Some rooms seem to call out for sparkle, shine, and glamourous accents, but when a room caters to family life and is filled with natural light, a subdued textural palette strikes the right note. In a family room within an open-concept home, this area links to the adjoining spaces seamlessly thanks to a naturally neutral palette inspired by the sandy shores nearby.
Arranging furniture in a room that is also a circulation space for the daily flow of traffic through the house can be challenging. To make the best use of the space, you’ll need to delineate how traffic should transition through the room without making it feel like an airport terminal. Be sure to leave enough room to pass through without fear of walking into a table or stubbing a toe, and select accent pieces like these wicker tables, which are easy to relocate within the room as needed (and easy on the shins in case you bump into them).
In many contemporary houses, boxy silhouettes are the norm, but I like to mix and match basic shapes and play with variations on a theme. Sofas and chairs are generally rectilinear, but you can shake things up with accent pieces. The painting, coffee table, occasional stools, and lamps in this room all reference a circular motif and create a natural sense of flow through the space. With no hard edges, this room feels calm and welcoming.
The secret to embracing any motif is knowing when to stop. The repetition of the rounded shape in the side tables, coffee table, painting, and lamps is broken up by the grid-patterned carpet, which introduces contrast and helps the room project a more contemporary flavour.
I thrive on creating rooms that are interesting and engaging, and have an element of surprise. Instead of settling for basic accent pieces such as tables, look for unusual objects to incorporate into your decor. A vintage drum turned into a coffee table sets the tone for a mood of casual ease in the family room, while woven stools resembling bobbins double as both cocktail tables and extra seating for a crowd.
When a casual and comfortable ambiance is on the agenda, you’ll want to embrace natural materials with a rustic spirit. The egg-shaped, turned-wood lamps have an elegant silhouette that is rendered in a simple and casual manner to continue the theme of simple elegance.
When looking for family-friendly fabrics, keep it simple and stick to the basics. Since comfort is the mandate, you’ll want to select upholstered furniture profiles that are inviting and comfortable. A traditional chair profile looks clean and classic with a wooden leg instead of a skirt, and light-toned woven fabrics with a subtle pattern keep the room feeling light and airy, yet help hide the wear and tear of daily use.