Whether your living room is the social centre or relaxation station of your home, there are ways to style it to meet your aesthetic and functional needs.
Interior stylist and founder of Dot + Pop Eve Gunson tells us how.
Get a stylish TV
Nowadays, there’s no need to sacrifice style for your television set.
Who said your TV needs to be boring? Picture: Stayc Connolly Photography
For instance, choosing a lifestyle TV – like Samsung’s The Serif – will add additional sophistication to the space.
The Serif 4K QLED Smart TV was a collaboration between Samsung and Paris-based designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to fit in seamlessly with your décor. With an iconic I-shaped profile and 360-degree design, the TV is beautiful from every angle and can stand on its own two feet or tabletop, giving you the freedom to place it where you think will look best.
Tips for styling your TV area
Long gone are the days where your TV needs to be a big, black box that adds nothing to your space.
Select a TV that can be the centrepiece and lifts the overall decor of your room.
Include your TV in the styling equation to ensure it complements your living room. Picture: Stayc Connolly Photography
“If you have a TV unit or shelves, you can style those to draw your eye into a different space,” Eve adds.
“For instance, you can use a lamp, a stack of books or a large plant in a pot to create different levels, breaking up the space and adding interest.”
Some TVs like The Serif also allow you to place items on top to further decorate the area.
Think about furniture placement
When it comes to furniture placement, it all depends on size, Eve says. However, if you have a large living room that can accommodate multiple items, think about how these can be used to create a flowing space.
Have items of furniture facing away from the TV to create the illusion of space. Picture: Stayc Connolly Photography
“Arrange your furniture in a way so that not everything faces the TV,” she says.
“You can have your sofa facing the TV and have your chairs facing in towards the couch, providing a more conversational orientation.”
Add some colour
Refining and executing your colour palette is half the fun of styling, right?
When it comes to choosing colours, Eve recommends picking one colour you like and pairing it with hues of a similar tone or shade.
“For example, if you like green, try and find a few different shades of green ranging from lighter to darker,” she says.
“If you like pink, you might stay within a range of warm tones, like pink, terracotta and mustard.”
Neutral colours are timeless and can be easily updated. Picture: Stayc Connolly Photography
However, whichever colours you choose, you still need to now how to use them.
“I generally recommend adding colour in smaller items as it’s easier to swap them out,” Eve says.
“Even if you’re a big fan of colour, keep your larger, more expensive items — like a rug or sofa — more of a neutral or more muted colour because that will be more timeless.
“Then you can add in colour with cushions, vases, an ottoman, chair or artwork.”
‘Feel’ is as important as ‘look’
When it comes to a living space, function is as important as style, if not more so.
“Choose pieces that are comfortable and suit what the room is used for,” Eve says.
“So, if you’ve got a big family, choosing a large, comfy couch is going to be best. Functional pieces are just as important as those that are more aesthetic.”
Have soft cushions, a plush rug, some throws and flowy curtains to create a sense of luxury and retreat. Your living room should be a space where you can enjoy yourself, so ultimately style it with this in mind.
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