5 ways to turn your living room into the perfect party space

It’s Friday night… time to dim the lights, plump your velvet cushions and wheel out the bar trolley as you get set to entertain a few of your favourite people at home. Taking inspiration from designer hotels and chic bars, here are five clever ways to make your living room the most sophisticated hangout in town.

Look at your sofa and chair arrangement – does it encourage conversation? Think of hotel bars, where seating is arranged in small groups. It’s easy to create this feel in your living room with cocktail chairs and pouffes, which can be moved around. Think ahead and make sure guests have a place to put drinks and nibbles, with side tables or wooden stools near each grouping.

Furniture arranged in a u-shape makes for the most sociable space, as friends can see each other across the room and chat more easily. If your living room soirée includes a sit-down meal, then take a tip from fine-dining restaurants and use smart upholstered dining chairs – perfect for lingering.

Use plenty of rich shades that you can almost fall into. Go for sophisticated, atmospheric colours like sage green, inky blue, soft grey and rich plum. Using colour on all four walls rather than just one feature wall will help create an indulgent, inviting space – and if you want to go one step further, paint your ceiling to match for a guaranteed conversation starter.

While an eye-catching ceiling light will add to the room’s overall decadence, it’s atmospheric lighting that’s key to a successful, buzzing space. Introduce floor lamps to corners for a soft glow; place a table lamp on a hero piece of furniture to highlight, and of course, add plenty of candles and tealights. Above your dining table, keep things low and interesting with a hero pendant.

Think sumptuous fabrics, dramatic finishes and luxe touches – velvet, silk, walnut, marble, brass and copper will help you achieve the right feel. If you’re in the market for new upholstery, then a smart sofa in velvet makes a great style statement, but if you’d rather work with your existing sofa, velvet cushions and throws can create a similar effect. Combine gorgeous shades – from teal to mustard, pink to emerald – and play with cushion shape and size.

Mix and match materials, too. Accent pieces of furniture, which combine walnut with high-shine brass or interesting marble slabs, can transform a corner of your living room. Stand-alone pieces such as console tables, sideboards and cabinets are key buys that will add plenty of wow.

This is your chance to really show off your individual style. Carefully curate collections of vases, candlesticks and quirky objects. Brass and copper pieces add shine, echoing furniture detailing, while a display of coloured glassware reinforces shades used elsewhere – such as the cushions on your sofa. It’s such attention to detail that brings this look together.

Become your own mixologist and sommelier, offering guests a five-star drinks menu. Designate a cabinet for drinks – or better still, treat your room to its own drinks trolley – and prep it with everyone’s favourites. 

Having the right tools for the job will certainly impress, so kit out your bar area with a stylish ice bucket and bar tools, a good range of spirits and mixers, and a wide selection of glasses. You can always keep things simple and just offer a house cocktail. Here’s to entertaining at home – in style.