Sarah Richardson's 10 design tips for the living room

Q. How do you camouflage a home office?

Position your furniture soit’s not all centred aroundthe desk. Think of the space as a living room with an office area, rather than the other way around.

Get this look: Sofa, chair, bothSarah Richardson Design. Fabrics, Designer Fabrics. Coffee table, Decorum, 416-966-6829. Pendant light, Great Lighting. Desk, Of Things Past. Pictureframing, Elgin Picture & Frame. Sepia-toned photographs, Canvas Gallery.

Q. What’s your best trick for dealing with office clutter?

Be realistic about the amount of storage you’re going to need. Open bookshelves tend to look messy, so choose closed cupboards instead, or tuck unattractive items into large drawers. Do an inventory of what tech items you have — it’s unlikely you actually need a printer and fax on your desk. And take advantage of wireless technology and cordless gadgets as much as possible.

Get this look: Geometric wood sidetable, Rumah, 416-703-4594. Furniture painting, Benjamin Furniture Refinishing, 416-745-2559. Desk paint, Ici natural white, Dulux. Wall colour, Ici marblefalls, Dulux.

Q. What’s the secret to designing a room that’s both family-friendly and esthetically pleasing?

Use practical materials that don’t show scuffs and stains. Rustic wood is perfect for a room where people tend to put their feet on the furniture. Choose fabrics that are durable and washable, or opt for slip covers. Don’t spend too much on expensive fabrics — spills and stains will happen! And remember, patterns hide everyday wear and tear.

Get this look: Schumacher chairseatfabric, blind fabric, both Bilbroughs. Carpeting, Alexanian Carpet and Flooring. Area rug,Karakashian Carpets and Rugs. Coffee table,Elegant Garage Sale. Tripod lamp,Smash.

Q. How do you choose the best colours for a basement?

First, think about when you’re in the room the most. If it’s during the day, opt for lighter colours. For nighttime use, try a moody or cozy scheme. If you’re shy about dark shades, try them on a single wall. And of course, make sure you have lots of overhead lighting as well as floor and table lamps.

Get this look: Teak chair, In Vu Drapery. Schumacher fabric on chair, Bilbroughs. Blackboard, cart, both Qwac.ca. Wall colour,stainless, Para. Accent wall, barn, Sarah Paint.

Q. How can you avoid having the TV take over your space?

Rooms with televisions tend to be gathering spaces,so provide lots of seating.Not all of it has to face the television. Instead of choosing high-tech media centres, surround your television with furniture to soften its look. Rustic shelves with art and lots of storage take the focus away from the audiovisual components.

Get this look: Sofa, Silva. Lantern light, Artcraft Lighting. Console and bookcases, metal chair, all G.H.Johnson's Trading Company. Side table, Rich Brilliant Willing. Wall colour, barn, Sarah's Paint.

Q. What’s your best advice for furnishing a small home?

Lay out your furniture so it doesn’t get in the way of traffic flow. Don’t pull all the furniture into the room, but keep it closer to the walls. Look for sofas or chairs with small, tailored arms that seat lots of people without taking up a lot of floor space.

Get this look: Console, side chairs, both Qwac.ca. Horn-shell bowl, boxes, bothWest Elm. Paint, Courtyard, Para Paints.

Q. How do you make a narrow room feel more spacious?

Keep the lines clean — mid-century pieces tend to work well in tight spaces. Sofas and chairs with wood legs, instead of fabric skirts, make a room look larger since they make the floor area seem larger. And choose furniture that’sproperly scaled to your home. For example, a long and skinny room looks great with long and skinny furniture. Keep clutter to a minimum by choosing items that double as storage.

Get this look: Glass railing, Adanac Glass. Teak chairs, Qwac.ca. Yellow lampshade, Pottery Barn. Lamp base, Home Sense.

Q. How do you keep a neutral palette from being boring?

Play with colour and texture tocreate a room that feels layered and sophisticated. Complex blended colours, like grey-blues, grey-greens and oyster tones are the best choices for layering lots of colour. Vary textures, too, by mixing cottons, chenille, wool, linens and velvets.

Get this look: Chairs, lamps, both Qwac.ca. Coffee table, Pickwick’s Choice, 416-538-4419. Fabric on chair, Lee Jofa. Sofa, Sarah Richardson Design. Throw, cushions, area rug, all West Elm.

Q. Black is back. How do you keep it from taking over a space?

Black needs to beused sparingly. Start with a white-and-grey colour scheme, and layer in touches of it with black and white photography. Or use hits of graphic black and white fabric to add intensity and energy without being overpowering.

Get this look: Lamp, Machineagemodern. Faux-bois chairs, Black Pug DMK. Photography, Sarah Richardson Design. Area rug, Ikea. Glass vases, Urban Barn. Club chairs, coffeetable, both Qwac.ca. Paint, Snowfall, Sarah's Paint.

Q. Is there a trick for dressing tall windows?

Accentuate a room’s height by using full length drapes. Don’t blow your budget on pricey fabric — choose plain cloth and embellish it with a strip of ribbon on the edge. Ready made drapes can be adapted to a tall room by sewing a cuff along the bottom.

Get this look: Lamp, Sescolite. Table, Elte. Fabrics, Designer Fabrics. Sofa, chairs, both Sarah Richardson Design. embroidered pillow, Stella Bleu. Paint, Purple Pansies, Cloverdale Paint.