How living room design impacts the home's character

The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the living room may be its soul. It is where the personality of the homeowner can be easily seen, where friends and families can gather to create memories, and it is the easiest room to style in a way that is pleasing to the owner and their guests alike.

The living room had different functions through the history of home building. In the Victorian era, particularly, the well-to-do had a sitting room where guests can be received formally; smoking parlours where men can retire for a smoke and a brandy; a front room to catch the morning sun; or even a drawing room.

The contemporary home’s living room is less structured, and the advent of the open concept design on the main floor makes the entire space – including kitchen, dining room, and living room – into one contiguous area.
The open concept design made it much easier to entertain large gatherings, where conversations can flow freely unencumbered by walls, which makes the entire main floor a literal living room. That’s why the open space design is, by far, the most popular design in today’s homes. But some are seeing changes coming along even for this most iconic style.

Designing your living room

Today’s living room is mostly just an open space formed by walls and windows. It is the easiest space to style to your liking as the only things to consider are the material of the flooring and the colour of the walls. The rest is for furniture you choose.

Showhomes are a good place to find the best inspiration for your own living room, and Jayman BUILT showhomes never disappoint. Their new showhomes in the Uplands at Riverview and Desrochers Villages have some of the most exciting, trendy designs that can spark the imagination.

Tara Bergen, Showhome Merchandiser for Jayman BUILT Edmonton, says having a plan on what you want your living room to look like is the first step.

“When designing a living room, the key is the layout and space planning. This will dictate the mood and flow of the room and can greatly affect how it is used by the residents,” she tells Edmonton New Home + Condo Guide.
Although the open concept design is still favoured for its sense of spaciousness, natural light, and the ability to promote social interaction, Bergen says she is seeing a gradual evolution away from this design.

“In recent years we have begun to move towards a more closed concept trend which encourages a feeling of coziness and comfort. While an open concept floorplan is still the best option for many, it lends itself very well for those who enjoy entertaining. In any case, open concept vs. closed ultimately comes down to what’s functional for you.”

One step at a time

According to Taabish Zaver, Interior Design Manager at Cantiro, there are six key factors that go into creating a stylish and refined living room.

First, “opt to include one of kind items or vintage accents. These items become conversation starters and a focal point that can elevate the entire space.” Lighting plays a key role, as well. “It’s not just functional, it can also be used to highlight architectural features and details.” Consider concealed LED strips, Sculptural pendant lights, or fixtures that draw attention to your room’s distinctive structural elements.

Next is a functional layout, she adds, which means making effective use of space and furniture placement to allow for socialization, entertaining or relaxing.

Move beyond conventional art and paint. Elevate your walls with artistic treatments like hand-painted murals and textured plaster finishes. These custom wall treatments not only add luxury but also create a striking background that sets your space apart.

The use of carefully curated accessories is also important, she continues. This means mix and match a blend of eras, styles, and influences. Juxtapose bold patterns and textures with minimalistic pieces. Create a harmonious fusion that is uniquely yours. Storage, of course, should always be kept in mind. Incorporate technology in your design, conceal televisions behind art or mirrored surfaces and hidden storage in smart furniture solutions. “Clever and concealed storage options to keep the living room stylish, functional and uncluttered.”

The importance of scale

Whether you live in a cozy condo or a palatial estate home, scale of the furniture to match the surroundings is key. In this case, Bergen at Jayman says size matters.

“Scale is the most important factor here. We always need the same minimum circulation allowances, or the space to move around a room, so when the room gets smaller, so must the furniture. Fortunately, different brands make a variety of furniture sizes from apartment size to large scale furniture for massive rooms.”
She adds that some items may be cut from a small living room like accent chairs, but scale of the furniture, rugs, and accessories is the main factor. “Visual weight can also play a role. When dealing with a smaller space, try using pieces with skinnier legs, or glass so the eye passes through. For a larger space, chunky, heavier items will help to fill the space.”

Purposeful design

Picking a home from Cantiro’s Life Collection™ can alleviate some of the pressure of new home finishes and selections, as the award-winning builders’ designers curate specific styles to fit each customers’ needs. Cantiro’s Life Collection™ includes two lines of single-family homes; Front Drive and Three-Storey single family homes.
Within the Life Collection™ are the Family Series, Career Series and Entertain Series, each purposely designed to reflect the particular lifestyle values at their core.

In the Entertain Series, Zaver says the ‘Gathering Room’ has ample space for enjoying great company and conversations. “This room flows seamlessly to other mingling spaces throughout the main floor. One of our models, the Entertain Impression 22 has a Cantina nearby to display and enjoy your personal wine collection.”
In the Family Series, she says Cantiro “incorporated an oversized living room with space for everyone to get cozy and put up their feet.”

While the Career Series includes a spacious Lounge, again with space to relax, work or spend time with friends. “Many of our Career models also include dedicated space for workstations near the Lounge,” she adds.
“Our homebuyers can elevate their home design and living space with curated, personalized, and custom home options,” Zaver says. Cantiro also has a Design Centre where customers can touch and view sample materials and work with our interior designers to seamlessly make every aspect of their home fit with their life and style.

For more information on Cantiro’s Life Collection™, go to cantiro.ca.

A helping hand

Jayman BUILT has their styleMagic™ Design Centre to help clients in creating the style for their dream home.
“Jayman BUILT allows all homeowners to personalize their new home in our styleMagic™ Design Centre – our team of professionally certified interior designers help you choose the flooring and paint colours, as well as fireplace options if you so choose,” Bergen says.

“While we don’t necessarily help you pick furniture, we can help you design a space that suits your current furniture, your taste, and the overall aesthetic you have in mind! Or we can help you determine what that aesthetic really is and make recommendations.”

She points out however that the living room layout always starts with the sofa. “There are usually multiple layout options, but a sofa or sectional can dictate how the rest of the furniture flows. It’s best to have your sofa approaching a visual feature such as a fireplace, art piece or TV, and then other items like a coffee table, rug, accent chairs, etc. can be placed. Functionally, we spend a lot of time sitting on our sofas so it should be comfortable and welcoming, as you see with our Sonata showhome in Desrochers Villages.”

This 1,564-square-foot laned home has a dream living room design, well-lit and immaculately styled with soft fabric and wood elements. For more information on Jayman BUILT showhomes in Edmonton, go to jayman.com.