Harmony of Colours:

My preferred interior style is modern with a touch of classic. I like bold colours and high contrast complemented by warm woody tones with a balance of neutral beige shades. Based on these colours, I created a mood board with all possible elements together which gave me a good idea of what would work together and what wouldn’t and that’s how I was able to establish the final colour palette for the living room.

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Maximum Comfort, Functionality & Practicality:

From the beginning, our priorities were clear to us. We knew that we wanted a big L-shaped couch and a big TV.

Layout - There are only two walls with the possibility to mount a television and we chose the wall to the left (as seen in the image) because we didn’t want to walk into the living room area and see the back of the couch (had we chosen the front wall for the TV).

Sofa Colour - We also quickly came to the conclusion that we wanted a dark-coloured sofa since light-coloured ones are very high maintenance and we wanted to feel more relaxed. We’ve had our black L-shaped sofa for 10 months now and it was the best decision that we made. It’s super comfortable, versatile, low maintenance, and easy to clean. Moreover, it brings a lovely contrast to the whole space.

Coffee Table - After much consideration, I chose a rectangular coffee table instead of the round ones often seen on Pinterest paired with L-shaped couches. I had two main reasons for this decision. Firstly, a round coffee table would have had a larger diameter than what our space could comfortably accommodate. Secondly, since we have a long couch, I wanted a coffee table that could be easily accessed from all areas of the couch, which I felt would have been challenging with a round one. Ultimately, I opted for a rectangular coffee table as it not only fits well in our space but also provides functional accessibility for all seated areas of our couch.

Overhead Lighting - Now this one was a hard one to be honest because I had seen some gorgeous pendant lights for the living room but it wasn’t practical. We like to spend most of our time in the living room area and it can get pretty warm indoors during summer. So, naturally, it made sense to install a ceiling fan to stay cool and comfortable. Luckily, I was able to find one that perfectly fits my decor, is modern and also has light.

High-Quality Materials:

Sofa - We chose a sofa with velvet lining and memory foam filling. Before I placed an order, I read about these two materials and learnt that velvet is a great material for a sofa as it is easy to clean, durable and soft on the skin, while memory foam is comfortable to sit on, lay on or even sleep on for longer periods of time. Link

Rug - Based on my research, I learnt that wool is the most durable choice when it comes to rug materials and it is also naturally stain-resistant. They are also soft and therefore comfortable under the feet. This is the one I chose based on my colour palette, preference and budget: Link

Curtains - I chose to add curtains to my windows because they add privacy, texture and warmth to the space. I chose a light and airy fabric for the curtains in order to keep the room bright during the day. The curtains are also functional in blocking out light when we’re watching TV. These curtains from IKEA were a great find! They are 100% cotton, have a beautiful light beige tone and have a great length. Link

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Decor Items:

I went minimal with my decor items since that is personally my preference and because I also think that a minimalist approach to decorating makes the space look calm and sophisticated.

Couch - I have decorated my couch with a few cushion covers and some thick blankets for the winter. I have a collection of affordable cushion covers which enables me to occasionally switch them out for something more season or mood appropriate.

Coffee Table Decor - Since I have a long coffee table, I wanted to decorate it enough so that it doesn’t look empty but also doesn’t look cluttered. I went with some coffee table books, a vase with fresh flowers in the centre, a marble tray for my lighter & candle snuffer, and scented candles.

Sideboard Decor (under the TV) - This one is a bit tricky because when you’re watching TV, you don’t want to be distracted by the things on the sideboard but at the same time, you don’t want to leave it empty. Therefore, I went extremely simple here. I put some coffee table books on each end with minimal items on top and a soundbar in the middle.

Front Wall -  This wall is still a work in progress but so far I have a gorgeous floor lamp that I was lucky to find since it perfectly fits my interior style. It has a metal frame with a pleated fabric lampshade in beige, and wall art I DIYed which I think turned out so good! On the left side, I plan to either add a marble pedestal or an artificial olive tree.

Ambient Lighting:

I’ve talked about how important ambient lighting is in my 7 elements of luxury blog and how using different sources of lighting in a space creates depth & dimension. For my living room, I chose a ceiling fan with light for overhead lighting and a floor lamp with a dimmable bulb. Additionally, I light up candles in the evening to add more warmth and coziness to the space.

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Rich Fragrance:

I love fragrances! I love to walk into a room and smell a beautiful fragrance that instantly lifts my mood and makes me feel like I just stepped into a luxury hotel. That's why I'm always on the lookout for new scents to add to my collection. From floral and fruity to musky and woody, there are so many different fragrances to explore. My favourite way to enjoy a rich fragrance is by lighting scented candles. The warm glow of a candle creates a cozy and inviting ambience while the scent just elevates the atmosphere. The ones currently in my living room that I love are the Smokey Wood and Sublime Patchouli scented candles.

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Neatness:

Maintaining a neat and tidy space is key to making your room look luxurious. The best way to do that is by having a dedicated space for all your things and extra storage solutions. In my living room, my main source of storage is my sideboard*. It has 4 cupboards where I store things like decor items, DIY tools, tablecloths, board games etc. I also have space in my coffee table* where I store other scented candles, remotes and also some snacks for late-night munching.

*Unfortunately, the company I bought my sideboard and coffee table from no longer exists. But here are similar ones - Coffee Table and Sideboard