HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
Subscribe
Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

{headline}

{headline}

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

{headline}

{headline}

Design secrets for creating an inviting open plan living area

Design secrets for creating an inviting open plan living area

Style your home for summer

Style your home for summer

Five ways to maximise small space living

Five ways to maximise small space living

{headline}

{headline}

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

How to make your living room look bigger

How to make your living room look bigger

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

7 ways to find more space in your living room

7 ways to find more space in your living room

  1. Home
  2. H2HB

Must-haves vs lust-haves: Living room

Finding the balance between non-negotiables and luxury items is the renovator's eternal battle. With a bit of compromise, you can still spoil yourself - by Shelley Tustin
  • 05 Sep 2017
Must-haves vs lust-haves: Living room

LUST-HAVE

Top of the lust list is a separate formal sitting room for entertaining or, if the main open-plan kitchen and living area is where guests congregate, a separate media room where you can hide the ugliness of the television, the clutter of cords and the kids’ games consoles. Within the media room, gorgeous joinery could hide the top-shelf tech you’ve invested in, including a motorised lift for the television, so it can descend out of sight when not in use.

MUST-HAVES

As the space in which you will relax and come together as a family, the minimum requirements of a living room are warmth and comfort. Plan for a snuggly sofa big enough for the whole crew – a modular, such as those from King Living, will offer flexibility – and consider putting in a fireplace, which will both warm the space and provide a visual focus other than the TV.

living room
Nikole Ramsay

COMPROMISE

If the budget won’t stretch to a separate living area, consider ways to divide the room. “A tall open shelving unit provides storage and separates a large space,” says interior designer Luisa Volpato. Remove focus from the TV with a stylish feature wall. “They’re a great way to add another dimension to your space,” says Aimee, who’s planning a wall of white, narrow profile bricks by Austral Bricks in her own new build.

H2HB
Introducing House To Home Beautiful

Introducing House To Home Beautiful

Behind the scenes: Meet the dream team behind House to Home Beautiful!

Behind the scenes: Meet the dream team behind House to Home Beautiful!

Episode 1: Video Diary

Episode 1: Video Diary

H2HB

- by Home Beautiful
Introducing House To Home Beautiful Renovate

Introducing House To Home Beautiful

Behind the scenes: Meet the dream team behind House to Home Beautiful! Renovate

Behind the scenes: Meet the dream team behind House to Home Beautiful!

Episode 1: Video Diary Renovate

Episode 1: Video Diary

Episode 2: Designing Your Home Renovate

Episode 2: Designing Your Home

Episode 3: Questions To Ask Your Builder Renovate

Episode 3: Questions To Ask Your Builder

Episode 4: Design Inspiration Renovate

Episode 4: Design Inspiration

Episode 5: Mood Board Renovate

Episode 5: Mood Board

Episode 6: Frank's Top Budget Tips Renovate

Episode 6: Frank's Top Budget Tips

Episode 7: Floor Plan Renovate

Episode 7: Floor Plan

HomeBeautiful
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
HomeBeautiful Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • marie claire
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

Shop This Offer
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug