Start with the layout
Decide where people look when they sit down. That focal point might be a window, a fireplace, a wall of shelves or the screen. Arrange the main seats to face it, then turn one chair or the end of the sofa slightly inward so people can also face each other.
- Keep main walkways around 80 to 90 cm wide where you can, so nobody squeezes past knees.
- Float the sofa off the wall if the room allows. Even a small gap, or a narrow console behind, makes the room feel less like a waiting area.
- Seats in a conversation group work best within about 2.5 to 3 metres of each other.
Proportions that look right
| Element | Common rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Coffee table length | Around two thirds of the sofa length |
| Coffee table gap | About 40 to 45 cm from the sofa edge, close enough to reach |
| Rug | Large enough for at least the front legs of every seat in the group |
| Art above a sofa | Roughly two thirds of the sofa width, lower edge 15 to 25 cm above the back |
| Art on an open wall | Centre of the picture or group at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor |
A rug that is too small is the most common reason a living room looks unfinished. If in doubt, go a size up.
Curtains and windows
Hang the pole higher and wider than the window frame. Placing it close to the ceiling, or at least well above the frame, and letting it extend past each side so open curtains sit mostly against the wall, makes the window look larger and lets in more daylight. Curtains that just touch or slightly kiss the floor look more relaxed than ones that stop at the sill.
Idea boards
Calm and green
Soft sage
Sage walls · Linen · Walnut · Charcoal
- Linen or cotton slipcovers in an off-white.
- Charcoal in small doses: a picture frame, a lamp base.
- One large leafy plant to echo the walls.
Earthy
Warm clay
Warm white · Clay · Tobacco · Moss
- Textured throws in clay and tobacco tones.
- Wood with visible grain rather than a high-gloss finish.
- Ceramics with an uneven glaze on the coffee table.
Light and airy
Quiet monochrome
Chalk · Pebble · Stone grey · Near-black
- Mix textures so single-colour schemes stay interesting: boucle, linen, wool.
- Black-framed prints in a loose grid.
- Warm bulbs to stop greys turning cold in the evening.
Finish with layers
Once the big pieces are placed, add in this order: lighting (see lighting layers), textiles such as cushions and a throw, then a few objects on surfaces (see shelf styling). Cushions look settled in odd numbers or in pairs with one contrasting cushion; mix one pattern, one plain and one texture rather than three busy prints.
Common mistakes
- Pushing every piece of furniture against the walls.
- Relying on a single ceiling light.
- Hanging art too high, so it floats away from the furniture under it.
- Buying a matching set of everything; a room looks collected when pieces differ a little.