5 Simple Ways to Refresh Your Living Room This Spring
The living room is one of the most hard-working spaces in any home. It is a place to relax, catch up with friends, and wind down at the end of the day. It’s no wonder it’s often the first room people want to update. The good news? You don’t need to start from scratch or take on a full renovation to give it a new lease of life.
At Design Seven, we help clients across Bristol, Bath and Somerset create interiors that are calm, characterful and carefully considered. Whether you're styling a compact flat or a large family home, these five ideas are an easy starting point for a living room refresh.
Start with the mood
Before you reach for paint charts or move a single piece of furniture, take a step back and ask yourself: How do I want this room to feel? Relaxed and cosy? Light and uplifting? Refined and elegant?
Colour plays a huge role here. Deep greens and rich blues create a snug, cocooning atmosphere. Soft neutrals and warm whites open up the space and help it feel calm and airy. We often use earthy shades like clay, sage, ochre to add warmth and softness, especially in homes where the light can feel a little cool.
Local Tip: Atelier Ellis in Bath offers beautifully crafted paints in inspiring palettes - perfect for setting the mood of a room.
Add layers with texture
Texture is one of the most effective (and underrated) ways to add depth to a room. It brings a space to life, even when the colour palette is quiet.
Try mixing materials: linen, velvet, wool, rattan, metal, timber. Combine sleek with soft, rough with smooth. A boucle cushion on a leather armchair, or a reclaimed wood coffee table beside a contemporary sofa - it’s all about contrast.
Local Tip: Graham & Green on Walcot Street in Bath has a wide range of tactile soft furnishings and furniture to explore.
Layer your lighting
Relying on one overhead light can make a room feel flat. Instead, build a layered lighting scheme using a combination of:
Ambient light (main ceiling lights, ideally dimmable)
Task lighting (reading lamps, wall lights)
Accent lighting (picture lights, LED strips, table lamps)
This gives you flexibility and helps the room shift easily from bright and functional to warm and atmospheric.
Tip: Choose warm white bulbs (around 2700K) for a cosier glow - they’re much gentler than cool, clinical light.
Local Tip: Jim Lawrence in Bath makes timeless lighting pieces, from pendants to wall sconces, many available in custom finishes.
Introduce a focal point
Every living room needs a standout feature - something that draws the eye and gives the space focus. It could be a large artwork, an oversized mirror, a sculptural light fitting or even a beautifully styled bookshelf.
Not only does this anchor the room visually, but it also helps you build a coherent scheme around it.
Local Tip: 8 Holland Street in Bath is a treasure trove of 20th-century design, art, and distinctive pieces that can add real flair.
Rethink your layout
It’s easy to get stuck in a layout simply because it’s what you’ve always had. But moving things around, even slightly, can totally shift the energy of a room.
Think about how the room flows. Does it feel easy to move around? Are the seats arranged for comfort and conversation? Could you pull the furniture away from the walls or define different zones with a rug or lighting?
Local Tip: TR Hayes in Bath has a large showroom with everything from modular sofas to compact storage solutions, which is ideal for experimenting with layouts.
Bonus Tip: Add the finishing touches
It’s the little things that make a room feel like home. Personal touches like framed photos, a stack of books, a candle you always light in the evenings add character and warmth.
A space that reflects your personality will always feel more inviting than one that follows trends to the letter.
Local Tip: Homefront Interiors in Bath curates lovely, thoughtful pieces for the home, perfect for those finishing details.
Thinking about refreshing your own space?
We offer a full interior design service across Bristol, Bath and Somerset, tailored to how you live and what you love. Whether you're reworking one room or reimagining your whole home, we’re here to help.
Get in touch with us here - we’d love to hear from you.