fbpx

At first glance, furnishing your home to be warm and inviting seems simple, but if you just moved into a new house and you’re standing in an empty room, trying to imagine the possibilities can feel overwhelming.

From the color of your walls to the pillows on your sofa, it’s the details that make the difference. Homes that feel too cold and stark can be aesthetically interesting, but they risk giving the impression that guests cannot make themselves at home. On the contrary, homes that are well-balanced between beauty and comfort offer an environment that wows guests and invites them to get comfortable.

Are you trying to make your living room a conversation space? Here, our talented interior designers have given a few practical interior design tips to create a space that encourages conversation and comfort.

Creating a Space Plan

Before you decide on a new sectional, coffee table, or accent chairs, start with a space plan. Think about all the different things you want to do with your living room.

For most people, the living room is a place to relax and entertain guests, but you may have other uses, too. Do you want to have a quiet place to read? Is it the central television room for your family? Everyone’s needs are different, and figuring out how you want to use the room is the first step to creating a conversation space that you’ll love for years to come.

Once you’ve decided on how you want to use your space, it’s time to think about where to place your furniture. How can you use your area most efficiently? For a living room, it’s important to consider your layout and traffic patterns. Making your living room easier to move around can have a significant impact on how comfortable and inviting it feels for guests. Obstructed traffic patterns can make things feel cramped and closed off, discouraging people from mingling.

Choosing the Right Kind of Furniture

Your furniture can make or break the atmosphere of your room. If you’re not sure where to start, our interior designers recommend swivel chairs. Swivel chairs make a space flexible and offer a world of possibilities. With swivel chairs, guests can turn from one conversation to another easily.

When choosing a sofa or a sectional, think about how far back your guests will sit. Your furniture should still be comfortable for people while sitting upright to help create a space for conversation. For a deep or extra soft sofa, keep extra throw pillows around for a quick solution to add back support.

Don’t forget to have a few spare chairs ready, just in case you have a few more guests than you anticipated.

Keeping Drinks Within Arm’s Reach

When you’ve picked your furniture, determine where your guests will place their drinks and snacks.

If the space allows, a communal coffee table is always important, but you may also want to include side tables so that guests can keep things within arm’s reach. Creating extra surface area for glasses, snacks, and lamps ensures guests can relax, encouraging more opportunities for conversations.

Get Advice from an Interior Designer

If you’re struggling to make your living room conversational, we can help. The interior designers at O.P. Jenkins can help you create a great space plan that feels like a natural gathering spot for friends and family.

At O.P. Jenkins, our interior design services are complimentary. Schedule an appointment with us today.

This will close in 20 seconds