10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend

Kitchens and bathrooms get a lot of remodeling attention. But there’s been a surge of interest in living room updates in recent years. Many updates to living rooms are typically less expensive than the major changes often involved in kitchen and bathroom renovations. And the pandemic has changed the way many people want to live in their homes. That often starts with updating the living room.

With that in mind, we reached out to more than 50 home design and remodeling professionals and asked them which living room features they always recommend to homeowners. Here are the must-have living room features that came up again and again.

Living Room Features

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

LIVING ROOM FEATURES THE PROS RECOMMEND

Connection to the Outdoors

By far, the living room feature pros most often recommend is a connection to outdoor spaces. This helps virtually and physically expand the living space and maximizes natural light and views. “Of all the spaces in a home, the living room is the one for which we strive the hardest to create continuity between the interior and exterior,” says Coby Linton of Linton Architects.

This approach can take on many forms. At the top of the list would be sliding doors that completely open the indoors to the outdoors, as shown in this San Diego living room by Jackson Design & Remodeling.

But large windows that offer a view to an outdoor space also get the job done. “Large fixed windows are inexpensive and can really open up your home to views and light,” says designer Justin Cipriani of Cipriani Studios.

Living Room Features

Pure Salt Interiors

Performance Fabric

The next-most-recommended feature is performance fabric. This durable upholstery is stain-resistant and easy to clean, which also allows homeowners to feel a little more confident in choosing white and creamy colors for things like sofas and sectionals. “In living rooms, especially for clients with families or pets, I always recommend performance fabrics where possible,” says designer Natalie Meyer of CNC Home & Design. “Whether on sofas, chairs, or upholstered ottomans, a performance fabric will stand up to your family’s lifestyle and help protect against stains or spills so you can actually enjoy and live in your space.”

Living Room Features

Omnia Construction

Comfortable Furniture

This is an obvious one but it’s worth emphasizing: Comfortable furniture is a must-have in a living room. That means using more soft fabrics, deep cushions, and rounded edges rather than solid, hard-backed pieces and sharp corners. “I always tell my clients that the most important living room feature is comfort,” says designer Lindsey Machado of Designed With Grace & Joy. “We will always make any space look beautiful, so it’s more important to me that they’re also happy with the way it feels. That not only includes actual materials — think plush rugs, soft pillows and throw blankets, a nice-feeling sofa — but also ambiance.”

Designer Krista McGrath of McGrath Interiors tells homeowners to get the best-quality seating they can afford. “They will spend hours sitting on their furniture,” McGrath says, “so it should be very comfortable and hold up well.”

Designer ​Sabrina Lowe agrees. “The sofa is the one item in the living room that clients should put resources toward,” she says. “Most people who invest in a good couch have it for decades.”

Living Room Features

Jill Litner Kaplan Interiors

Multiple Seating Options

In addition to choosing comfortable furniture in durable fabrics, you should strive for plenty of seating options to accommodate family members and guests. Consider sofas, loveseats, ottomans, and armchairs.

Pros also recommend pieces that can be moved around, like accent chairs and footstools. Swivel chairs are another pro favorite. These allow the user to rotate to face a conversation area, a view, or a nearby room such as the kitchen.

And think about how window seats or a fireplace hearth might add to your seating arrangement.

Living Room Features

Ryan Street Architects

Large Area Rug

One element you’re almost guaranteed to find in a professionally designed and decorated living room is an area rug. This helps anchor the room and provides a jumping-off point for building a cohesive color palette. “It adds warmth and coziness to a space and is a great way to tie furniture and decor together while also providing a way to add detail and texture to the space,” designer Anna Butler says.

Designer Allison Crawford always recommends an oversize custom or vintage rug. “When all four feet of a living room’s furniture can sit on the rug, the entire space is elevated,” she says. “It creates a sense of elegance and really pulls the room together.”

Living Room Features

ORIJIN STONE, LLC

Fireplace

Many design and remodeling pros feel a fireplace should be a standard feature in a living room. It gives the space ambiance and provides a captivating focal point to arrange furniture around. “It allows for gathering and instinctually brings people together for conversation and creates memories,” says John Annis of Galbraith Carnahan Architects.

How to Decorate a Living Room

Living Room Features

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architects

Layered Lighting

Pros can’t say enough about the importance of a layered lighting scheme in a living room. “We always recommend layers of lighting, such as overhead lighting like a chandelier and then sconces,” says Alexandra Ford of Cummings Architecture + Interiors. “Living rooms can be used for so many activities — socially for entertaining, reading, watching a movie — you want to be able to have a variation of the lighting based on the task.”

Layered lighting is the go-to living room feature for designer Virginia Betty of Betty + Co Design and Consulting. “It’s nice to have a combination of small can lights on dimmers, sconce lights on the wall, reading lamps, and art lighting,” she says. “You can have it bright for cleaning time, task lighting for reading, and dim, cozy lighting for evening relaxing.”

To create flexibility with lighting, designer Wendy Black Rodgers recommends that homeowners install floor outlets so lamps can be positioned next to seating pieces without worrying about tripping over cords.

Christie Sobran Designs

Built-Ins

Built-in cabinets give homeowners customized storage and display space while creating a finished look. “One of our top living room features that we recommend is built-in shelving or custom woodwork — cabinetry, built-ins, room dividers,” says designer Ivana Stojanovska of Arete Renovators.

Designer Christie Sobran added these custom built-ins flanking a porcelain fireplace surround in a Bridgeport, Connecticut, living room. A bar sits to the left, with additional storage on the right.

Living Room Features

The Sitting Room

Open Floor Plan

Many family members and guests spend the bulk of their time at home in the kitchen or living room, so creating a connection between the two spaces makes sense. That’s why many pros recommend an open floor plan when it comes to living spaces.

Keep in mind that you can still have some delineation of space within an open plan. Furniture arrangement, ceiling treatments, and partial walls can give the feeling of separation between spaces while maintaining openness.

Beth Haley Design

Ceiling Treatment

A lot of living room design centers around elements close to the ground. But pros urge homeowners to consider what’s above too. Attractive ceiling features like coffered millwork, beams, or even statement light fixtures will make a room feel complete. “We always try to incorporate a generous ceiling height in a living space and include a special ceiling feature tailored to the homeowner’s style and design aesthetic,” says designer Jennifer Whisenant of Noble Johnson Architects. “This may include a wood ceiling, coffered beams, accent paint color, or heavy timber beams.”

The article was written by Mitchell Parker, Houzz Editorial Staff.  Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis, and humor.

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Premier Home Remodeling in the Greater Phoenix Area

For high-end home design, build, and remodeling in the greater Phoenix area that reflects your vision, Tri-Lite Builders will help you love your home again. Start your project by calling us at (480) 895-3442 or emailing [email protected] to discuss your remodeling project. We offer no-obligation in-home consultation. Our NARI-certified award-winning designers and craftsmen are eager to work with you to make your vision for your home a reality!  See our portfolio here.

6 Tips for Making Your Remodel More Sustainable

Whether you’re remodeling or building from scratch, it’s a great opportunity to make your home more sustainable (environmentally friendly). From finding local materials to designing easy-to-clean spaces with an eye to the future, here are six expert insights you need to know if you’re eager to go green.

making your home more sustainable

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

1. Look Beyond Price

If you’re building or renovating on a budget, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest products and materials. But this can often be a false economy, leading to unnecessary waste, says Nathalie Scipioni, architect, and director at Nathalie Scipioni Architects.

“Renovators often focus on the price of products and materials, finding it more affordable to source them overseas. But many cheap, overseas products are very often not of the same quality [as the more expensive, local equivalents] and end up breaking down faster and more often. This can result in repair costs, replacements, and waste. As such, it is always best to prioritize durability and quality over price,” Scipioni says.

making your home more sustainable

Rodwin Architecture & Skycastle Homes

2. Pick the Right Architect or Building Designer

It may seem obvious, but if a sustainable build or renovation is your focus, it’s important to work with an architect or building designer who specializes in this area. “Choose a designer who understands passive solar design principles — good design saves energy and materials and will make your home more functional, comfortable, and beautiful,” says Rhiannon Hayward-Steers, architect at Hindley & Co.

Tri-Lite Builders is a NARI Green Certified Professional. As one of the only Design/Build Certified Green Remodelers in Phoenix, we start each project with a design phase. During this time we do a detailed feasibility study of your kitchen, bathroom, or home remodel in order to make the appropriate choices for making your home more sustainable and to fit your budget. We will help you plan your green remodeling project and get it off the drawing board into a working green kitchen, bathroom or home remodel.

making your home more sustainable

Fete Nature Architecture

3. Use Sustainable and Recycled Materials

When you’re building or renovating your dream home, don’t get caught up in the idea of having the newest and shiniest products. Materials such as recycled wood are not only an environmentally sound choice, but they can add real character to spots such as countertops, floors, and walls. “Recycled bricks and roof tiles are other products you might consider using,” says Kirsten Johnstone, director at Kirsten Johnstone Architecture.

When it comes to wood, seek out species that are responsibly sourced. “Renewable plantation timber, preferably locally sourced, is the most sustainable building material because it can be regrown and the plantations store carbon,” says Anne Hindley, architect, and director at Hindley & Co.

making your home more sustainable

Southend Reclaimed

How do you know if the products you’re choosing are making your home more sustainable? Look for industry-recognized certification, Johnstone says. For example:

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) provides a certification process for environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically responsible forest management for timber products.
  • Global GreenTag provides certification for many products and is recognized in over 70 countries. It is compliant with numerous ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards, providing internationally accepted quality-management standards.

making your home more sustainable

Erika Altenhofen, CKBD – Neil Kelly Co.

4. Ask More Questions for Making Your Home More Sustainable

“Designing sustainably is not just about the initial choices you make. It also includes asking deeper questions, such as, ‘How is the product manufactured? Who made it — was it produced in the equivalent of a sweatshop and shipped from overseas? When and where should this product be used?’” Johnstone says.

making your home more sustainable

Young & Borlik Architects

5. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Technology

Hayward-Steers recommends reducing your reliance on the grid (and seeing your energy bills tumble) by specifying energy-saving heating and cooling technology. “Think solar panels, high-efficiency heat pumps, and geothermal heating and cooling,” she says.

And when you are shopping for major appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines, seek out energy-efficient styles that consume less water and power.

making your home more sustainable

Green Hammer

6. Make It Easy to Clean

Create a healthier interior by choosing finishes that can be easily cleaned without toxic chemicals, including tiles and wood floorboards, and appliances that can be wiped down easily, Scipioni says.

In the kitchen, she says, consider:

  • Matte and semi-gloss kitchen cabinetry finishes reduce the visibility of fingerprints and stains.
  • Nonporous stone or glass backsplashes and countertops — they are durable, extremely hygienic, and simple to clean.
    • Create as much storage as possible to keep countertops clutter-free and easy to wipe down.
    • Incorporating an appliance cabinet where you can store and easily access frequently used appliances such as the microwave, coffee maker, and food processor.
    • Give your healthy cleaning routine a further boost by choosing eco-conscious cleaning supplies that keep your home sparkling without the nasty chemicals.

making your home more sustainable

Tali Hardonag Architect

In the bathroom, consider:

  • Wall-hung vanities and toilets that are easy to clean underneath.
  • A back-to-wall bath rather than a freestanding style if your bathroom is small — there are fewer hard-to-reach spots to scrub with toxic cleaning agents.
  • Large-format tiles with fewer grout lines to clean.
  • Recessed or semi-recessed sinks; the joint between the sink and countertop is minimized, allowing a long-lasting and easy-to-clean fixture.

Keep researching and reading, you’ll find there is a wealth of information and questions to ask so that you can make your build or remodel more sustainable.

Blog is written by Georgia Madden, Senior Writer, Houzz  

For another informative blog on how to sustainably remodel your home, follow this link!

Premier Home Remodeling in the Greater Phoenix Area

For high-end home design, build, and remodeling in the greater Phoenix area that reflects your vision, Tri-Lite Builders will help you love your home again. Start your project by calling us at (480) 895-3442 or emailing [email protected] to discuss your remodeling project. We offer no-obligation in-home consultation. Our NARI-certified award-winning designers and craftsmen are eager to work with you to make your vision for your home a reality!  See our portfolio here.

 

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