The living room is one of the most-used spaces in any home, becoming a central hub to relax with family and entertain friends. From casual nights in front of the TV to weekends spent on the couch with a good book, the perfect living room should be comfortable, functional and of course beautifully designed and decorated!

With this said, we speak to many homeowners who struggle with finding the right balance between form and function when it comes to living room design. If you’re feeling that something might be a bit “off” with your own living room, you’ll be pleased to know it’s usually a quick fix and there is nearly always a simple solution to be found. 

We’ve spent years as interior designers working with clients from the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Byron Bay, so we’ve seen exactly what does and doesn’t work when it comes to the perfect living room. From furniture arrangements to lighting and colour choices, there are some key design elements to keep in mind when creating a living room that works best for you and your family.

So if you’re wondering how you can improve the design of your living room to create a more cohesive and practical space, read on for 3 of the most common reasons as to why your living room may not be working (and the simple steps you can take to resolve them!)

Incorrect furniture placement

The right floor plan and furniture layout for your living room is absolutely essential to maximising the most of the space and creating a good traffic flow.

If you’re struggling with furniture placement in your living room, our top tip is to move the furniture away from the walls. Bringing your sofa, tv unit, and any other bulky furniture items away from the wall and further into the space actually helps to create a more cosy and intimate feel. This eliminates having any blank, “dead” space in the centre of the room, which can be common when it comes to larger rooms with open plan living.

It’s also important to keep your entryways clear to allow for easy traffic flow in and out of the space. Nobody wants to walk into the back of the sofa, so be thoughtful with your furniture placement to ensure nothing is obstructed!

Not enough light

The living room can be one of the hardest spaces to get the lighting plan just right. Because the living room is used so frequently and for many different purposes - eg, reading a book, entertaining, watching TV - it can affect the demand for lighting at any one time.

Take a thoughtful approach to your lighting plan by first determining where you want your furniture positioned, and then working out which areas of your living room will require the most light according to how you anticipate people are going to be using the space.

It doesn’t all have to be ceiling lights either - for example, you can install powerpoints in the floor near sofa furniture in order to include a side table lamp. A floor lamp in the corner of the room can also help to make the space appear bigger than what it actually is!

Inconsistent style

When it comes to furniture and decor for your living room, your choices should all tie together harmoniously to achieve your desired style. If you start choosing furnishings for your living room before clearly defining the look and feel you want to achieve in the space, this can lead to inconsistencies with furniture that doesn’t work well together - which can then become jarring and awkward to the eye.

Before deciding on furniture, artwork and homewares for your living room, take a moment to really think about the style you want to achieve through the design. Do you want a light, coastal, Hampton’s inspired space? Or something more minimal, monochrome and Scandinavian?

Pinterest can be a great starting point to defining your interior design style and finding living room ideas and inspiration (you can check out some inspiration via our own Pinterest page here!), or alternatively you can employ the services of an interior designer or interior stylist for some recommendations and advice.

Designing and furnishing your living room doesn’t have to be complicated! If you’re feeling unsure about your own living room, try some of our simple design solutions above to improve the look and feel of your space. Remember - it’s all about that balance of form and function, so make sure you create a room that you’d want to spend time in.

Our interior designers are here to help at any time, with a range of full design services along with styling consultations for homes on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Byron Bay. You can get in touch with our team for more information!