No matter what you’re planning to do to your house, whether it’s a small reno or a large one, I’ll bet my budget that you’ll want to style your lounge room differently. The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the lounge room comes a close second. It’s a place where the whole family comes together, so creating a comfortable and stylish lounge room that flows is a must. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to be a daunting or expensive task
MULTIPLE SEATING OPTIONS
Everyone loves lounging on a sofa, but I always include additional seating options. These don’t necessarily have to be traditional lounge chairs – sturdy furniture that can double as a side table, stools or an ottoman can also be great choices.
TRY TO PLAN YOUR LOUNGE ROOM LAYOUT SO THAT THE BACK OF YOUR SOFA ISN’T THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU ENTER THE ROOM.
OCCASIONAL CHAIRS THAT DON’T MATCH
I love using occasional chairs in lounge rooms. As their names suggests, they’re only used occasionally as the sofa is usually the first choice for people to park their butts. These chairs are a little fancier, and a great way to introduce some extra style and interest to a room. You can get single chairs that match your sofa exactly but I tend to lean towards mixing things up with different occasional chairs.
A CLUSTER OF COFFEE TABLES
I hate it when a coffee table is too dominant in a lounge room. Multiple tables nested together are a better option because they provide flexibility when you are entertaining and are so easy to move around.
RUG LIFE
I don’t follow many rules when it comes to choosing rugs (what can I say, I’m a rebel at heart!), but one rule I do follow is to always invest in quality. In other words, buy the best rug you can afford. You’ll notice I sometimes use a large rug that frames the space and fits under the sofa. Other times, I layer two rugs on top of each other. What works best for you will depend on the space you have and how much floor you want to leave showing. Always buy a rug that’s big enough to fit under the legs of at least the main sofa, preferably the occasional chairs too.
LIGHTING
Floor lamps work well in lounge rooms. Sure, they add a nice glowing, ambient light, but I mainly use them because they look good and bring height to the space. I choose lamps made of a material that suits the other elements around it. Don’t forget to install dimmers for the other lights in your lounge room. You’ll thank me later when you’re enjoying a nightcap with friends under the gentle glow of your new lights.
CUSHION CRUSH
Oh, I love me a good cushion. Pick a hero cushion that provides a pop of colour, and then one or two that add texture, and a few more to complement the colour tones in the room. The complementary cushions might vary in pattern but they always work together so the overall effect is not too busy.
WALL CANDY
There’s nothing more boring than a blank space above a sofa, that’s why I always include a bit of wall candy in my lounge rooms. If you have a big empty space to fill, lucky you! This is a great opportunity to add some interest to your room. The options are endless; you can go for bold and bright art that makes an instant statement, or opt for a muted print in tones that tie in with other elements in the room. Large mirrors or a textured wall hanging can also be great choices.
GREENERY
I love the pops of green you get by adding plants to a room. They can also help you master the balance of a room because they come in all different heights. We always find a plant and pot combo at the exact height our room needs. Plants bring a relaxed feel to a lounge room and, as you know, I sometimes opt for faux versions; they are especially handy for flip properties when nobody is around to water them.
WHAT HAVE I MISSED?
The TV, perhaps? Here’s how I feel about TVs: they are a bit on the ugly side. I get that TVs are a necessary part of most homes. I think the best place to position a TV is on a wall that isn’t the first place you look when walking into or past the room. That way, the TV won’t become the statement piece in the room. This is easier said than done but wherever possible, wall-mount your TV and hide the cords behind the walls. This is much easier to organise if you’re renovating that area and the walls are being ripped apart anyway, but it can also be retro-fitted on existing walls. If you have to use a TV unit to sit the TV on, try to stretch your budget and choose a unit that is really good looking and significantly larger than the TV, This way, at least you can decorate the surrounding shelves with plants and other beautiful objects to take focus away from the TV when it’s not on.
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