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How to elevate your living room by stylist Natalie Walton

June 20, 2022 Leave a Comment

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This is an edited extract from the new book Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home by Natalie Walton.

Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect. They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction.

Stylist and author Natalie Walton

Not sure which style choices to make? All decisions should be based on the answer to one key question. When you step into your living room, how do you want to feel? Remember, creating a beautiful home is less about focusing on a look and more about embracing how you want to experience the space. Every choice we make in our homes has an impact on our emotions. Everything is an extension of you and who you are. Colour is a powerful example: we can all respond differently to even slight differences in shades. When it comes to choosing what to include in your spaceโ€”from art to a sofaโ€”focus on feeling. If you want to experience calm, for example, try a subdued palette, simple forms and soft textures. This will inform the way you arrange the space, too. Asymmetry is more relaxed and will make you want to linger longer. However, if you want to turn up the voltage and create with artful mastery, find a nexus between contrast and cohesion. Play with the friction between raw and refined, simple and sophisticated, dark and light. 

Consider the function of the room. It would be futile to focus on the guest experience if you entertain only occasionally. However, astute choices in sourcing can result in furniture and decor that can be adaptable and used in new ways over time. A stool can act as a side table or seat; a daybed can perform a double duty as seating one day and in a bedroom the next. Mixing pieces from different genres and periods will create visual interest and can make the space more representative of your story. The juxtaposition of modern and old, textured and smooth elevates the contrasting elements and enlivens the space. However, when mixing materials or eras, work within a restrained palette for unity and harmony.

Redefine the space

Itโ€™s all too easy to rely on walls to define the frame of the living room. However, spaces feel much more intimate when you bring furniture off the walls. When sofas are pushed against the perimeter, the space in the middle of the room can feel like a dead zone. Instead, use area rugs to define the room. Bringing everything closer together creates intimacy and makes the space feel more inviting. Floor lamps can flank sofas and occasional seating. For additional depth, add a bench or side table behind the sofa and layer with books, table lamps and sculptural objects.  

Engage the eye

We want to create spaces that are complex yet cohesive. Our brains need stimulation, otherwise we lose interest and can become demotivated. No one wants that for their home, or life. While we donโ€™t need to create sensory overload, visual appeal is important. Create spaces that are multi-dimensional; avoid having all your furniture and objects on one plane. Play with a mix of heights, such as pendant lights from the ceiling, articulated floor lamps, table lamps with curvaceous forms, a duo of coffee tables, a couple of plinths at varying heights, art that guides the eye upwards, a few stools and a rug that grounds it all. Scale is important, too. Avoid oversized sofas, rugs that are too small and coffee tables that donโ€™t meet the visual weight of the seating area and overall space. Aim for impact in at least one areaโ€”perhaps a pendant or an artwork. Bring it all together with a unified palette and subtle shifts in tones.

Statement sofa 

Sofas are always a big investment and the centrepiece of any living room. Everything from the sofaโ€™s form to how it is furnished will have an impact on your experience of the space. Always remember the atmosphere you want to create. Homes that feel engaging can embrace unexpected forms, such as a curved sofa. A handful of cushions in jewel-like colours can enhance the sofa experience. Balance is key here. Too many cushions and the arrangement seems more for show than comfort. Not enough and the space becomes a study in form. Find the balance that works best for you.

Curated coffee table 

Coffee tables provide another opportunity to express personal tastes and interests. Commit to creating an atmosphere that enhances your experience. Create cohesion and display favourite books and decorative objects in a grid formation. Sculptural decorative pieces, plants, round trays or asymmetrical decor can help soften the effect. Groups of three or five please the eye, providing variety and interest. Also, work within the tones of the room and keep proportion in mindโ€”both in relation to the size of your table with your sofa, as well as the objects on display. Bitsy collections can quickly get lost. A tray is a good way to corral your collection and give it more weight. Hide away any necessary but functional objects, such as remote controls, in a beautiful box. Only display what helps elevate the experience of the room. Also, appeal to the senses and include candles, flowers and plants. While fragrance cannot be seen, it is an essential ingredient in the experience of any considered home.

Sideboard style 

A sideboard or console serves as a way to make your living room personal and intimate. While it often provides a resting place for functional objects, such as lamps or a television, it also allows you to display collections of art, books, ceramics and more. Create a dialogue between these objects, uniting them through materials, palette or provenance. A sideboard might be an opportunity to display seasonal blooms or foraged finds from nature. Just as you want to create a mix of heights within the living room, aim for variety on any surface, too. Ensure you include a mixture of formsโ€”from sculptural to linearโ€”to add interest and curiosity. Also, donโ€™t be afraid to be ambitious with what you create.  A sideboard or console is a great way to experiment on a small scale, without the commitment or cost thatโ€™s required when restyling an entire room.   

Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home by Natalie Walton is published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $60. Photography by Chris Warnes.

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Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

โ€œWe are very honoured to have been a part ofย The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,โ€ he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find ๐Ÿค—

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
๐Ÿ“ธ @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ N The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

โœ”๏ธ ventilation holes
โœ”๏ธ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
โœ”๏ธ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
โœ”๏ธ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
โœ”๏ธ Brabantia make things as sustainably as possible
โœ”๏ธ compact, sleek, European design
โœ”๏ธ 10 year warranty
โœ”๏ธ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
Kids and husband messing with my vignettes again๐Ÿคจ

PS. The coaster was RIGHT THERE ๐Ÿคช
#weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ Need a new blanket? Look no fu #weatherforit ๐Ÿฅถ

Need a new blanket? Look no further than these gorgeous South African blankets from @baobabcollective, sustainably sourced, ethically crafted and imported by a Southern Highlands couple.

On the blog now via link in bio.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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