Maximising Your Grand Space: Large Living Room Design Ideas
, by Matthew Tout, 7 min reading time
Design dilemmas come in all shapes and sizes (literally). Some face the challenge of too little space, while others grapple with strange nooks and crannies. Today, our focus is on those fortunate enough to have large living rooms and, more specifically, on creative ideas to make the most of your capacious lounge.
Large Living Room Layout Ideas
First and foremost, let's address the challenge of handling a vast living room. Why worry about managing one large living room when you can effectively divide and conquer?
Living Room Zoning One designer-favorite move for decorating a large living room is to create zones. Design Director Jiin Kim-Inoue from Finchatton emphasizes the importance of dividing the space according to function, giving meaning to each area. Whether it's a formal arrangement in front of a fireplace or a relaxed setup for TV viewing, zoning adds purpose to every corner. Consider creating reading nooks, craft areas, game sections, or intimate dining spaces to enhance functionality.
Two Seating Arrangements A common technique for large living rooms is to establish two separate seating arrangements. It's nearly impossible to fill such a spacious area with a single arrangement. By creating two setups, you not only provide extra seating but also allow for diverse uses simultaneously, avoiding dead spaces or awkward corners.
Generous Spacing When arranging furniture in a large space, be generous with spacing. The goal is to maintain cohesion while allowing for a natural flow and conversation. Maintain a distance of no more than 10 feet between pieces. Larger gaps between chairs, side tables, sofas, and coffee tables contribute to an open and airy feel.
Room Dividers Visually breaking up a space is achievable with room dividers. Whether through chic center tables, beautiful coromandel screens, dividing bookcases, or built-in shelving units, dividers add interest to large living rooms. Opt for movable pieces like center tables or bookcases for flexibility during gatherings, or choose permanent fixtures like built-in shelving units for a lasting architectural impact.
Split Level Living Rooms For those involved in the design process from the beginning, incorporating split levels can be a game-changer. Split levels visually and physically break up a space, allowing for designated formal and informal areas or creating a unique cinema space.
Design Tricks for Decorating a Large Living Room
Before delving into furniture choices, consider these foundational design tricks:
Utilizing Mass Mass, both in terms of volume and quantity, plays a crucial role in large living room design. Larger spaces call for larger objects, emphasizing the importance of proportionality. Grouping objects strategically, such as art pieces, chandeliers, or armchairs, enhances the overall impact.
Choosing Colors Wisely Color selection can significantly influence the perceived space in a room. Intense colors can make a large room feel cozier, while neutral spaces with deeper-colored furniture and accessories add visual weight. Experiment with deep blues, matte blacks, or special hand-painted wallpapers to create a rich, inviting atmosphere.
Playing with Texture Texture, like color, can alter the perceived size of a room. Glossy, polished finishes create a seamless and continuous feel, while textured finishes, whether actual or implied, add depth and visual interest. Textured wallpapers, custom wall finishes, or architectural elements like murals and panelling work well in drawing attention to a room's proportions.
Key Pieces for Decorating a Large Living Room
Now, let's focus on key furniture pieces to furnish your large living room effectively:
Double Coffee Tables Designers often opt for ingenious solutions for extra-generous square footage. Displaying matching double coffee tables side by side is a favorite technique. Whether featuring two matching designs, nesting tables, or interlocking pieces, this approach adds trendiness and practicality to your living room. Angular coffee tables work best for this look, avoiding design overload.
Built-In Cabinetry Unlike smaller spaces where built-in cabinetry can be overpowering, large living rooms can handle extensive built-in solutions. Custom cabinetry lining entire feature walls or creating niches adds a polished, composed look. Open cabinetry with LED lighting offers a modern touch, allowing for both functionality and decor.
Extra Side Tables While you may not always need them, extra side tables are excellent for filling corners or spaces between armchairs. Even if not regularly used, they contribute to the overall ensemble, providing a sense of completeness. Alternatively, consider filling empty spaces with floor lamps, alternating between side tables and floor lamps for a varied look.
Box-Shaped Furniture Arrangement Box-shaped furniture arrangements are well-suited for large living rooms, requiring numerous individual pieces and substantial spacing. This arrangement provides a quick solution for filling the space effectively.
Best Oversized Pieces for Decorating a Large Living Room
In addition to key pieces, certain furniture choices allow you to go big and bold in a large living room:
Large Sofa or Oversized Sectional A large sofa or oversized sectional serves as the main furniture piece in a living room. Opting for a custom sofa designed specifically for your space ensures the perfect fit and allows for personalized choices in fabrics, finishes, and details. Consider unique shapes, such as an elongated sofa with an angled chaise, to cater to your room's specific needs.
Large Living Room Rug Selecting a large rug that covers the entirety of the floor beneath your furniture arrangement adds a touch of luxury. For multiple furniture setups, use multiple rugs to subtly break gaps between walls and arrangements. Experiment with vibrant, oversized rugs to make a bold statement and visually fill the space.
Large Canvas Art or Wall Art Blank wall spaces in large living rooms can be daunting. Hanging a large canvas or wall art serves as an effective solution. A substantial painting, print, or photograph creates a grand focal point, framing key areas like a fireplace or sofa wall while adding personality to the room.
Large Wall Mirror Large wall mirrors, ranging from simple modern designs to statement pieces, can brighten a living room, reflect interesting features, and fill expansive wall spaces. Be mindful of placement to avoid accentuating extra space inadvertently.
Large Coffee Table Even if you choose not to go for a double coffee table, a larger coffee table is advisable. Laden with decor items, coffee table books, and flowers, a bigger coffee table becomes a unique and eye-catching display piece.
Large Chandelier Selecting the right-sized main light fixture is crucial for a large living room. Follow the rule of thumb: the sum of the length and width of your room (in inches) determines the ideal chandelier size. Similarly, consider the height, aiming for 2.5-3 inches per foot of ceiling height.
Special Considerations for Decorating a Large Living Room
Addressing specific challenges and considerations for large living rooms ensures a well-rounded design:
Solving Echoing Issues In spacious living rooms, echoing can be a concern, necessitating soundproofing solutions. Layering luxurious textiles and soft furnishings contributes to a luscious feel while creating an ideal acoustic environment. Additional fixes include using carpets or rugs on hard floor surfaces, installing drapes, adding more items to the space, and incorporating artwork or tapestries.
Adequate Lighting Large living rooms require ample lighting at various levels. Beyond a central light fixture, supplement with spotlights, track lighting, or wall lights to ensure well-distributed illumination. Consider layering free-standing and architectural lighting for a balanced ambiance.
Creating a Focal Point A large living room benefits from a captivating focal point. Whether naturally present, like a fireplace or expansive windows, or created artificially with a large canvas, mirror, statement wall, or panelling, a focal point anchors the room and prevents it from feeling monotonous.
In conclusion, decorating a large living room offers exciting opportunities for creativity and personalization. By strategically incorporating zoning, thoughtful layout ideas, key furniture pieces, and oversized elements, you can transform your spacious living room into a welcoming and stylish haven. Consider the unique challenges and possibilities of your large living space to curate a design that resonates with your taste and lifestyle. Happy decorating!