Designing a living room is one of the most exciting and often the most challenging part of a home project. As the heart of the home, your living room should reflect your personality, work beautifully for your lifestyle, and feel cohesive from floor to ceiling. Over the years, I’ve worked on countless living rooms at Sophie Paterson Interiors, and I know firsthand that thoughtful planning and layering are what elevate a space from average to exceptional.
In this post, I’ll share five of the key principles I teach inside my online interior design course, so whether you’re a complete beginner or simply want a more refined space, you’ll feel more confident knowing exactly how to design a living room, the right way.
1. It All Starts with a Plan
Before diving into fabric swatches or paint samples, the first step I always take and recommend to anyone, is to understand how the space will be used. Is this a room for entertaining, for family movie nights, for quiet evenings by the fire? Clarity at this stage is essential.
Inside the course, I walk students through how we approach a project at the studio, starting with:
- The room’s function (single or multi-use)
- Key architectural features
- Traffic flow and movement
- Accurate measurement
I always encourage students to sketch out their layout ideas to scale. If you’re unsure where to begin, start by observing how you naturally move through the space and identify any bottlenecks or underused corners.
INTERIOR DESIGNER TIP: Always allow 50-75cm in between pieces of furniture to allow for comfortable circulation (e.g. between a sofa and coffee table).
2. Elevate Your Space with a Joinery-Led Design
One of the most overlooked, yet transformative elements of luxury living room design is custom joinery. Most people think of sofas, curtains, and coffee tables first but at Sophie Paterson Interiors, we often begin with built-in joinery as the visual and functional anchor of the room.
Why? Because bespoke joinery brings architecture to life. It frames the space, adds gravitas, and provides beautiful storage that blends seamlessly with your design vision. Whether it’s a media unit, alcove cabinetry, display shelving, or a full wall of joinery, these elements allow you to balance beauty and practicality in a way freestanding furniture simply can’t.
Inside my course, I guide students through:
- Designing joinery to fit your room’s proportions (avoiding the most common mistake: units that are too shallow or too small)
- Balancing symmetry and negative space, so your joinery doesn’t overpower the room
- Incorporating hidden cable management for lighting, media equipment, and even automated blinds
- Working with cabinetmakers to get the best finish from painted shaker fronts to luxury veneer detailing
INTERIOR DESIGN TIP: Want a truly elevated look? Ask your joiner to incorporate integrated lighting such as warm LED strips inside display shelves, and run a false back panel so all wires disappear. It’s a small detail that instantly elevates the entire room.
3. Layout is Everything
Getting your layout right is the foundation of great design. It’s the difference between a room that flows and one that feels awkward, no matter how beautiful the furniture.
I often begin by anchoring the main seating zone with a large rug. It defines the area and helps group your furniture together visually. Then I look at how to create conversation-friendly arrangements, sofas and armchairs that encourage interaction while still allowing good flow.
Some layout tips I swear by (and teach in depth in the course):
- When planning furniture consider whether you want it to face the TV or be conversational.
- Use joinery or a console table to divide open-plan spaces
- In larger rooms, consider a U-shaped seating layout for intimacy
- For smaller living rooms, L-shaped configurations can work wonders
Need inspiration? I share real-life layout examples from never seen before projects inside the course to spark your own living room layout ideas. However, feel free to see my Pinterest board of past projects here
4. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Lighting
Lighting is one of the most overlooked, yet most powerful tools in interior design. A well-lit living room isn’t just about brightness, it’s about ambience, flexibility, and mood.
In my course, I dedicate an entire module to lighting because of how dramatically it transforms a room.
HERE’S A QUICK VERSION OF WHAT I TEACH:
- Ambient lighting .Your base layer: ceiling lights, downlights, or discreet plaster uplights.
- Task lighting. Focused light where you need it: reading lamps, desk lighting, etc.
- Accent lighting. This is where the magic happens: wall lights, art lights, joinery lighting, or decorative lamps to add depth.
I always recommend using dimmers and layering different sources at various heights. This way, your living room feels warm and inviting whether you’re hosting guests or winding down in the evening.
LIVING ROOM STYLING TIP: Think of lighting like jewellery for your room, it should enhance, complement, and sparkle without stealing the spotlight.
5. Bring it to Life with Art and Accessories
This is where your personality comes in. Styling is often the most enjoyable part of the process but also where many people get stuck.
I encourage my students to treat styling as a way to tell a story. A well-chosen piece of art, an heirloom vase, or even a stack of beautiful books can bring soul to the space. But balance is key – too many items, and it looks cluttered. Too few, and it feels bare.
HERE’S HOW I APPROACH IT:
- Cushions: Mix plains and prints, always in odd numbers. I love adding contrast piping or trim for a bespoke touch.
- Coffee tables: Group in threes, one sculptural object, one book or tray, one natural element like flowers.
- Art: Choose pieces that speak to you, and hang them at eye level. Gallery walls or oversized single works can both work brilliantly.
Inside the course, I share examples from real SPI projects, plus a downloadable styling checklist to help you style like an SPI designer.
Ready to Design Your Dream Living Room?
If this has sparked ideas and excitement, I’d love to help you take the next step. My interior design course was created for anyone who wants to design with more confidence whether you’re a homeowner, aspiring designer, or passionate creative.
THE COURSE INCLUDES:
Step-by-step modules on every room (including an entire section on living rooms)
Exclusive SPI floorplans, lighting guides, and styling cheat sheets
Behind-the-scenes videos from real client projects
Practical advice you won’t find on Instagram or Pinterest
MY FINAL INTERIOR DESIGN ADVICE
Knowing how to design a living room means understanding both the art and science of interiors. It’s about the right measurements, the right mood, and the right emotion the space evokes when you walk in.
And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
If you’d like to design your own home like a professional, with my help, I invite you to explore the full course HERE and join our growing community of students designing stunning homes with confidence.
And if you want even more interior design inspiration and advice:
WATCH THIS: Top 5 Corners of My Home, a short YouTube video where I walk you through some of my favourite, most thoughtfully designed spaces and explain exactly why they work.
For more inspiration, explore our portfolio to see how I translate timeless design principles into distinctive, character-filled homes. For exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including project reveals, product collaborations, and more insights into our design process, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
And for daily inspiration, updates, and a closer look at life inside the studio, follow us on Instagram @sophiepatersoninteriors and Tik Tok @sophiepatersoninteriors
