The living room has many expectations, it serves as the first impression for anyone who enters your home. But more than that, it is also where residents relax after a long day, making it one of the most important and personal spaces in the house.
So, a focal point for your entire home can’t be an afterthought in the design process, right? It deserves a purposeful design to make sure it feels welcoming and stylish.
Also READ: Do you have a small apartment? 6 smart hacks to maximize space
We caught up with Sanaa Ruia, creative director of MAIA Estates, who shared how one can design their living room to make it look more attractive.
But before we dive into trends and styles, let’s take a look at how the living room concept came about.
Living room history
The idea of a common, everyday living room didn’t last. The current form is shaped by recent lifestyle changes. Actually it was not a long tradition. “The living room, as we know it today, is an afterthought,” Sanaa added. He also explained that in the past, in Western homes, spaces were displayed for portraiture and friendship, not comfort. “The equivalent space used to be the dining room or the bedroom, a well-organized space reserved for receiving guests and not for everyday life,” he explained.
You may have heard of the drawing room, Sanaa noted, from the word ‘retreat’, where visitors and guests retreated after a meal. The design was heavily influenced by fashion and collaborations.
Sanaa went on to say how the change happened, “It was at the beginning of the twentieth century that the term ‘living room’ became popular, indicating a shift to spaces that reflect everyday life instead of celebration.” Families began to prioritize real life over social interactions. Unlike Western architecture, Eastern houses were flexible and multipurpose. And modern living rooms combine Western architecture with Eastern flexibility. He suggested that modern design is a hybrid that takes the best from both worlds.
Tips to improve the living room
Sanaa noticed that the biggest problem is that the living rooms have old designs for a long time. “For a long time, the television was quietly the focal point of the room, often dictating how the furniture was arranged and how people gathered,” he said.
However, now the focus is back on the plan. Highlighting the biggest change, he said, “Sofas, living room chairs and small movable pieces are arranged in ways that allow people to gather naturally instead of focusing on just one point in the room.”
Here are some of the tips he recommended:
1. Natural lighting
- Natural light and size are also becoming central to how living rooms are experienced.
- Large windows, open views and multiple volumes allow daylight to shape the space.
- When a room has a sense of scale and openness, it is immediately easier to live in it.
2. Material things
- Go for finishes that feel warm and soft, such as wood, stone, linen and woven fabrics.
- When accessories are covered in a thoughtful way, they bring a calm depth to the room without relying on excessive decoration.
- The result is a living room that feels calm and balanced rather than extreme.
3. Light
- Set your lights. Go beyond a single fixture and use multiple light sources.
- Include different types of lighting. Add table lamps, floor lamps, and wall lamps for soft, balanced lighting.
- Create a powerful ambience. Different light sources can help change the mood of a room.
- Soft lighting makes the space feel warm and intimate at night.
Finally, the style of the living room becomes more realistic. “What’s refreshing about living rooms today is that they’re not so functional anymore. The goal is to shift to quiet, personal and effortless spaces,” said Sanaa. The interior focuses primarily on comfort, functionality and personality. It is no longer just stylish, but also evokes a strong sense of ‘living inside’.
#Living #room #dull #easy #hacks #improve #site #impress #visitors