Before & after — Living room, Byron hinterland house

One of the rooms in my home that gets the most enthusiastic response is the living room. It had a lot of potential — soaring raked ceilings, hardwood shiplap on the walls and blackbutt (Eucalyptus Pilularis) timber on the floors, as well as a northerly aspect and a hinterland view. But it was decorated to suit a retired couple in their 80s not a family with four young children.

We wanted to create a timeless foundation before moving into the house. Consequently, the walls and ceiling were painted white (five coats!) and the glossy floorboards were sanded back and coated with a non-yellowing water-based coating with a matt finish.

These two simple steps completely transformed the space, and created the foundation we were after.

Then it was time to furnish and decorate with our existing furniture. The best configuration was to bring the sofa off the walls, ground the room (and make it feel more intimate) with a rug and adding accent chairs for occasional seating. Introducing a large pendant off-centre helped bring the height of the ceilings down, and create a more intimate feeling. The asymmetrical placement is engaging to the eye, and creates a less formal look and feel, too.

These simple choices have helped to create a living room that we love and enjoy every day. It’s the first place that guests see when stepping into our home, and sets the tone for the rest of our place.

RESOURCE GUIDE

• Wall colour — Dulux ‘Vivid White’ in Wash & Wear Matt finish

• Flooring finish — Bona

• Lighting — Bamboo & cotton natural pendant

• Rug — Seagrass matt

If you’d like to learn more about simple changes you can make to improve your home, join the waitlist for the next Design + Decoration Masterclass — coming soon!