When it comes to decorating our living rooms, it's easy to get swept up in the latest trends. The colour everyone is painting their walls, the sofa style all over Instagram, or the flooring pattern you keep seeing on Pinterest. But trends come and go, and what feels fresh today can feel dated in just a couple of years. At The Living House, we believe in creating living rooms that stand the test of time. Here are our top tips for creating a timeless living room you'll love for years to come.

Use straight plank flooring for a timeless look

Flooring is one of the biggest investments when making changes to a room. It's costly and needs to last for years to come, which is why choosing the right type is so important. You may have found yourself swooning over the on-trend herringbone patterned flooring you've seen all over Instagram and Pinterest, but will you still like it in a couple of years? Will it feel too busy in the space? We often find this is the case with very large herringbone patterns. That's why we recommend timeless straight plank flooring for hard floors - it will last for years, won't look too busy, and you won't find yourself wondering 'why did we choose this?'

Whether you're opting for engineered wood or LVT, take time to consider what will genuinely have longevity. It's also important to consider the period of your home. If you have a period property, herringbone can look excellent, especially in traditional parquet style, as it can appear to have always been there.

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Choose the colour of your flooring wisely

As we're on the subject of flooring, the colour of your floor is just as important as the style in creating a timeless living room. Years ago, everything went grey: grey sofas, grey flooring, grey walls. But now everyone is trying to move away from grey and embrace more natural colours. If you have grey flooring now, you've likely grown tired of it. This is why we recommend opting for natural flooring colours such as oak or walnut. These are timeless wood finishes that won't date in a few years. Of course, when choosing your wooden flooring, you need to consider the tones carefully, ensuring the oak doesn't look too orange or too pale. Getting the wood colour right will ensure your flooring investment remains beautiful and timeless for years to come.

Timeless Oak Living Room Flooring — Source: Amtico

Why brass is a timeless finish for modern and traditional living rooms

At The Living House, we love using brass finishes in our customers' design schemes. Brass adds warmth compared to cool-toned finishes like chrome. It's a classic finish that gives a room a timeless feel. Whether your interiors are traditional or modern, brass works beautifully with both styles. You can incorporate brass into your living room in numerous ways: through lighting, curtain poles, vases, accessories, handles, plug sockets, and switches.

Brass Finishes For A Timeless Living Room

How to choose curtains that will be timeless

Curtains can vary in price and it all depends on your budget and how much you're willing to invest. Whether you opt for ready-made curtains or invest in made-to-measure options, there are a few tips to ensuring they are timeless.

First and foremost, always opt for floor length curtains. Shorter curtains can date a room and feel unfinished, whereas floor length adds height and draws the eye up along with creating a beautiful timeless look.

For ready-made curtains, we recommend avoiding an eyelet heading and instead opting for a pencil pleat. A pencil pleat heading is a classic style that will have longevity and will look more expensive too!

With made-to-measure curtains, the options are endless. We would consider a pencil pleat, deep pencil pleat, pinch pleat, or a wave heading. We think all four of these heading types will give you a timeless living room. Wave heading is more contemporary, but because it creates such a simple, sleek look, it has a timeless quality.

Timeless Living Room Curtain Ideas — Source: Three Girls

Jute Rugs are a timeless choice for your living room

Jute rugs are a great option for creating a timeless living room, as they are seen as a natural texture and with their sandy appearance they add warmth to a living room. What we love about jute rugs, is they don't have to cost the earth and are very forgiving when it comes to family life with any muddy paws and spillages.

Why natural finishes are the key to a timeless living room

Natural finishes will last for years to come when choosing your staple pieces for your living room such as wood, marble, cotton and linen. Think of using these timeless finishes in your key furniture pieces such as your coffee table, sideboards, sofas, basically the main pieces within the room. They may cost more but see these as investment pieces for your living room that will stand the test of time.

Buy what you love, not the trend

At the heart of every timeless living room is something you absolutely love, not because it's trending or the latest thing, but because it genuinely speaks to you. When you truly love something, you're unlikely to ever tire of it. It might be a sentimental piece you inherited, a work of art that reminds you of your favourite place or an artist you love, a memento from a memorable holiday, or a piece of furniture you lovingly upcycled. These are the pieces that you’ll always love, unlike the vase or armchair everyone seems to have right now, which you may find yourself disliking within a year.

Timeless Living Room Built In Shelves And Accessories

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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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