Coffee Break

The right size for the space

There are many things to consider when selecting a coffee table. Space is the most important consideration. Ensure the coffee table is the right size for the space where everyone can comfortable reach from the surrounding sofas or chairs. The coffee table should also be lower or the same height as the sofa seats. The length of the coffee table should be about two thirds the length of the sofa.

Style

The style of the coffee table should complement the rest of your decor. Traditional coffee tables are often timber or wrought iron and suit classic and heritage style homes. Suitable coffee tables in contemporary homes are typically minimalist and trendy, particularly industrial and loft style apartments. Replica or Danish style coffee tables would suit a vintage or retro theme.

Coffee Table Tips from Carly Gilmore 
Interior Designer, Windemere Interiors

• Select a durable finish for a long lasting coffee table
• Select glass or glass topped coffee tables in smaller areas to keep the space feeling open.
• Built in shelves or drawers are fantastic for storage.
• Don't be afraid to choose bold coffee tables that will add flair and personality.
• Try using an ottoman that can also double as seating.
• Mix and match between your coffee table and side tables.

Inspiration Gallery

Living Space Furniture

When a home is described as having multiple living spaces, that can mean any number of defined living areas, all with different furniture needs.

Lindy Evans from Windemere Interiors says it's important to establish what type of living space the area is before before committing to furniture. "Generally, defining whether the space will have a television or projector will guide you to the type of furniture you will need.

The lounge room is the most common living space in a home. A place for the family to relax and watch television, seating should be appropriately arranged so that everyone has clear view of the television and also enough view of each other for when the television is off. A modular lounge either in an L shape or U shape with a central coffee table is perfect for this.

A sitting room has no need for television and is centred around conversation, so the need for face to face contact is essential. Couches or lounges facing each other over a coffee table works in this situation. A mix of single, two and three seaters add flexibility.

Media rooms are becoming more common in the modern household. As their purpose is purely cinema or media, singe chairs or couches all facing the screen is appropriate, perhaps with individual side tables. Tiered seating creates an authentic touch.

Other living spaces include formal lounge rooms, rumpus rooms, retreats and alfrescos, all with different furniture needs to make the space work.

Shutterbug!

Functional, practical and aesthetically pleasing, shutters and blinds are a perfect window treatment for all areas of the home.

Extremely versatile when it comes to interior design, shutters and blinds come in an endless range of styles, colours, fabrics and materials. A sleek, modern look can be created with motorised roller blinds, while warmth and style can be created with timber plantation shutters.

When choosing blinds or shutters for your windows, it's important to take into consideration the sunlight that goes through the window and which room they're in. Venetian shutters are fantastic for rooms that have direct sunlight, as they can be tilted to keep sun directly out of the room while still keeping it light, while synthetic blinds suit bathrooms as they can be completely shut for privacy, open for ventilation, and won't go mouldy.

Blinds and shutters can be mixed and matched within a room, space or home, but consider repeating the fabric, material or style throughout to create consistency and flow throughout your interior.

Accent on Rugs

From a sophisticated silk rug under a coffee table in a lounge room to a playmat in the children's rumpus, floor rugs can bring an entire room or space together. They're a flooring fixture that can create the illusion of boundaries, particularly in today's open plan designs where furniture sometimes looks overwhelmed in large spaces.

The style and choices are endless and can set the atmosphere for a room. Bright and bold patterns create a fun and playful tone, while traditional woollen rugs can create a stylish classic look.

Once you've chosen the style of rug you would like, it's important to consider the space that it will be going in. Rugs that are too large for the space will look out of place, while rugs that are too small will be lost and lose their impact.

Rugs are extremely versatile and can be used on tiles, timber and carpet. It's important to consider the flooring though when choosing a rug. A shagpile rug would look great on a timber or tiled floor, but not on shagpile carpet.