Our Guide For Styling Large Rooms
Expert Advice from our Interior Designers
Many often give advice on how to furnish smaller rooms with limited space, trying not to make a room feel cramped. Some of us however are fortunate enough to have the opposite issue, where we find ourselves with vast spaces unsure how to fill them. Large spaces often denote affluence and freedom – however, when not properly furnished they can have the opposite effect. We have asked our designers to give us their top tips on how to furnish a large space stylishly and effectively.
SCALE
Like in any size room, it is important that the size or the volume of the furniture match the size of the room that they are in. Working with your room's dimensions and shape is the best way to plan in your furniture. For a full in-depth look at furniture planning, check out our post on how to get your design project right first time.
ACCESSORISE
It can often be difficult to fill a space – that’s where accessories and styling comes in. Adding a personal touch to your home instantly elevates your space from a house to a home. Key pieces that we recommend are artwork, pictures and personal mementoes. Having a home that tells the story of your life is always in style.
LIGHTING
The correct lighting in a space can make or break how it feels it live in. Too harsh and it can become glaring and uncomfortable, too dark and it can be impractical. In general, we recommend at least two to three lamps in each room – a ceiling pendant, then mix and match between floor and table lamps. Having different options allows you to determine your lighting needs and comfort levels. Plus, you will find that different lighting conditions make your room feel larger or smaller depending on what you prefer. For more tailored advice on personal room lighting, speak to a design consultant about your room.
ZONING
Often with larger rooms, it is more effective to break the room up into sections to make them more sociable. This can easily be done through furniture placement and finding out naturally where certain tasks or activities take place. This way, you have a space that is more practical, more efficient and enjoyable to live in.
ASK A PROFESSIONAL
Creating a coherent, liveable space can be an arduous task, and many of us don’t have the time to design our homes to their full potential. That’s why with our free design service, we can lend our expertise to interior design and spatial planning that fits around your schedule. Book a free consultation with us in-store, over the phone or in your home.
SOFA
Arguably the most important part of the living room is the sofa. The key to creating a visually appealing living room is having furniture that matches the scale of the room proportionally. Larger rooms will suit larger sofas most likely, be it one large corner unit or separate pieces for more traditional living areas. To create a warmer feel in your living space, we recommend considering a corner sofa – this lets you lounge and have plenty of space, while the corner boxes the area in, creating cosier feeling within the room. For flexibility, pair with single chairs which will close off the seating zone within the room.
BREAKOUT AREA
Create a separate area to break up the expanse of the room. Sometimes, you may get a room that is so large that scaling up your furniture size can only go so far. Creating breakout zones within the room breaks up the space and can actually utilise more of the room that you have. Consider creating a small office area or a reading nook; something that can almost make the room a multifunctional “alrum” (a Danish word for a “do it all” room).
STORAGE
With extra space, you have the chance to make a feature of your storage area. Placing units against large walls break up the area and gives visual relief to the eye. Don’t be scared off by huge overbearing units however, modern wall systems can also hang flush to the wall, as well as floating shelves serving the job as a visual point to break up the wall space.
SPACE FRAMING
With a large space, it is quite easy for even the largest pieces of furniture to feel lost in a room. Adding a rug to your central area grounds your furniture, giving the space context and focusing the eye on the focal point of the living space.
THE DINING TABLE
Remembering to work with the proportions of the room will influence the style and size of the table that will work best with the space. Consider the shape of your room when choosing your table.
DINING CHAIRS
Surprisingly, dining chairs can often be an afterthought to many but can make the biggest difference to the overall look of a room. Also, consider bookending your table with armed chairs. This more traditionally formal style has a cocooning effect on your table, further influencing the zoning technique we like to use in larger spaces.
WALL BACKDROP
Keeping in mind the first look from an entryway of a room can make a huge difference to how a larger room is perceived. Adding a dramatic backdrop on a wall to a dining space can create a central point of focus to counteract a large empty void. For example, large artwork or a large ornamental storage unit can break up a large wall, creating an area for the eye to focus on. You can use this as a place to hang your favourite artwork or a place to show off your finest dinnerware or prized possessions.
CONSIDER A RUG
Like in the living room, adding a rug under our dining table grounds your furniture in the room and creates a softer, more inviting look to your space. We would recommend a rug large enough to cover your table and chairs tucked in, as smaller rugs can often look unsubstantial and unnecessary if they don’t do this.
STATEMENT HEADBOARD
As with other rooms, the issue most of our clients want to overcome with large spaces is filling empty walls. This is a chance to be bold with your sleeping furniture and opt for a statement headboard. This could even extend to around your headboard; artwork, lighting and mirrors can all play a part. The key is balance. Check out our bedroom inspiration for the latest bedroom designs from us.
MIRRORS MATTER
Having a generously sized mirror in your bedroom is essential for most of our clients, as this is where they get ready for the day. Using it as a design piece is a great way to incorporate a practical item into your aesthetics. A large oversized mirror can sometimes feel overbearing in small spaces, but will feel right at home in a larger room, and will have the added benefit of breaking up wall space too.
MAXIMUM STORAGE
Storage in your bedroom is key as it’s where you arguably need it the most. From wardrobes to chests, using a large space is a chance to make the most effective and practical storage solutions without them being overbearing. If you find yourself with a very large bedroom, you may find it a great place for storing other things around the house as well.
A SPACE FOR YOURSELF
If you have extra space in your bedroom, take advantage of it as a place of sanctuary. A reading nook? Dressing area? If you have room in your sleeping space, think about what you do most in there (apart from sleeping) and create a zone around it.
PERSONAL ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST
SPEAK TO US ABOUT YOUR SPACE
The best advice we can give you is on a one-to-one basis. Our designers can help your specific dining dilemmas with tailored advice that addresses your personal needs, wants and tastes. Available in-store, online or in your own home; explore our free interior design service today.
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