How to Create a Traditional Living Room

1. Start with a Plan

• Focus on the architectural framework: Before introducing traditional decor into your client's living room, evaluate the home's architectural elements. Take note of features like crown molding, wainscoting, fireplaces, arched doorways, cabinets, and bookshelves. Understanding these aspects allows you to choose colors and decorations that complement the existing structure. For instance, a fireplace can serve as the centerpiece of your traditional living room design. Similarly, if you have dark-stained floors, opting for cream-colored furniture can create a harmonious contrast. It's crucial to build upon the existing framework to ensure your enhancements blend seamlessly with the inherent character of the space.
• Choose a layout: A general plan of a traditional living room usually consists of a coffee table, a sofa, a fireplace, and matching armchairs. Traditional living room designs often incorporate multiple sofas, side tables, and lamps. You can certainly add more elements, provided the space can accommodate them. It's important to remember that a traditional living room typically features a symmetrical arrangement. Additionally, when planning your layout, consider how you intend to use the space.
• Follow your personal aesthetic preference: Although your selections might be inspired by conventional living room decor ideas you find online, remember to incorporate elements that reflect your client's unique personality and lifestyle.
• Select either formal or casual: There are numerous ways to envision a traditionally styled living room, yet these can typically be grouped into two primary categories: formal and casual. Your selection between these styles will largely reflect your client's personality and way of living. Formal styles often feature velvet fabrics, tufted sofas, ornate frames, curved lines, claw feet, and intricate carvings. In contrast, casual elegance is characterized by an abundance of cushions, striped and floral patterns, and exceptionally comfortable seating options like overstuffed sofas and chairs.

2. Use a Wallpaper

Historically, affluent individuals placed significant emphasis on wall decorations. Well-crafted walls symbolized wealth in England in earlier times and were considered essential for aspiring aristocrats. However, after the 1970s, wallpaper fell out of favor due to inconsistent design executions.

If plain whitewashed walls lack the impact you desire, consider incorporating wallpaper, particularly pastoral toile de Jouy designs, where suitable. Though intricate, these designs complement traditional antique furniture, elegant drapery, and fixtures. Striped wallpapers are another hallmark of classic English living room decor. When opting for stripes, it's advisable to apply them only up to hip height and complement them with a dado rail. Floor-to-ceiling stripes typically do not harmonize well with living room aesthetics.

Alternatively, explore wallpaper patterns featuring interlocking floral motifs in traditional English hues like lemon, indigo, stone, honey, powder blue, or garden green.

3. Bring Antiques

Traditional living room decor is incomplete without unusual and unique antiques. Grab everything you can feel like will match your client's aesthetic – silverware, antique clocks, and pewter jugs. A traditional living room can be enriched by a bookshelf stocked with gently used books alongside vintage artworks and photographs. Hunt for antique paintings at local flea markets and present them in ornate gilt frames.

For a touch of British eccentricity, consider integrating old-fashioned typewriters, telephones, and globes into your décor—they serve as delightful conversation starters.

4. Stick with a Color Scheme

It’s a wise choice to choose a color scheme that matches the vibes and personal aesthetic of the entire home. Let’s take a look at how you can pick a suitable color scheme for your needs:

• Synchronized and sober color: When considering traditional design, it's advisable to avoid bright colors and jewel tones. Opt instead for neutral or earthy shades that foster a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. You can introduce hues like yellow, green, and blue, provided they are in muted tones or the lightest variants. Alongside choosing subdued colors, maintaining a harmonized color palette ensures consistency and coherence. Essentially, blending colors is permissible if they adhere to the same palette or complement each other.
• Complex patterns: Although conventional home colors are often soft and understated, patterns can be vibrant and intricate. Consider incorporating floral motifs, stripes, and chinoiserie designs. These patterns can be featured in your upholstered furniture, pillows, and rugs. You can even add patterned wallpaper to your decor.

5. Select Classic Furniture

A mix of antique pieces, dark hardwood furniture, and a timeless sofa piece is a great choice for a traditional living room. Mahogany, walnut, and oak are timeless choices for living room furniture. However, if antique hardwood pieces are too costly, you can achieve the worn, aged appearance yourself.

For sofas, opting for a classic shape is advisable. A Chesterfield sofa, with its traditional design, can unify the room. While leather is a conventional option for an English sofa, you might prefer a heritage fabric, such as a checked tweed, for a different look. To maintain an eclectic ambiance, consider selecting sofas and armchairs in various finishes instead of matching fabrics.

6. Harmonize Fabrics and Upholstery

It's essential to remember that coordinating upholstery and fabrics is crucial when selecting traditional living room furniture. However, this doesn't preclude the use of varied textures. For instance, you can opt for a set of matching upholstered chairs and enhance them with accent pillows to add depth to the room. Ensure you stick to complementary tones or different shades of the same color to maintain the integrity of the traditional interior design.

7. Select the Right Lamps and Lights

Many sitting rooms feature central ceiling lights, yet these often fail to enhance the space. Achieving the right proportions is challenging, and the illumination is frequently too intense, resulting in a harsh ambiance. Large table lamps are perfect for lighting traditional sitting areas, as they can be placed on tables to emit a cozy glow over the seating area. To further enhance the ambient lighting, consider incorporating picture lights or wall uplighters.

8. Go for Timeless Materials

Wood is your go-to choice for interior design when it comes to a traditional living room. But apart from that, there are other options you can explore as well. Here are your possible options:

• Metal: Metal accents can enhance the elegance of a traditional living room. Classic options include metal table lamps or floor lamps, and a metal chandelier can also be a striking addition. When incorporating metals, it is best to choose from brass, satin, nickel, bronze, or brushed pewter for a cohesive look.
• Brick and stone: Brick and stone are timeless materials. You can highlight your fireplace with either brick or stone. Use brick as an accent wall for added interest. Stone can also be applied to walls to enhance texture and bring a touch of nature into the space.
• Glass: Integrating glass into your traditional living room is quite straightforward. Consider adding a glass coffee table or side table; these pieces can subtly contrast the room's classic ambiance.