Heart Home magazine Issue 11 April 2014 | Page 42

Whilst it may take a while to get everything as you’d like it, creating a sitting area – however modest to begin with – will give you somewhere to relax and entertain guests coming to visit your new place. Regardless of whether you already have furniture or it’s a totally blank canvas, spend some time assessing your needs before making any purchases: what do you need to store in the room? How do you need to prioritise the accessibility of these items? Does the space need to double up with another use, such as a home office, or a guest bedroom when friends come to crash? If space is limited, make the most of every inch by running shelving right up to the ceiling, using every last inch of space for storage – such as under and behind the sofa – and employing multi – functional furniture, like chests of drawers in place of sideboards, or a stool as a coffee table which can be used as additional seating when guests visit. Style your storage Modern vintage If you need to use the space under your sofa for extra storage, keep things neat and chic in pretty vintage baskets. Whilst with an undeniable vintage feel, this room still feels modern thanks to contemporary textiles and quirky objet, such as this porcelain hand. Heart Features