Living room
Key Element: Natural Colors and Textures Farmhouses tend toward simple, natural color palettes. White is a popular choice for both interiors and exteriors (made especially crisp with black trim), but it’s not the only option. Look to the landscape for inspiration: golden wheat, pale straw, earthy browns, and natural blues and greens are welcome choices. Natural materials and textures also look right at home in a farmhouse — think of sturdy wood furniture, nubby natural-fiber rugs and finely textured linen.
20x20 Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters) Homeowners’ request. “This is actually my own development project, so I was both the client and the designer,” designer Gabriela Gargano says. “My vision for the home was to turn this petite 1950s bungalow into a warm yet contemporary home that had plenty of entertaining space, comfortably accommodates eight guests and felt chic in both summer and winter months.” Special features. White linen love seat. Jute rug. Crisp white walls (Delicate White by PPG Paints). Bleached and whitewashed floors. Nesting coffee tables. “We stuck to white, taupe, black and oak as the core theme and layered in some cool blues and natural tones for warmth and contrast,” Gargano says. “I think the art plays a big role in adding character to the space,” which “feels light and summery without being overtly beachy.”
How to pick a coffee table
Note painted eaves A lip edge or tray top on a coffee table is always a smart choice if you have a tendency to spill your coffee or have kids that will be using the coffee table for snacks and drinks. They’re also good if you entertain often and don’t want to worry about red wine getting spilled on your carpet. Coffee tables should be the same height as the surrounding seating, with 18 inches being a good average (although it will depend on your furniture). If you select a coffee table with a lip, make sure the lip isn’t higher than the adjacent seating, or you’ll end up hitting your drink against the lip when you try to set it down. The idea is to put your drink down, not up.
10. Consider conversational distances. No matter how big your living room, there’s a limit to how large a seating group can be and still make sense for intimate conversation and cozy gatherings. A good distance between seats to facilitate conversation is about 8 feet, meaning if you have several sofas or a sofa and side chairs, the seating area should have a diameter of 8 feet, or 4 feet out from the center. A huge, 12-seat sectional sofa may look great and be perfect for a party, but if you’re looking to create a cozy living room, it’s usually best to use fewer, smaller seating pieces and push them a little closer together.
5. Mix up your upholstery. Sure, most furniture stores give you the option of purchasing an entire living room set in matching upholstery, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. In a formal seating area, matching upholstery can give a sense of maturity and order, but if you want a living room to feel cozy and welcoming, mix and match your upholstered pieces to give the design a bit more personality.
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Designer secret. “It’s standard for us to always suggest a great textured wallpaper to install behind the bookcase wall,” Tamayo says. “We love a great contrast wallpaper color, but even when we use a similar color to the paint on the bookcase, it still adds great depth and dimension.”
Transforming Rooms design Stone rustic fireplace with exposed wood beam for mantle. The ivory linen sofa is charming next to the beautiful fireplace and window view.
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6. Plan the Lighting Lighting is one of the most important design aspects of a home and is something many people struggle with. It has such a powerful effect on the ambience of a room that it is worth taking the time to get it absolutely right. The trick is to get the proper balance of artificial and natural light. Too much artificial light results in a space that feels clinical, but if a room is underlit, everything appears gloomy and uninviting.
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