Seven Things Your Sitting Room Might Be Missing

Sometimes a sitting room has all the essential furniture but still doesn’t feel finished. Usually, it doesn’t need another large purchase. It needs the smaller layers that connect everything and make the room comfortable, characterful and personal.

1. The Right-Sized Rug

A rug should anchor the seating area, not float between the furniture. Ideally, at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs should sit on it.

Bigger isn’t always better, though. Leave enough visible floor around the rug for the room to breathe, and make sure it doesn’t interfere with doors or walkways.

2. One or Two Additional Lights

A central ceiling light may illuminate the room, but it rarely creates a lovely atmosphere.

Add a table lamp beside the sofa, a floor lamp near an armchair or a pair of wall lights. Lighting at different heights creates softer pools of light and makes the room feel warmer in the evening.

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3. A Surface Within Reach

Every seat needs somewhere nearby for a cup, book or glass of wine.

A coffee table may serve the sofa, but it is often too far from an armchair. Small drinks tables, nesting tables and stools are useful here. They don’t need to match; a mixture of materials and styles will make the room feel more collected. Whilst you're at it, make the side table stand out on its own - like this chrome beauty from Soho Home.

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4. Properly Dressed Windows

Curtains add softness and help a room feel complete, but they need to be the right length.

Curtains should always reach the floor, rather than finishing at the bottom of the window. Where possible, hang them above the frame and allow them to extend beyond its sides. This will make the window appear taller and wider.

Fitted Roman, roller and Venetian blinds are different and should, of course, fit the window precisely.

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5. Good Artwork

Artwork gives a sitting room focus and personality. One substantial piece, or a thoughtfully arranged collection, will usually work better than a small picture floating above a large sofa.

Hang artwork in relation to the furniture beneath it, rather than too high on the wall. Most importantly, choose something you genuinely enjoy looking at, not something that simply matches the cushions.

6. Something Old

If everything in a room is new, it can feel flat, even when the individual pieces are beautiful.

An antique table, vintage mirror, inherited chair or old ceramic bowl adds history and imperfection. Just one or two older pieces can make the entire room feel as though it has developed naturally over time. I love how this vintage mirror adds an additional touch of glamour to this wallpapered room.

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7. Signs of the People Who Live There

The best sitting rooms reveal something about their owners.

Books, family photographs, travel finds and slightly peculiar objects should not all be hidden away. Group smaller pieces together, place them on a tray or display them among books and artwork.

A sitting room should feel beautiful, but it should also look as though someone is allowed to live in it. I love this image I found on Pinterest, just a simple living room that is made cosier by books...

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Seven Things Your Sitting Room Might Be Missing

Sometimes a sitting room has all the essential furniture but still doesn’t feel finished. Usually, it doesn’t need another large purchase. It needs the smaller layers that connect everything and make the room comfortable, characterful and personal.

1. The Right-Sized Rug

A rug should anchor the seating area, not float between the furniture. Ideally, at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs should sit on it.

Bigger isn’t always better, though. Leave enough visible floor around the rug for the room to breathe, and make sure it doesn’t interfere with doors or walkways.

2. One or Two Additional Lights

A central ceiling light may illuminate the room, but it rarely creates a lovely atmosphere.

Add a table lamp beside the sofa, a floor lamp near an armchair or a pair of wall lights. Lighting at different heights creates softer pools of light and makes the room feel warmer in the evening.

‍

‍

‍

‍

3. A Surface Within Reach

Every seat needs somewhere nearby for a cup, book or glass of wine.

A coffee table may serve the sofa, but it is often too far from an armchair. Small drinks tables, nesting tables and stools are useful here. They don’t need to match; a mixture of materials and styles will make the room feel more collected. Whilst you're at it, make the side table stand out on its own - like this chrome beauty from Soho Home.

‍

4. Properly Dressed Windows

Curtains add softness and help a room feel complete, but they need to be the right length.

Curtains should always reach the floor, rather than finishing at the bottom of the window. Where possible, hang them above the frame and allow them to extend beyond its sides. This will make the window appear taller and wider.

Fitted Roman, roller and Venetian blinds are different and should, of course, fit the window precisely.

‍

‍

‍

‍

5. Good Artwork

Artwork gives a sitting room focus and personality. One substantial piece, or a thoughtfully arranged collection, will usually work better than a small picture floating above a large sofa.

Hang artwork in relation to the furniture beneath it, rather than too high on the wall. Most importantly, choose something you genuinely enjoy looking at, not something that simply matches the cushions.

6. Something Old

If everything in a room is new, it can feel flat, even when the individual pieces are beautiful.

An antique table, vintage mirror, inherited chair or old ceramic bowl adds history and imperfection. Just one or two older pieces can make the entire room feel as though it has developed naturally over time. I love how this vintage mirror adds an additional touch of glamour to this wallpapered room.

‍

7. Signs of the People Who Live There

The best sitting rooms reveal something about their owners.

Books, family photographs, travel finds and slightly peculiar objects should not all be hidden away. Group smaller pieces together, place them on a tray or display them among books and artwork.

A sitting room should feel beautiful, but it should also look as though someone is allowed to live in it. I love this image I found on Pinterest, just a simple living room that is made cosier by books...

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