Jennifer Sheahan: Interior design ideas for larger rooms
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When my little cottage won , I got a lot of kudos for making clever use of space. Truthfully that makes me feel a bit guilty. Any designer will tell you that adding constraints (such as limited space) can often make designing easier.
Creating clever storage solutions is not so hard when you have no other option! What can actually be harder is having a big empty space in front of you — cleverly designing “the big room”. Sure, there is a lot more freedom, but there are also far more decisions to be made.
There are endless layout options, more areas that require lighting, and additional wall space to fill. It’s hard to know where to start — and once you do start, it can be easy to question whether you’ve made the right choice.
Done wrong, a large room can feel cold and uninviting, but done right it can feel welcoming and even cosy. Here are some tips to make the best use of the big room.
There is an instinct in many rooms to put furniture against the walls, with tables in the middle, and call it a day. This isn’t always a bad idea, but in a large room it will just leave too much space in the middle of the room and create an uncomfortably empty feeling. Instead, you should pull furniture into the middle of the room and group it to create zones.
The key to designing large rooms is zoning which is easily achieved by grouping furniture. The first step is to decide which zone will have which function, for instance, a relaxing area with a sofa; a socialising area with armchairs facing each other around a central coffee table; a working area with a desk; a bar area with a drinks trolley and shelving.
Rugs are particularly effective for visually separating zones, and you can also use lighting, colour, and room dividers to create further definition. Remember to leave walkways clear to maintain flow.
Room dividers are a practical way to break up large spaces and easily create zones. You don’t need to go as far as building partition walls — you can use open shelving units or simply tall plants to section off areas. These types of dividers won’t block too much light and they can be moved around should you feel like changing your layout.
For something more permanent, you can install a partition divider. These are usually at least semi-transparent, for instance, a partition made of wooden slats, or even a Crittal-style glass partition. You could also install sliding panels if you’d like a divider that can be frequently and easily moved, or even fabric panels or drapery to add some luxurious texture to your room.
Defining a focal point — the main object or area that draws our eye — in a room is a key step in designing a room. In a large room with zones it makes sense to have multiple focal points, one in each zone. This creates more visual interest in the room and creates a sense of cohesion that can help tie the room together.
In a large room, you can use huge statement pieces to anchor the space such as oversized armchairs, big chandeliers, tall plants, or giant pieces of artwork.
While it’s good to create distinct areas, too much distinction can look messy. You need to maintain a level of continuity to prevent the room from looking confused. Don’t have a huge piece of furniture on one side and a small piece on the other — distribute large and small items evenly throughout the room.
While it’s fine (perhaps even more interesting) to have different furniture and styles in each zone, you should maintain a level of continuity by repeating a colour, texture, or pattern in each zone. This will ensure harmony and balance throughout the room.
Lighting is always key in my book, but perhaps more than ever in a large room. If designing from scratch your (or your electrician’s) instinct will be to install rows of spotlights in the ceiling.
Resist!! Think carefully first about what lighting you will need in each zone, and at each time of day. Layer your lighting to achieve different effects.
Pair statement ceiling lights with table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces. Make sure you can control each light separately so you can switch it up (pun intended) to create different atmospheres. Dimmer switches offer flexibility to adjust brightness based on mood.
Large rooms afford a lot of freedom when it comes to colour. A light, neutral base with pops of bold colour throughout will create brightness, fun, and lots of interest. Colour-drenching all walls, ceilings, and skirting with one deep, warm colour will create a calm, intimate atmosphere.
If you have high ceilings, you can play with proportion by bringing your wall paint partially up the wall, stopping around three-quarters of the way up or so to create a visual break. You could also paint the ceiling a darker colour, and similarly bring that colour part of the way down the walls for a dramatic effect that highlights the room’s height.