How to create a multi-purpose living space
Living room
Make your family room work harder to incorporate the increasing demands of modern life. Here we show a scheme that balances the four key elements of relaxing, entertaining, dining and working, to create a well-organised space.
- A place to relax
- A place to work or entertain
With so many elements working together in one space, keep the look simple with classic furniture and a pale palette. Prevent overcrowding by using clever storage solutions to hide clutter.
HOW TO MAKE IT WORK…
•A solid wood floor is ideal, as it is hardwearing and looks good. Use rugs to divide the areas into different zones; a long-haired, dark rug is perfect as it will hide stains and take heavy wear but also look smart.
•Paint walls in a fresh shade of blue, which is more practical than white, to give the impression of spaciousness and lighten the room. Add pattern to the scheme with a customised wallpaper screen – ideal for hiding children’s clutter quickly if needed.
•Choose an elegant but sturdy chesterfield sofa, covered in durable mid-tone linen. Consider adding extra seating in the form of a wide leather armchair.
•Create a children’s area near the television, using a large floor cushion to provide seating. Make sure there is plenty of storage for DVD’s, CD’s and video games.
•Keep window treatments simple with roman blinds. They can be pulled up and out of the way of little hands and don’t encroach on space as much as curtains.