Living rooms

Layout, light and colour for the room you spend most evenings in.

Living roomsLiving roomsHow to plan a gallery wallPlan a gallery wall that looks deliberate: how wide it should be, the gap between frames, how high to hang it and how to test the layout first.
Living roomsLiving roomsHow to make a new-build living room feel less boxyMake a boxy new-build living room feel warmer: pull the sofa off the wall, add curves, and give the flat walls some texture and depth.
Living roomsLiving roomsWhere to put the TV in a living room with a chimney breastAlcove or above the fire? Where to put the TV in a room with a chimney breast, how high it should sit, and how to arrange the seating around it.
Living roomsLiving roomsHow to style a bay window in a living roomHow to style a living room bay window: blinds or curtains, what to do with the radiator, and where the seating should go.
Living roomsHow to lay out a through loungeHow to lay out a through lounge: keep a clear path between the doors, split the room into two zones and size rugs so nobody walks through the sitting area.
Living roomsHow to style alcoves either side of a chimney breastHow to style the alcoves either side of a chimney breast: shelf spacing, paint, lighting and how to balance the two sides without matching them.
Living roomsHow high should you hang art above a sofa?Hang wall art 15 to 25 cm above your sofa back so the frame and seating form a balanced, connected group.
Living roomsHow to make a north-facing living room feel warmA north-facing living room feels cold because flat, blue daylight drains standard neutrals. Here is how to warm it using the right paint undertones, layered 2200K lighting, and tactile natural materials.
Living roomsHow to lay out a long narrow living roomLining furniture along the walls turns a narrow living room into a corridor. Here is how to zone the floor, float key pieces, and keep walkways clear.
Living roomsHow to light a living roomLighting a living room well means moving beyond the single overhead pendant. The rules for layering lamps, choosing bulb warmth, and balancing light at sitting height.
Living roomsHow to arrange living room furnitureLearn how to arrange living room furniture with clear walking paths, correct rug sizing, and conversational seating clusters that make the room welcoming.
Living roomsHow to brighten a dark living roomBrightening a dark living room means layering lamps around the edges, covering light-absorbing floors with a pale rug, and avoiding stark white paint.
Living roomsHow to make a small living room feel biggerLearn how to make a small living room feel bigger by choosing low furniture profiles, balancing leg silhouettes, and sizing your rug correctly.