The era of the formal living room is over. (It’s an irony we ever called those stuffy spaces “living” rooms anyway!) Few of us dare spare precious square footage — let alone our budgets — on space bedecked in hold-your-breath fancy furnishings that aren’t, well, livable.
    Today’s home fashion, though more casual and practical, is also more universally stylish. Thanks to savvy manufacturers and retailers who get that we still like to play dress up now and again, there are plenty of alternatives for busy women to create rooms that are both fashionable and comfortable.
    That was certainly my goal in decorating the living area of my Green Hills townhouse. These days, I’m wearing flip-flops more often than stilettos, but I love having the option. That sensibility guided my decorating decisions. I wanted a transitional, versatile space with uptown style and downhome comfort that would blend my antique favorites with some modern additions.
    With the clean canvas of hardwood floors and soft, white walls, I began my design with the sofa selection. The sofa was the most sizable investment for the project but well worth it. I call it the “mother ship,” found on the floor at Epiphany Studio on Eighth Avenue. It’s ample-sized, comfortably seats three adults, and the cool, pistachio-green velvet is a fresh contrast from the flooring’s warm shades. I accented it with black and white damask pillows. The rug echos the damask accent and shows nicely underneath the glass top, no-coasters-needed coffee table.
    Two black leather wingback chairs bookend the living space, and are angled for conversation and TV viewing. The wingbacks were decorating destiny; they appear to be kin, with angled wings and nailhead detailing. However, one is from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, while the other is a well- disguised recliner — a find from a Sprintz warehouse sale.
    The dining area is anchored by a whitewash, chair-height pub table (only a 36-inch diameter) flanked by two round-backed chairs with carvings echoing the damask design element. The white finish gives the wood-heavy room a lift, and the lean configuration maximizes pathways and allows breathing room. When additional seating is needed, I pull other chairs that are grouped with a gateleg table just around the corner. The gateleg table is used to accommodate dinner guests or, more often, as a workspace for my husband.
    This living room is full of life — church community group meetings, songwriting sessions for my husband and his fellow musicians, an occasional business pow-wow for me. I have slouching pillows and comfy throws for nap times and TV watching. A room like this always rises to the occasion, even when we’re just hanging out. THIS is a live-able living room!

5 Tips to Make Your Living Room Live Up to Its Name:

1. Don’t compromise comfort. If “the mother ship” hadn’t been comfortable, she wouldn’t have made the cut. Ditto for the wingbacks. It’s great to see friends kick back on seating that’s comfy — and classy.
2. Think “sleek.” Stylistically speaking, bulky, pillowy furniture is on the outs. Opt for well-framed sofas and chairs, and soften them with accent pillows and throws. Sleeker lines and well-scaled furnishings help delineate areas and won’t violate traffic flow.
3. Invest wisely. Don’t squander your budget on trendy items with a short shelf life. When I’m done with damask, it’ll be no big deal to replace the pillows and rug. I know I’ve made a longer term commitment to my sofa and case goods.
4. Vie for versatility. Make your furniture work for you. My hutch houses the media collection as well as dishes, while a gateleg table hosts daytime work sessions and dinner gatherings.
5. Embrace white space. Display decorative items and wall art judiciously. Visual “white space” guides the eye to wall-worthy art, alleviates a sense of clutter and leaves opportunity for seasonal décor.

Source Guide:
-Sofa - Epiphany Design Studio, 385-3884
-Ashton leather wingback - Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 460-7655
-Reclining leather wingback - Sprintz Furniture, 352-5912
-Nashville print - Spirit of Nashville, 327-9894
-Tall vases - Z Gallerie, 385-5613
-Dining table & chairs - Home Decorators, 877-537-8539
-Accent pillows - Target, 800-440-0680
-Rug - Stein Mart, 353-9808
-Other items - owner’s collection

Kid Friendly Option:
After an overnight visit from niece Sydney, I learned a few  kid-friendly fixes that would make the room more livable for little ones.  
-Skid pads on furniture feet - Floating furniture tends to move around hardwood floors,
especially with the playful leaps of children to add to the push, so skid pads would be helpful.
-A ‘less edgy’ coffee table - If kids were always around, I’d go with a wood coffee table or maybe a double-duty storage alternative.  The glass top table is too likely to show smudges, while its hard edges would show no mercy should a little one take a tumble.
-Kid-friendly fabric - To reduce the ‘Nervous Nelly’ factor, consider a stain-resistant fabric on your sophisticated sofa.  There are many modern options that would enhance the sofa’s smooth lines yet provide durability and cleanability needed with playful kids around.
-Catch-all bin - Make it simple to declutter the room.  I’ve already purchased a great designer container that will be the catch-all for the toys and goodies sure to magically appear next time Sydney stays with us.
-Bye, bye small accent tables - For the grown-ups, I place accent tables by each seating option, so there’s a convenient spot for beverages or miscellaneous items.  However, these small tables topple easily when kids dart past, so I’d opt for more substantial alternatives to fit the bill.