5 things you can do right now to have an Instagram-worthy living room

Is your living room giving you winter blues and in need of some love?

As interior designers, we work with a variety of clients to help them revamp the spaces that are so integral to a good quality of life. In time for this winter season, we’ve compiled five interior design tips to help you make your living room your own cozy sanctuary.

1. Add comfort and personality

Create a space that feels like you. Whether you are a minimalist or a collector, it is important to add layers to your space that add personality and comfort. Start by grounding the space with an area rug. Regarding the size of the rug, it is important to plan the rug to have all furniture legs on the rug or all legs off, make sure that the rug isn’t too small for the space. Add toss cushions and throws, don’t be afraid to play with colour, texture and pattern. Keep in mind, that they don’t always have to match! Add art or decorative objects that mean something to you or that you love! Picture ledges are a great option to create a space that allows you to interchange or grow your collection as time moves on. Another great option if you are not interested in art is to add wall decals or temporary wallpaper.

Picture ledges: CB2 and Pottery Barn

Art: Zatista, Lumas and Buy Some Damn Art

Wall coverings: Chasing Paper and Urban Walls

Toss cushions: Tonic Living, Caitlin Wilson and H&M Home

2. Consider function

Create a space that you can kick up your feet and put a drink down. Consider the placement and addition of side tables, coffee tables, ottomans. Consider an ottoman with a tray or a wood stump that can act as a table or an extra perch. In small spaces, dual-function can end up being a life-saver. A swivel chair or lightweight occasional chair can often provide an extra seat that can turn around to function in two spaces. Evaluate items that you need proper storage for and select furniture pieces that will accommodate. Often, closed storage is more attractive.

Ottomans/tables: Vancouver Special, Blu Dot and Mobilia

Closed storage: BDI, CB2 and Ikea

Accent chairs: Article, Rove Concepts and Structube

3. Lighting is key

There is no excuse for poor lighting, regardless of space.  Add layers of lighting throughout the room. Ideally, provide access to lighting near every seat. Whether that be overhead lighting, floor lamps, or table lamps. If no floor or table space is available, consider a plug-in wall sconce or art light. Replace any existing ceiling lighting that you are unhappy with, and make sure to install dimmers for extra control!

Plug-in wall lamps/sconces: Robert Abbey Lighting, Rejuvenation Lighting and Barn Light Electric

Table and floor lamps: France and Son, Crate and Barrel and EQ3

4. Get good help

Hire a handy helper or pull a favour from a savvy friend. Finally, have your TV wall mounted properly and the cords hidden behind drywall or millwork. Do your walls look tired? Invest in patching and re-painting the walls, hang artwork, ledges, or any other wall mounted items properly and make sure they are sturdy for long-term use. Do your floors need help? Hire a wood re-finisher or invest in getting your carpets professionally cleaned.

Cleaners/contractors: Handy, Coit and Home Stars

5. The final touch

Some may automatically think that drapery is out-dated or old-fashioned, we couldn’t disagree more! Drapery has multiple functions that you may not be aware of. It keeps the cold out in the winter and acts as an insulator, blocks the heat out in the summer, it adds an amazing acoustic value to the space and helps to reduce outdoor noise, it adds another layer of texture and softness to any space and offers superior light filtering or blackout options for those Netflix nights! For a more modern look, ceiling-mount the drapes and install them floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. If you are feeling bold, select a fun colour or bold pattern to inject even more personality into your space!

Drapes: Restoration Hardware, The Shade Store and  Ikea