How To Add Stunning Feature Furniture To Your Living Room

Posted on 02 Jul 2018 by Emily Atkinson-Dalton
When it comes to designing a living room many of us stay in the safety zones of beige, modern and minimal design. But there’s another option on the cards. Much like a feature wall, feature furniture is the perfect way to add a splash of colour and life to your decor. It’s a great choice for small rooms or homes since it uses minimal decor for maximum effect. Here’s how to add artistic feature furniture to your living room.

 

First, find your feature


Designing a room around a single piece of furniture only works if you have the centerpiece to begin with. Search high and low, it may take time, until you find the right piece for your home. The easiest feature pieces to start with are a bright sofa, intricate armchair or designer coffee table. They’re essential items for living room design which means there’s plenty of bold options for you to choose from.

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Test the lighting


Take a look around your living room. Is there much natural lighting? Is it a bright space? Could it use more light? Check it at all times of day as well. First thing in the morning you may be flooded with natural light and enjoying a bright space. By mid-afternoon all the light switches are on and you’ve got an artificial sheen to the room. Before you settle on that mustard yellow armchair, consider if it will look good in the light you have. If not, how can you fix this? Swapping to bright LED downlights will remove the dullness after the sun goes down. If swapping all your lights seems excessive then perhaps a lamp that illuminates the chair in all it’s true-tone glory. The last thing you want is to find your lighting doesn’t do justice to the furniture you’ve selected. Considering this before you spend money on your decor is much smarter.

 

Consult a colour wheel


So, you’ve found the blush couch of your dreams and tested the lighting which means you’re ready to bring it home. If all it took was one piece to fill a room we’d all be much more adventurous. Now’s the hard part; designing the rest of the room around your feature furniture. Opting for all neutrals in the rest of your decor risks your feature piece sticking out like a sore thumb, rather than looking like the artwork it is. A colour wheel can help you quickly decipher complementary colours which, used wisely, serve to make your decor stand out without clashing. Complementary colours sit opposite each other on a colour wheel. For example, your blush pink sofa will match well with other yellow and green decor, like a large floral painting on the back wall.

 

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Think about shades


Another classic colour move is to use similar tones of the same shade. This works especially well with bright and punchy furniture that is easily toned down to pastel. It can also be done the other way; when there’s pastels in the main piece adding darker touches elsewhere. Pot plants, throw rugs and cushions are easy to find in a range of tones and shades. No matter what colour you choose as the main, you’ll be able to add layers of decor.

 

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Add monochrome and metallics


Neutrals are of course your best option for finishing off the living room. But how do you keep them from becoming boring? Striking monochrome pictures, rugs and lampshades can add interest to your design without overcomplicating the colour palette. When you really look at it, gold, silver and brass are just beige, white and brown with some extra shine. Carefully selected metallic additions from candle holders to sculptures and trinket bowls will up the glam factor without inducing sensory overload.

 

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Go for clean lines


There are a few large ticket items that every living room requires; seating, a coffee table and storage like bookcases or TV stands. To avoid taking away from the drama of your feature piece with other large furnishings you’ll want to stay with uncomplicated design and clean lines. Everything from the coffee table to a sleek TV cabinet should preference plain colours, natural woods and basic shapes. The last thing you want is two central components of the living room competing for attention.

 

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Spruce it up with patterns


To keep your feature piece from getting lost in the room, draw the eye to it with patterned cushions. You’ll be spoilt for choice when looking for patterns to match your main decor if you look for some common styles. Stripes, geometrics, florals and spots are all popular decor trends that never date.

 

The living room is the heart of your home so it should be a room that inspires you (and others). Taking the leap from standard design styles into feature furniture is easier than you think. It’s all about building from the bottom up and finding complementary colours, patterns and decor elements to boost your feature piece rather than clutter up the room.

 

Author Bio

Julia Hammond is an Australian lifestyle blogger who currently publishes weekly content on the MyDeal.com.au blog. She guest posts on many great websites and loves to write about all things design, style and life. Check out Julia Hammond's Linked In.

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