looking for guidance on choosing a colour scheme, struggling with your room layout, or planning a full redesign, we can take the stress away and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee and can work to any budget, large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!

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