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Seven steps to a smart, well-designed living space
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‘Start by choosing furniture that matches
the use of the space,’ says interior designer
Joanna Wood. ‘If you’re catering to
a family, consider fabrics that can be
thrown in the washing machine.’ The
position of furniture is also key and even in
small rooms it’s crucial to create f low between pieces.
‘Don’t push furniture up against walls,’ says Jessica
Pownall of Artisanna London. ‘Placing furniture a few
inches away from the sides ma kes the room feel bigger.’2
‘ Desig ners of ten prefer to h ide tech i n t he
mo s t d i s cre et way, but it i s pa r t of ou r da i ly
lives so practical storage is essential,’ says
Ebba Thott of Sigmar London. ‘In this
case (pictured), we framed the TV and
decluttered at the same time by hiding the storage
within the wallpaper-panel design.’3
Think about how to use wallpaper. ‘All-over
coverage can harmonise a space and
bring a large or segmented room together,’
says Rebecca Drury of MissPrint. This
works well with a vast mural or a design
with a giant repeat – by spreading it across the walls,
it can bring a sense of cohesion.4
Prefer paint to paper? Splashing the
same colour as the walls across skirting
boards and window frames is a simple but
s t y l i s h t o u c h. ‘ No t o n l y d o e s t h i s c r e a t e a
contemporary look, but it also gives the
i l l u s i o n o f b i g g e r w a l l s , ma k i n g t h e r o o m a p p e a r mo r e
s p a c i o u s , ’ s a y s J u d y S mi t h , c o l o u r c o n s u l t a n t , C r o wn.5
Do you want your f looring to blend in
or stand out? Take note from Roger
Hemmings of Hav woods, who says,
‘light oak and washed wood f loors are
still hugely popular, but darker tones
definitely offer an opportunity for underfoot surfaces
to become the focal point of a space, rather than being
used as a canvas for the rest of the decor.’ FEATURESOPHIE^BAYLIS^
PHOTOGRAPHPETRKREJ
CI/SIGMARLONDON.COMDESIGN DOSSIER: LIVING
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If you are a carpet person, Lorna Haigh,
head of creat ive at A lt er nat ive F lo or i ng ,
recommends wool: ‘It’s easy to clean
and will keep its appearance as it has
the bounce-back factor,’ she says. Think
about colours. ‘If you have bold furniture or fabrics,
stick to a minimalist style,’ says Jemma Dayman,
buyer at Carpetright. ‘But a neutral approach
to decor can be brightened with a vivid pattern.’7
Getting the lighting right is crucial
to creating atmosphere. Start with a
pendant for everyday tasks. Then make
sure there is a light at every height, from
coffee table to over the top of a reading
cha i r to shelf, h ig h lig ht i ng t he t h i ng s on d isplay. A s,
says Agnieszka Wojcik, interior design manager,
Ikea, ‘this will create various directions of light ,
giving you better control of the room’s mood.’134 livingetc.com