Elie upstairs lounge
Leave space at the top An Artful Life designed this petite room, including the alcove storage, with simplicity at its heart. Just two shelves each side, painted black to tie in with various accessories and the wood-burning stove between them, ensure the space isn’t overwhelmed. The shelves aren’t the often-seen floating ones, but fixed with brackets, allowing the surfaces to be neatly slim. The storage created leaves a nook for a log bucket and makes space for books, artwork and houseplants. Not taking the shelving up to the ceiling tricks the eye into seeing more height than there is at the back of the room.
Lift your shelves To maximise storage space, it’s tempting to squeeze in as many cupboards and shelves as possible. Yet this room, designed by 2LG Studio, is an exercise in restraint on that front – ideal if you don’t have masses to store in your living room. The closed cupboards are low to the ground and shelving starts high and looks wonderful filled with plants – something to consider if you have room for books elsewhere. Painting the shelves a different colour to the walls really works, too, especially here as part of a palette of blues. Employing one cabinet for extra seating is practical in a small living room, and also allows for an additional textile to add interest to the overall scheme.
Built in seating an option?
Modern and old together
Note skirting board
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