This article is contributed by Kurashinity 

Sophisticated hotels and model rooms have few superfluous objects and are relatively well organized. Many people may feel relaxed and comfortable because of the refinement.

Such “Sophisticated Rooms” are possible to create in your own living room.
To help you achieve a better, more relaxed lifestyle, this article introduces tips on how to create a high-quality, relaxing living room.

Contents

1. Three elements that make up a “Sophisticated Room”
2. Ideas for creating a “Sophisticated” living room
3. Tips for avoiding a distressing living room
4. Let’s aim for a refined and relaxing living room

Three elements that make up a “Sophisticated Room

First of all, it is important to imagine the definition of a “Sophisticated Room”.
A “Sophisticated Room” is made up of the following three elements.

1. A moderately neat feeling

A sophisticated room is neat in two ways: it is clean and has few things. 

Why do we feel calm in such rooms? Let's unpack the relationship between visual information and the brain.

To begin with, 80% of information is obtained from the visual sense, and the brain processes the information that comes in through the eyes. The more objects are present in a room, naturally the more visual information the brain needs to process. This puts strain on the brain and causes stress. On the other hand, a space with less things has lesser visual information. Hence, you feel cozier and more comfortable.

However, the kind of room that we are aiming for in this article is not a minimalist space that is empty, but a comfortable space that contains just the right amount of decoration. A good sense of gracefulness is important, an example would be adding a bit of elegant art to the simplicity of the room.

2. A sense of coordination

A “Sophisticated Room” is not merely simple, it exhibits refinement. It consists the perfect balance between the sense of neatness and decorativeness. A necessary element for this balance is the sense of coordination
By narrowing down the taste and colors of the interior, the space is harmonized and gives off a calm atmosphere.

3. A discreetly unfamiliar feeling

One of the differences between a freshly cleaned hotel room from our own place is that it illustrates the unfamiliarity feeling from our daily lives. Though we cannot always maintain the freshness of our living space, achieving a “discreetly unfamiliar feeling” can still be possible by keeping our homes organized and clutter-free.

Ideas for creating a “Sophisticated” living room

Let's now look at some specific ideas on how to create a living room demonstrating sophistication

Reduce logos and textual information

Text is a form of visual information and the more it is visible, the more unsettling the room becomes. One of the basic tips is to store daily items with lots of logos and printed text in drawers or in concealed storage spaces. For things that cannot be hidden, such as air purifiers or humidifiers, it is good to choose one without logos.

Assign all the items an “address”

If you leave items out in the open, the room instantly becomes unkempt. One of the reasons things are left out is that they are have no designated storage spaces. Make a habit of putting back any item to its specific “address” after each use.

Be particularly careful about leaving toys unattended. If you let your children play in the living room without them knowing where to specifically put them away, the space will quickly be chaotic. Discuss with your children the rules of where is their play area and the “addresses” of their beloved toys after they have fun with them.

Eliminate the actual presence of household items

Waste bins and tissues boxes have simple designs with no logos but still can look like a jumble. However, it is also inconvenient to hide them all in concealed storage spaces.

In such cases, assimilate them with the interior design to make them less visible. For example, you can use a dust bin with a similar texture to the material of the furniture or a tissue container that looks likes like a display object. By doing so, these items are unrecognizable and parades a décor vibe.

Understanding the rules of interior color

Color coordination is a crucial factor in realizing a “Sophisticated Room”.  Let us share with you the golden ratio of color coordination as a reference. For example, use 70% base colors for walls, 25% assorted colors for large furniture, 5% accent colors for decoration to reduce the number of colors used to three or four.

Some advanced-level interior designers prefer to use multiple colors simultaneously as assorted or accent colors; in this case, remember two key points: use similar colors and match the tone (vibrancy and brightness). For example, if you use orange and yellow, even though these colors are close in the hue circle, they will not blend well as the two colors are different.

Incorporating symmetry

It is said that when people see a symmetrical design, its beauty brings in a sense of stability and tranquility. In fact, symmetry techniques have been used in Europe for centuries.

Incorporating this technique in the living room harmonizes the space.
For example, two sofas can be arranged in a symmetrical position from the view in front, or stand lights can be placed on either side of the sofa symmetrically.

Tips for avoiding a distressing living room

Creating your own “Sophisticated Room” can be fun, however, mistakes can happen during the process and consequently you will get the opposite results.

Below are the following tips to avoid these mistakes.

1. Incorporate functional storage

Pursuing aesthetics and simplicity alone have the tendency to result to inconvenience.
Take into account that the living room is where the family spends a lot of time, hence, also consider functional storage. For example, you need to devise an action flow line, such as putting frequently used remote controls in a place where everyone can easily reach them.

2. Avoid the overuse of white

White is a color that gives a clean and simple impression, but too much use of it can create tension. In particular, near-pure white creates a stuffy atmosphere. Let’s take into consideration color schemes, such as using an accent color in the space or use off-white instead of pure white.

3. Use wooden items and plants to create warmth

An overly simple room can sometimes give a lifeless, cold impression making it difficult to relax. To avoid this, use wooden items, houseplants and flowers that give a sense of warmth in moderation. However, be careful and finding the right balance as too many plants or wood can give off a naturalist vibe.

Let’s aim for a refined and relaxing living room

A living room that is suitably clean and brings in discreetly unfamiliar feeling is both sophisticated and relaxing. Why not use the interior design tips introduced in this article to make your living room as relaxing as a hotel?

Once you actualize the refined space that you are aiming for, you can feel more relaxed and refreshed. And to help further improve your life, you can utilize a housekeeping service to maintain your “Sophisticated Room”.

Kurashinity can support your life by doing all the household chores such as cleaning, dishwashing and ironing in behalf of you. When your daily burdens are reduced and you have more time to spare on the things that truly matters, you will absolutely enjoy the time you spend in your living room.

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