Fletchers Forum

When it comes to a living room, the old adage applies; less really is more. Squeeze too many knick knacks and furniture styles into a room and the space becomes cluttered. Living rooms need to be calm, restful places, not storage areas for every item you’ve ever purchased.

To design a living room that works, choose a simple colour scheme – white works particularly well as a backdrop – and remove every gadget you can do without. (Do you really need the Stairmaster in the corner? And can the kids’ games and toys go in their rooms instead?) Store unnecessary items away, and you will suddenly find more space to enjoy your living room to full capacity.

Good outdoor furniture can turn a deck into a party space. Need more room? Extend your living space outside with the help of a few elegant pieces of outdoor furniture. A smart set will make your al fresco space an instant entertaining area and if you add outdoor lights and heaters you can continue to use the space all through the year.

Some of the material being used now in outdoor furniture include sleek, chic aluminium and plastic, both of which are lightweight and well priced, as well as weather resistant cedar, teak and mahogany, and combinations of timber and stainless steel. Poolside pieces include sophisticated hotel-style deckchairs, simple Balinese rattan mats, swish sun lounges, bamboo folding chairs and even hammocks, all of which can be easily stored when not in use.

The most important thing to remember when buying outdoor furniture is to buy the best you can afford. Invest in good pieces and you’ll have an exterior play space that’s as impressive as your interior one.

Along with lending a welcoming atmosphere to a room, fireplaces are one sure way to keep toasty on a cold Melbourne night. The flames, the hearth, and the coals glowing behind the grate late at night work a treat. It’s without doubt the theatre of the living room; a place to settle in next to with a good book and a cuppa.

While there will always be a market for authentic fireplaces using real wood, another more energy-friendly trend has entered the hearth market. Gas-fired log fireplaces are prefect for houses where real wood or coal fires are awkward to install, and because they’re guaranteed not to smoke, you don’t have to worry about sending your clothes off to the dry cleaners.