Planning a masculine home

How to create a luxurious, elegant living room

9 February 2017

Felicia Carr

If you'd love to add a touch of luxury to your living room but aren't quite sure how to go about doing this, here are some tips which should help.

Opt for quality over quantity

Many homeowners mistakenly believe that in order for their living rooms to exude that elusive air of opulence, they need to fill it with lots of decorative accessories and soft furnishings. Because purchasing so many items can end up being quite expensive, a lot of people then opt for cheap replicas of luxury decor goods. This approach usually results in a room that looks cluttered, messy and decidedly unsophisticated.

Rather than purchasing a dozen cheap decorative accessories, invest in two or three high-quality, eye-catching items that will give the space that chic, high-end appearance you desire. For example, instead of filling up the mantle above the fireplace with lots of cheap knick-knacks, splurge on an antique wooden clock or beautiful, ornate mirror to use as a centrepiece. When you pare back all of the unnecessary clutter, the items you do choose to display will look all the more striking and elegant.

Pay attention to the flooring

You don't necessarily need to spend a small fortune in order to create a luxurious living room. For example, a few inexpensive faux-silk cushions can go a long way towards adding a touch of elegance to an otherwise average-looking space. However, there are certain elements which are worth spending a little bit more on.

The flooring is one such example. It is one of the most immediately visible aspects of a living room; as such, even if you've gone to great lengths to create beautifully dressed windows, have a perfectly decorated mantle, and splurge on a gorgeous, high-end sofa, you won't be able to achieve the look you want to if the flooring is not up to par. Poorly-fitted 'wood effect' vinyl or a thin, threadbare carpet will make even the most beautiful of living rooms look neglected and unrefined.

If you decide to buy new flooring, think carefully about your personal preferences before you make your purchase. Solid timber flooring, for example, will add an elegant look to your living room. The clean, simple lines and neutral colouring of a wooden floor mean that it will neither date nor detract from other decorative elements in the room. In short, it's one of the most sophisticated and enduring types of flooring you can buy. However, it does have its drawbacks; in colder climates, it can make a living room feel quite chilly and uninviting.

If you're looking for luxurious flooring that will still enable you to create a cosy, welcoming ambience in this part of your home, then a plush pile carpet may be a better choice. This feels very soft underfoot and will help to keep the space warm and comfortable. If you'd prefer carpeting, but want something less texturally 'busy' than a thick pile, velvet — a smooth, dense material that has always been synonymous with luxury — is another excellent option.

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