Thursday, June 13, 2013

Shutters London - How to Beautify Your Living Room with Plantation Shutters

Choosing plantation shutters for your new living room will give a sense of privacy and warmth right from the start. When you move into a new home, the living room is likely to be the first place you want to decorate as it is in constant daily use. This is the place where the family will relax and welcome visitors, so it is important to get the room just how you want it and really make it your own.

As you choose your colour scheme, one way to give some added light is to choose shutters rather than heavy curtains. Shutters are a good choice because they fit in with any decor and style, from traditional to modern, and they are easy to keep clean, making them a hygienic choice.

If you are thinking of installing shutters for your London or Essex living room, here are some ideas to create the best looks for your home.

Shutters London –  click here for full information on our range of products.

Period Living Room

Traditional or period style living rooms tend to be larger than those in more modern homes, with high ceilings and a great sense of space. They are also likely to have individual features which you will be keen to highlight, such as alcoves, fireplaces or wall panelling. There may even be attractive old brickwork or a fireplace hidden by previous owners, maybe during the 1970s.

A light or neutral paint will help to bring out details such as woodwork and cornicing. Alternatively, you may want to choose traditional-style wallpaper and perhaps use paint in the corners to emphasise particular features.

When you set about fitting out the room, you can build on the feeling of history by choosing antique furniture. A country-style or French sofa will help to create a welcoming atmosphere, while an antique mirror in a gilt frame, carefully placed, can add to the feeling of light.

Wall lighting is a good choice for a living room, or, if you have a high ceiling, you may want to go for a chandelier as a central point. Pictures can also add to the period atmosphere, and it is easy to pick up portraits or landscapes to your own taste at an auction or antique shop. Or just buy a period-style frame and use it for a painting or photograph of your choice.

If you are lucky enough to have a bay window, this is a feature you will want to emphasise, and plantation shutters can help to do this and make the most of the space. You can even choose shutters to match the paintwork. Traditional Farrow & Ball paint shades are extremely popular in period homes and Bespoke Shutters can match these up to be as close to your chosen shade as possible.

Contemporary Living Room

Contemporary living rooms may well be open-plan, leading straight into the dining area. They are likely to be light and airy. Plantation shutters are a flexible choice for this type of room, taking up far less room than curtains and helping to create a feeling of space even if the room is relatively small. You can keep the top part of the shutters permanently open to let the light in and adjust the slats at the bottom as you wish.

To help make the whole room feel fresh and modern, you may want to choose a light-coloured carpet. A solid shade is likely to give an illusion of more space but, if you prefer, a geometric pattern will add interest, especially if combined with plain walls. You could also plump for a more jazzy style of wall-covering if you prefer.

Keeping to a minimalist flavour, choose a modern sofa and armchairs, perhaps in a bright colour or keep it simple and choose black or white. A modular sofa could be built to your own requirements. Alternatively, if space is at a premium, then a futon or a sofa bed may be a good idea so that the living room can double as a guest bedroom on occasion. For coffee tables and shelving, a good choice is stark black or white, a light wood or even steel and glass.

Modern sidelights or spotlights will help to make the most of the room and, if you are keeping the top section of the shutters open, a contemporary chandelier will really frame this space.

Bohemian Living Room

If you want to go for an individual, Bohemian-style living room, then plantation shutters are once again the perfect choice. A colourful leaf-print wallpaper combined with multi-coloured soft furnishings helps to give a feeling of Paris or London a century ago. You could also go for a hand-woven rug or, for a cheaper option, jazz up plain furniture with layers of bright throws.

In this type of room, more really is more, so you can mix vivid colours and patterns which might not be conventionally put together. Each piece you choose should be unique and add to the feeling of shabby-chic comfort. Second-hand items from different eras and parts of the world will all complement one another. Floral wallpaper together with a vintage bamboo couch and a Victorian table, for example, could all work to make the room feel different and exciting.

Shutters can help to give your London room an ethnic and alternative feeling. Wooden shutters are thought to have originated in ancient Greece, and then spread to other parts of the Mediterranean before Spanish colonists brought them to the American South. They are also popular in Jamaica and bring a feeling of warmth and comfort wherever they are used.

About Bespoke Shutters

Bespoke Shutters, based in London, are the experts in installing beautiful plantation shutters and solid shutters. For more information, click on the link below.

Shutters London – click here for full information on our range of products.