Odett Schumann

March 21, 2022, 1:49 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

We are currently living in times of change. Across all levels and in numerous areas of life, previous conventions are being broken. And not without reason: Today, the focus is on mental health, diversity, and sustainability. In the realm of living spaces, traditional standards are increasingly being rethought and questioned. Rooms should be enhanced with small adjustments to provide more comfort and be used more effectively. With our tips, you can give not only your living room but ultimately yourself a new twist.

1. Highlight the Seating Area

Traditionally, seating furniture is placed strictly along walls and in corners. The starting point for this is usually the position of the TV. Such an arrangement of individual pieces of furniture has so far seemed to be the most pragmatic solution. But what if you give the living room design a twist and rethink it from the core?

One suggestion: simply move the seating area from the wall to the middle of the room! This may initially sound unusual, perhaps even unimaginable, but it shifts the focus back to communication rather than consumption. In this way, socializing is given a stage again, and conversations and attention can find more space in life.

Also interesting: When is a freestanding sofa in the living room worthwhile?

2. Multifunction Meets Minimalism

Nowadays, overwhelm is a major issue that often leads to mental illnesses. What is needed more is clarity, focus, and structure. Yet, in our own lives, but especially in our own homes, there are often many distracting factors. These need to be minimized. After all, today there is the right technical device, furniture, or accessory for every need and taste.

Here, multifunctional furniture can be a solution: They combine several things and are therefore extremely practical in everyday life. A good example for the living room is the ottoman, which is especially helpful when there are more guests in the house than there are seats on the sofa. At the same time, it also offers a comfortable footrest after a long, exhausting day at work. And with a tray, an ottoman quickly becomes a tasteful side table next to the couch.

3. More Atmosphere: Art Instead of Light

To make a living room cozier, the power of lighting effects is often relied upon. Here a floor lamp, there an indirect light, and lots of candles. An approach that is undoubtedly sensible and by no means wrong. But it’s also time for something new: Why not hang an artistic mobile over the coffee table instead of a ceiling light?

And yes, this interior design idea initially reminds one of the design of a child’s room over a crib. In fact, this inspiration can be ideally translated into the living room, especially if the ambiance is meant to be more atmospheric and less light-intensive. The individual elements of such an art object often function as a kind of mini-reflectors, creating sophisticated light plays in the room.

More on the topic

Housing in Transition Why the Dining Room Is Disappearing From More Households

Not So Big and Bulky 7 Alternatives to the Classic Couch

4. Floating Furniture

Floating furniture in the living room can also create a significantly more relaxed, tidy look, but above all, provide a special twist. Additionally, a sideboard without legs appears original in its own way and is a real eye-catcher in the room. To maintain this airy ambiance, the free space beneath the floating furniture should not gradually become a storage area. And while dust bunnies may be found more quickly in this spot, cleaning the floor is remarkably easy thanks to floating furniture.

5. Large Furniture, Small Quantity

It may also be time to reconsider the number and type of your furniture. It is well known that most people tend to own too much. Accordingly, a smaller selection of furniture is sufficient. If necessary, these can be larger or even taller.

Oversized furniture like a shelf that reaches up to the ceiling and also serves as a room divider is becoming increasingly common. The arrangement of furniture no longer has to be limited to the horizontal. Large, but few pieces of furniture that tend to be taller ultimately create more tidiness, structure, and spaciousness on the floor. And isn’t that exactly what is needed right now?