Live in, not just for show: design experts reveal the secrets to a truly great living room

Forget flawlessly staged photos – real living rooms are messy, lived-in, and utterly vital. Interior design experts are ditching the magazine aesthetic, offering a refreshingly honest approach to creating spaces that truly work for everyday life. From lighting to layout, here’s how to build a living room that’s both beautiful and brilliantly practical.

The harsh truth: perfection is overrated

Henriette von Stockhausen isn't kidding when she says to ‘don’t be too precious.’ Those perfectly curated images? They’re illusions. Your home needs to withstand spills, muddy shoes, and the occasional chaotic family gathering. Authenticity wins every time.

Light & texture: the foundation of comfort

Warm, dim lighting is paramount. Color and texture are equally crucial, offering depth and visual interest. And sofas? Don’t treat them as an afterthought. A well-chosen sofa is the heart of the room.

Expert insights: practical wisdom

Susan Deliss stresses the importance of ‘thinking about how you’ll use your room and who will use it.’ Bunny Turner champions multi-functional spaces, advocating against the ‘once-a-year Christmas room’ scenario. Tamsin Saunders urges a minimalist approach: ‘Less is more.’

Size matters: scale and space

Overstuffing your home creates a feeling of confinement. Negative space is essential for allowing pieces to breathe. Tamsin Saunders advises, ‘Don’t overfill your house. You need to be able to see things to enjoy them.’ Consider the proportions – a rug that’s too small will look lost, while a too-large rug can overwhelm the space.

Period details: preserve the legacy

Tamsin Saunders reminds us that period homes carry a responsibility. ‘Do remember that a period home is a responsibility as well as a privilege.’ Preserve architectural details like architraves and skirting boards, and consider adding a cornice for elegance – Virginia White suggests.

Color considerations: drama and delight

Don’t be afraid to paint woodwork and ceilings in unexpected hues. Phoebe Hollond advocates for a striking contrast: ‘Paint up the biggest sample card you can and move it from wall to wall.’ Ensure your lighting complements your color scheme. Philip Hooper recommends painting the insides of lampshades a soft pink for flattering light.

Layered lighting: a multi-faceted approach

Philip Hooper advises a 5-amp lighting circuit for greater control. Utilize a mix of pendants, wall lights, and lamps to create a dynamic atmosphere. Adam Bray advises lighting from the ground up, prioritizing candles alongside electric lighting.

Blending old and new: a timeless approach

Heidi Caillier champions mixing antique and modern pieces. Lucy Cunningham suggests reupholstering vintage chairs and sourcing furniture at auctions. Incorporating ‘what’s old’ into ‘what’s new’ creates a uniquely personal space. Flora Soames highlights the grounding effect of antique pieces, softening new additions.

Planning is paramount: don’t guess

Philip Hooper delivers the blunt truth: ‘You cannot cover up bad proportions and layouts with decoration.’ Invest time in planning your lighting, furniture layout, and colour palette. Kelly Hoppen advocates for masking tape tests to ensure proper scale. Don’t skip the sketching stage!

Final thought: embrace the imperfect

As Joanna Plant wisely observes, ‘Antique or vintage pieces will help ground a room, knocking the edges off a newly decorated room helping it feel settled and easy to be in.’ A lived-in home is a happy home.