formal living room styling with dark green walls fireplace with round mirror above and velvet green sofa

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12 Comments

  1. Great insights on designing a formal living room! The balance of elegance and comfort is key in creating a timeless space. Thoughtful furniture selection and lighting play a huge role in achieving the perfect ambiance. For anyone looking to enhance their interiors with expert craftsmanship, professional fit-out solutions can make a big difference. Looking forward to more design tips.

  2. Hi Chris,

    Thank you so much for your helpful article.

    I just moved to a new house. I am struggling to decorate the formal living room because of its layout.

    My formal living room is rectangle shaped. It has french doors to get in. Entering through the french doors, a big window to the front yard is on the left side. To the right side of the living room, a formal dining area is connected. There is no fireplace.

    If I make the wall opposite to the french doors ( which is the longest wall of the rectangle) as the focal point and arrange the sittings ( 1 sofa and 2 armchairs) to face each other on each side of the focal point wall, the sofa or armchairs cut the flow of the room from the french doors to the dining room. If I make the window as the focal point and arrange the sittings to facing each other, the sofa or armchairs block the french doors. The doors cannot be opened without moving the chairs.

    The only way to keep the flow seems to be to put the sofa against the opposite wall of the french doors and arm chairs to the window side. The arrangement is in L- shape which is not symmetric nor formal.

    Please, is there any way to create a more formal yet functional layout for my livingroom? I would really appreciate any insights.

    Cheers,
    Johana

    1. Hi Johana, it’s really difficult to give specific advice in this instance. I’d encourage you to hire a local designer for a consultation who you can bounce ideas off.

  3. Hi Chris,

    I’ve been following your blogs since last week and I just wanted to thank you for being super helpful.

    I’m actually in the process of decorating my new home and I really love the curtains displayed in the 5th image (of this blog). Would you be able to let me know where I can find it to make a purchase?

    Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Hannah, I don’t have those details but if you show the photo to a window treatment manufacturer they should be able to make you something similar.

  4. Hi Chris
    Thank you for your tips & ideas on the Formal Living Room, I am near building a brand new Hampton home which shall be complete in 3-4 months, with a formal room next to the dining room, a family room next to the kitchen & a patents/grandchildren’s retreat upstairs next to the main & grandchildrenโ€™s โ€˜s bedrooms. I am going to be using all rooms as much as possible as both my husband & I are in our 60โ€™s still working full time in our legal practice. My grandchildren usually stay with us every second week 5-6 days.
    Regarding your tip on NOT having a TV in the formal living room, well I have decided to have a custom made wall unit for a large TV in the centre plus glass cabinets on either side to put a few beautiful Limited Edition Swarovski Crystal pieces that I have collected yrs ago which very ornate & beautiful to look at.
    What is your view on my decision?
    I shall also have a custom made wall unit upstairs in the parents retreat with similar items as downstairs except in a more relaxed nautical theme. Last but not least the family room next to the kitchen, this one shall be the most relaxed of them all always in a Hampton theme. I would appreciate your view. kind regards Rita Dโ€™Angelo

    1. Hi Rita, I do prefer not to have a TV in the formal room, but if you want one then you could place it in cabinetry like you are doing. You could also have it rise out of and lower into the cabinetry when not in use. Another option is one of the TVs that can be set to look like art when it’s not being used as a TV. Best of luck with the build!

  5. Hi Chris
    I enjoy receiving your blogs – so thank you for all the tips and ideas. When I see a piece of furniture I like how do I follow it up? Perhaps not possible โ€ฆ
    I have an old home (colonial mudbrick) where the the formal living room sits off the hallway. Further there is a need to walk across the living room to reach an enclosed verandah space . I have struggled to make this area work and hence it doesnโ€™t get used much โ€ฆthe fireplace on one wall I guess would be a focal point but then itโ€™s not directly in front of you but adjacent to you as you come into this space . So the issue of a thoroughfare is problematic when you add a coffee table ! Any ideas?
    Many thanks
    Necia

    1. Hi Necia, thanks so much for following the blog. It’s always hard to give good advice based on a few sentences. Honestly in your scenario I’d try to find a local interior designer or decorator who can help you get the space right with a one off consultation. It will likely cost you a few hundred dollars, but it would be worth it to get this space right. Plus you should have time to review any other rooms and ask for their suggestions. Just let them know want a one off consult before you book them.

      I could throw out suggestions but they are going to be too general and without seeing the space my suggestions might not work. I wouldn’t want to lead you astray.

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