In interior design, layering is the art of choosing the perfect combination of textures, colors, and shapes to add richness and depth to a room. Adding layers doesn’t necessarily mean adding pieces that can look and feel cluttered. Stick to what you believe is functional and beautiful; layer in terms of texture to convey warmth, then layer in terms of meaning to evoke joy.
The living room is often the focal point of any home, from which all the other design elements will likely take inspiration. The Linen Duck, a boutique furniture store in Columbia, TN, shares three elements that are essential to designing a perfectly layered living room.
Layer 1: Foundational Pieces
Considered during the first stages of room planning, foundational pieces are going to ground your room and address the functionality of your space.
Whether you’re going for a minimalist or a maximalist look, seating should always be essential. Choosing the right-sized sofa in a neutral palette will allow you to add accent pieces that add visual interest, such as textured, upholstered chairs.
Next, choose complementing cabinets and coffee tables. These pieces address solutions for task surfaces and storage needs.
Layer 2: Wall Art
After selecting your foundational pieces, it’s time to jazz up the walls! Add life to a neutral, bare wall with interesting wall art. Depending on your living room’s available wall space and design theme, you can go for paintings, framed DIY pieces, tapestries, or photographs. Larger walls can be treated as a gallery wall filled with large-scale pieces; small-scale art on a vast wall will leave the room feeling incomplete.
Designers at boutique furniture store The Linen Duck use unique mixed media and architectural finds as decor for rooms with large walls. Mirrors and framed monotone prints, on the other hand, are great options for colored and wallpapered walls.
Layer 3: Accent Fabrics
Accent fabrics on curtains, pillows, and throw blankets can give any living room a much-needed style boost while creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. From colorful patterns to textured neutrals, your choice of accent fabrics will depend on the overall look you wish to achieve.
If you fall in love with an accent fabric you chanced upon in a boutique furniture store, request a swatch; then simply place it on a piece of furniture in your space to get an idea of what it will look like and if it will blend with the existing decor.
As with anything, make sure to think about your lifestyle when choosing accent fabrics. You might love the feel of suede or silk, but it could easily be damaged by rambunctious kids who might be prone to spills or pets who love to chew everything in sight. High-traffic areas such as the living room will need fabrics that will better withstand everyday wear and tear.
All items shown above and similar pieces are available at The Linen Duck, a boutique furniture store located at 109 E 6th Street Columbia,TN.