One of the most utilized rooms in the house, the living room is a sanctuary for spending our leisure hours and, throughout the ever-changing history of this space, it has been the room for hosting, relaxing, reading a book by the fire, and coming together. Therefore, finding the right living furniture that will stand the test of time is of utmost importance.
An 'old money' aesthetic is the most in-demand interior design trend of the moment, and Anne Hathaway's Californian cabin-style home is no expectation to 2023's popular quiet luxury trend – which is still going strong, even in 2024.
Designed by Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri, this 1906 chalet home takes its cues from the idiosyncrasy of architect Myron Hunt’s vision for a Swiss chalet improbably planted in Southern California. The mismatched, timeless furniture in Anne Hathaway's living room fits into this romantic ideal to perfection.
While furniture is often considered a finishing touch, it is worth considering it early on when planning and designing a living room. Furniture has a tough job: they have to look beautiful, bring color and pattern to a space, and be practical, providing comfortable living room seating, storage – often hidden – and display space.
Living room sofa ideas and armchairs are at the heart of the room’s design and their style, color, texture and lines are all intrinsic to its aesthetic. Matching living room furniture used to be de rigueur with combinations such as a sofa and loveseat creating a harmony of hue, upholstery fabric and shape.
However, a playful mismatch of styles, colors, textures and patterns add to the lived-in, inherited look associated with the 'old money' style. Furniture and accessories in similar but not quite matching tones create a warming spectrum of sunshine across the space.
‘Today, matching armchairs to the sofa is often considered an outdated living room trend,’ says Lucy Searle, content director of Homes & Gardens. ‘Although there are exceptions to the rule, taking this approach is also to miss an opportunity to create a room with individual character rather than follow the furniture store’s lead.'
Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens for over 30 years, starting within the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-1990s. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com; in 2020, Lucy repeated the success at Homes & Gardens, where she also took on the editorship of the magazine. Lucy is now Content Director across Homes & Gardens, Woman & Home, Real Homes and Ideal Home.
Mismatched furniture is certainly an option to consider if you wish to replicate Anne Hathaway's living room corner. In putting together a couch and armchair combination it creates a more dynamic interior, allowing the interplay of different colors, textures, and lines to become apparent, and making the room more decoratively rich.
‘What’s crucial if living room furniture is mismatched is that the selection is still harmonious overall,’ says Homes & Gardens’ Lucy Searle. ‘You might create this through style, silhouette, a wood color, and so on. A common thread will make the selection appear curated rather than chaotic.’
Shop the look
The best living room furniture trends are the ones with longevity. The growing focus on products made from wood, wool, stone, and ceramics is not just to do with a revival of interest in craft and timeworn materials that will last a lifetime, but they may have beneficial effects on our health and well-being, often making us feel happier at home.
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