How to Create a Sociable Living Room

Whether you’re an avid entertainer or an occasional host, there are bound to be times your living room is used for socialising. It could be anything from movie nights or parties to catch ups over coffee. A truly sociable living room will help your guests feel relaxed, welcome and comfortable. By following our carefully compiled tips, all the social gatherings in the heart of your home will be even more enjoyable.

Create Intimate Seating

A brilliant way to make your living room feel more sociable is to create an intimate seating arrangement. After all, it doesn’t make for good conversation when there are wide spaces between your armchairs and the seating is all spread out. Talking across the room isn’t the way most people like to open up to their friends, get to know new people or tell a joke.

Antisocial seating arrangements often come into play when the television is the focus of the room. That’s because your sofas and armchairs are all positioned for the best view, instead of facing each other. Bring your seating closer together so your guests can enjoy conversation without straining their neck or vocal cords. If you mainly use your living room to watch tv, you could consider rejigging it whenever you have guests.

Relaxed Warm Lighting

Warm lighting is one of the best ways to help guests feel calm, relaxed and sociable in your living room. You can completely overhaul your living room by simply switching off ceiling lights and using candles, wall lights and table lamps to illuminate it. Instead of the harsh, unflattering glow overhead lighting can create, you’ll be left with an atmospheric, intimate ambience.

If you’re investing in new living room lighting, then there are some key styles to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for table lamps with opal shades, these help to diffuse the light and give it a soft glow. Shades made using natural linen, ceramic or marble will also help achieve the same look. For a low-cost transformation, replace any bright white bulbs with warmer options.

Use Rugs to Create Zones

If your living room is part of a large, open plan space, it can be hard to make it feel like a separate area. Luckily, one of the benefits of open-plan living is that it’s particularly sociable. You could be enjoying a catch up in the living area whilst others are playing games at the table and still feel completely involved. However, if you’d like to create some clearer zones in the room, then that can be done by simply using rugs.

From your living space to your dining table and office nook, use rugs to mark out each zone. This will help make your living room feel cosier and more defined. Adding rugs to your space will also help inject a little more personality, perfect for sociable living rooms.

Comfort Is Key

You and your guests will feel more at ease if you’re comfortable, so make that a priority. A snuggly sofa will make all the difference, encouraging your guests to feel more relaxed and sociable. If you’re hosting a larger group, then use bean bags and large cushions to create extra seating on the floor.

If you’re lumped with an uncomfy sofa and now isn’t the right time to buy a new one, accessories will help. Filling your living room with plenty of cushions, throws and blankets will help to create a more cosy, sociable space. Drape a throw over the side of the sofa so your guests know they’re welcome to use them. Or you could stash some spare blankets in a storage basket for them to pick from.

Add a Bit of Personality

A pristine lounge that doesn’t have a hair out of place can leave your guests nervous to accidentally make a mess. Inject a touch of your personality into your living room to make them feel more relaxed and at home. This could be anything from your favourite design classic to your old guitar or holiday pictures. Even if your style is more minimalist, you can still use ornaments and wall art to show your personality. This is also a great way to break the ice when you’re meeting new people.

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