What Makes The Perfect Living Room?

The dining room and bedroom can make good cases in their favour but, in my mind, the is no more important room than the living room. The bedroom's main purpose is to be a place of relaxation, where as the dining room is more of a social meeting place; the living room, however, is a room which has to combine both aspects. As the physical and social hub of the home, the choices you make in the living room will have quite an impact throughout the rest of the home.

What makes the perfect living room?

As well and balancing relaxation and sociability, the living room must also blend style with functionality, and your own taste with that of your guests. It can be a lot to consider, which is why I've separated all of the main aspects into one easy list. If you have any other suggestions, get in touch via the comments section below.

Identity - Every living room must have its own identity. It doesn't have to have a strict theme, but every living room needs some kind foundation upon which to build. The interior above demonstrates a blend of contemporary 'loft' and industrial stripped back interior styles, drawing inspiration from traditional styles as well as some of the biggest trends of today. Whether you're into ultra-minimalism, European contemporary or mid-century design, your home should always have a distinct identity.

Space and Light - Space and light come hand in hand, and you can't have one without the other. Having a light and spacious room doesn't mean sticking to an extremely minimalistic style, removing all colour and having only one or two pieces of furniture though. Utilising space and light simply requires an understanding of the space in which you are working. In a smaller room, you'll need to utilise mirrors, windows and natural , nourished wood tones in order to emphasise space. If you're living room is on the large side, you can either emphasise light using open surfaces or bring the room together by using rugs and darker colours to manipulate late in your favour.

Flow - Keeping a sense of flow within your living room is exceptionally important when catering to the social, family aspect of your living room. There should be a sense of continuity and harmony in the living, conducive to genuine relaxation and comfort. Whether it is a flow of colour, light, design or space, it will be beneficial to your living room space. As an extension to this, you can create a similar flow room-to-room, extending a welcoming atmosphere throughout the home.

Colour - Colour can go a big way to dictating the mood of a room, as well as being a large factor in that all important first impression. Try to base colour on your own taste and sense of style, however, as they can be polarising - No matter how sweet and juicy the peach, there will always be some people who don't like peaches!

There is a lot to be said for the simplicity and cleanliness of simple white walls, but don't be afraid to make a personal statement with brightly painted walls or loud and expressive wallpaper patterns. Your living room is (probably) the place which guests will see most, so it's your best chance to express the kind of style that matters to you.

Architecture - Never try and make your home seem like something it isn't. A living room should be a place of peace and relaxation, and being in a constant battle against its shape, size or details can make it create a less than soothing atmosphere.

You'll find that working with your home is a far more pleasant experience than battling against it. If you have low ceilings in an old house, you're probably not going to be able to achieve the feeling of a New York penthouse. Embrace your home's weird spaces, awkward alcoves, big rooms and small rooms in order to end up with a home you can be proud of.

Finishing Touches - A cake is only as good as it's topping! Finishing touches can be anything from rugs to table lamps, there is quite a scope to work with. As long as your finishing touches work with your living room's identity, you can go with your instincts on this one. If it passes the 'eye test' then it's good to go!