Sitting rooms are meant to be a space for relaxation and socializing.
Though it’s often used as a synonym for a living room, there is a tiny, but important difference – sitting rooms aren’t supposed to have a TV. They’re also typically smaller in size.
A sitting room is also often called a lounge or a drawing room.
What to Keep In Mind
Your sitting room is supposed to be a quiet space, which not only doesn’t contain a TV but also none of the other modern entertainment tools.
You could keep a few books at hand, though it’s envisioned to be the space for you to have uninterrupted conversations with your family and guests, and also to decompress by yourself after a busy day.
It typically contains plenty of sitting space (duh), a coffee table, and homey, warm decor.
Let’s go through some sitting room inspo, as well as the ultimate setting tips in order to make the most of it.
1. Consider the Traffic Flow
Much like any other room, you want your sitting room to be comfortable and as free of clutter as possible.
Given that they commonly contain more seating areas than your ordinary living room, you have to be careful not to overcrowd them.
Couches and armchairs are among the largest objects to be found in homes, and they have to be cleverly arranged.
You still need to be able to move comfortably, clean, and receive guests without everyone tripping over furniture.
Rounded furniture could make it easier to move around without hitting any corners.
2. Keep It Proportional
You want to keep your relaxing space as harmonious as possible. Make sure your furniture pieces are proportional to the size of the room, as well as each other.
Placing an overly tiny coffee table in between huge couches will make it look even tinier.
Likewise, if you’re working with a very small room, opt for getting two or three smaller seating areas rather than a single large one.
3. Maximize the Sitting Space
You don’t need a TV, therefore you don’t need a TV commode. This leaves some room to maximize the amount of seating areas inside your sitting room.
Couches and armchairs are obvious ones, but in case you lack space for those, taborets and stools can serve as a great solution and they take up very little room.
Sectional couches are not recommended in a sitting room because they don’t allow you to face everyone in the room with you.
It’s best to be seated in a way in which you may communicate with everyone so that no one is left out.
4. Slimline Furniture Will Create an Illusion of Spaciousness
Long, slimline legs are what modern furniture is all about right now.
If you wish to add an apparition of a larger space to your small sitting room, then this type of furniture is the right choice.
It’s elevated above the ground, which makes it seem like it takes up less space than it actually does.
5. Do You Have a Fireplace? Take Advantage of It
There’s nothing like chatting over a glass of wine with fire popping beside you.
If you have an option of installing a fireplace in your sitting room – or you already have one – make sure to huddle your seating area all around it.
It will bring the relaxing atmosphere you’re trying to create to a whole another level.
6. Prioritize Comfort
Seek sofas and armchairs with an upright backrest. First and foremost, your sitting room has got to be comfortable.
You can neither relax nor enjoy a conversation if you constantly have to seek positions in which your back doesn’t hurt.
This is the time to choose substance over style, though there are some beautiful upright couches to choose from.
7. Choose a Focal Point
Ask yourself – what do you want as the focal point of your sitting room?
When your guests come in, is it the statement furniture they’re going to see first? Or the monumental window with the view? Or the art on the wall?
In part, this depends upon the design and decor of the room, but also upon the room itself. Do you have the view? Are the windows large or small? Do you have enough room for stylish statement furniture?
8. Let Your Furniture Setting Speak for Itself
If you’re set on making a statement with stylish and unusual furniture, there are two main ways to achieve that.
You can simply buy or have custom-made statement pieces, such as the one in the above picture.
Or you may achieve this effect by arranging your furniture in an unusual way. For example, place your armchairs diagonally to add dimension to your sitting room.
9. Rugs Against the Showroom Effect
What is the showroom effect?
It’s a very common trap many home design newbies fall into. It means accumulating stylish furniture in a way that makes the room feel like a furniture salon.
It can be helped by adding some personal charm to your space, and of course, by adding a rug.
Rugs bring inherent warmth into the room. They may require some extra vacuuming every now and then, but they quite literally turn a house into a home.
10. If You’ll Add a Rug, Make Sure It’s of the Right Size
Like it’s important to have your furniture be proportional, the same rule may apply to rugs.
Placing a tiny rug among large furniture, inside a large room affects the harmony of the room negatively. On the other hand, placing a monumental rug in a tiny room with smaller furniture will do the same.
Try to find the right balance to make your sitting room look and feel as pleasant as possible.
11. Achieve Harmony With the Right Combination of Colors
Whether you opt for matching shades or creating a contrast, the palette of your sitting room is crucial.
Opposites in the color wheel like pink and green can work marvelously if you style them the right way.
You may even choose to stick to solely warm shades, or even go monochrome. It’s all about finding the right balance to indeed make your sitting room feel like an open, stylish, and safe space.
In Conclusion
Create a plan for your sitting room design or re-styling, and make sure you get all the right measurements.
This way, you can make sure to create a harmonious and matching space that will invite you to relax as soon as you come inside.