Western Mail Article - May 30th 2009

Give your sitting room a summer shake up.

Planning a space is a little like putting a menu together.

You have to be sure that all the assorted items complement one another and that you get harmony without repetition.

You also need a few surprises.

Individual pieces add character to a room, so don’t feel that you need a matching set of anything for the place to look right.

The trick is to combine different styles and periods of furniture and position them so that they suit the shape of the room.

Mix old with new, dark wood with gilded and painted surfaces, and chunky rustic styling with fine decorative carving.

The colour and style of your floor needs to be considered just as carefully as the walls to help set the scene and provide a backdrop for other furnishings.

A plain base gives you most scope - either a single colour fitted carpet or wooden boards (polished, waxed or painted), on top of which you can lay rugs to introduce some panache.

Rugs are a useful way of breaking up the space into different areas, and add warmth and softness.

The sitting room in the picture is formal, but the style of the rug brings in a touch of comfort that eases this, and creates harmony.

However, let’s say you have a high-ceilinged room that looks more formal than you would like it to, then you need to be careful with accessories.

Avoid creating a regimented display with pictures and accessories.

Prop pictures on shelves and mix different colours and styles to generate a more casual feel.

A sitting room needs to be conducive to relaxation so steer clear of harsh lightin

One option is to use recessed spotlights and a dimmer switch, so you can up the brightness when you are reading and soften things when you need a more soothing environment.

A chandelier makes the most of a high ceiling, and looks stunning even when unlit, complement this with lamps that glow warmly, and illuminate dark corners.

Most sitting rooms have a multipurpose life involving books, magazines, games and electronic equipment.

It can be tricky to accommodate all these disparate elements yet avoid a sense of clutter.

Consider housing your books in a study or bedroom, or confine them to a single area in a living room in which floor to ceiling shelves can form a storage grid, housing other items such as CDs as well.

If possible house TVs and sound systems in cabinets so that they don’t intrude when not in use. I have had wonderful bespoke cabinets built for a number of clients.

The sofa is likely to be the most expensive purchase in the room, therefore select it with care.

Above all it has to be comfortable.

At the end of a long day it’s important to be able to chill out in front of a good movie, or stretch out with a good book.

Take time to choose a sofa that ticks all the boxes.

While a stylish look is desirable, remember that the furnishings you choose have to be compatible with the way you live.

Choosing high maintenance fabrics when you have a family will become a nightmare as the stress involved in keeping them looking great outweighs the pleasure.

A white carpet or sofa might look fab in a magazine, but it won't look so good covered in chocolate stains and cat hairs.

My family home is also occupied by a dog and four cats, so I am careful to choose furnishings that take that into account.

Afterall, a house should be a home and not a showpiece.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk