Living Room Plans and Big Dilemmas

I don’t know about you but entertaining guests is one of our favourite things to do as a couple. Growing up in a big family, we both constantly had visitors. This is why I was so conflicted when I was thinking of the design of the living room.

Before I delve into the details let me bring it back to the beginning. When I first saw this apartment I especially loved the high ceilings (the apartment has 3m long ceilings) and the oak floors. I immediately fell in love with the way the floor creaks when you walk on it. (The floor creaks because it’s an old building, must have been built in the early 1900s) The irony is some may find it annoying. In my opinion, though it gives the house character, and a ‘soul’ if you get what I mean. I also particularly loved that the apartment had windows in every room. Trust me, in Germany, this is not always the case. But I digress so back to the living room.

This is how the previous tenant had decorated the apartment. 

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This is how the living room looked the first time I moved in.

I allowed myself to live in the apartment whilst it was empty for a long time just to get an idea of how the light changes during the day. After a while living here, I chose to leave white as the main wall colour to emphasise the natural lighting in the house. Particularly in the living room where I want the focal point to the windows.

This brings us back to the dilemma I had at first. To make the window the focal point,  it means the sofa has to be small so that it doesn’t distract the focus. Being someone who loves hosting, I don’t know how I will be able to accommodate my guests and at the same time respect my design aesthetic. I’ll have to think of a good compromise. 

Speaking of aesthetics my design aesthetic is modern transitional. From modern interior style, I borrow the celebration of natural light, bare windows and wooden natural floors. Which are all elements of our apartment. On other hand, I take elements like wainscoting walls (which I plan on doing) and adding some patterns and accent walls from traditional design. Hence modern transitional. 

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I love and relate to this design aesthetic because I feel at home and settled. I also know that I don’t need a huge budget to make it work, there are many dupes available. Most importantly I love how classic it looks years later. That being said I better get going on making that mood board, I promise to share soonest.

Let me know what your design aesthetic is below.