Design for Living: Developing the Best Look for the Most Frequented Room in the House

Designing a living room but feeling a bit daunted by the sheer wealth of options out there? HÜIS Cayman offers beautifully crafted selections for your living-scape, all expertly curated by our George TownCayman-based interior designers. It’s quite simply some of the best living room furniture in the Cayman Islands. And we manage delivery!

HÜIS Cayman is the brainchild of Lydia Uzzell, owner and lead interior designer of one of the most revered firms in the Cayman Islands: Lydia Uzzell Interior Design. HÜIS lets you shop and order online for home delivery, and even provides options for professional in-home installation. And if you’re in search of quality living room furniture but prefer to sample cushions or look at finishes in person, HÜIS also has a brick-and-mortar store in Grand Cayman, where you can browse everything from sofas and sectionals to accent pieces and artwork or chat with our team of highly experienced interior designers. We live to answer all your questions and meet all your furniture needs…from your living room, to the bedroom, and beyond.

Call or stop by anytime –you’re always welcome!

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but buying furniture for your living room is far more complicated than simply choosing a sofa, settling on a few accents, and leaving it at that. Whether you’re in the process of landscaping designing a small, intimate living space or an expansive common room with a lot of square footage, creating a living room you’ll actually want to live in is can be hard work.

That’s where we come in.

If you’re building a living space from the ground up and you find yourself overwhelmed with questions such as “Will this sofa fit in my home?”, “ or How do I layout my living room furniture in the best way?”, or “Is this the right kind of art for my living room walls?”, we’re here to offer some tried-and-true methods for achieving a picture-perfect setup in the most trafficked space in your house. These tips will take you beyond the normal dos and don’ts (do measure everything twice, don’t select a fabric that’ll look dated in five years…you know, the standards) and provide you with actionable advice on bringing a beautiful, welcoming living-scape to life.

Happy designing! We hope these pointers help lay the groundwork for a living room you can truly love.

Tip 1: Function Before Fashion

Long before you deck your living room halls in your own personal style, it’s important to consider exactly how you’ll be using your space. Will the room be a scene for parties and socialising with friends? A place to lounge and watch TV at the end of a long day? A combination of the two?

The answers to these questions will dictate the layout that best suits your needs and will ultimately help you narrow down your furniture choices.

A living room that’s built for entertaining, for example, should feature strategically-placed seating options with somewhat shallow cushioning (e.g., sofas and accent chairs that don’t have a ton of give and don’t encourage spontaneous napping) so guests will be encouraged to stay alert and engaged. By contrast, a space designed for Netflix binging and TV dinners will call for sectional seating with deep cushions made for rest and relaxation. (If you do decide on a sectional, invest in it as much as you can. You’ll be spending a lot of hours spread out on that sofa, so you’ll want to make sure the stuffing, fabric, and colour are just right.)

Let fashion come after function. Never allow your love for a dazzling setee or a plush armchair to distract you from your task. Your goal is to create an ideal atmosphere, not to build a room around a single showpiece that just happened to catch your eye.

Tip 2: Look Follows Feel

And while we’re on the subject of atmosphere, here’s some more food for thought:

How do you want to feel in your space?

Feel differs from function, of course, but they’re both of equal importance to design, especially when it comes to living rooms. Before you start shopping for living room furniture, think about the kinds of emotions and sensations you’d like your room to evoke. Ask yourself: What should come first and foremost when you enter the space? Is it aesthetic? Comfort? Calm?

Your emotional endgame will help inform your purchases. If you’re a sucker for artistic beauty, make sure your living-scape includes pieces that speak to your inner poet (by paying special attention to colour and shape, say). If you’re more a fan of cosy than of comely, opt for furniture that places extra emphasis on texture and durability.

Remember, though: The devil will always be in the details when you’re attempting to inspire a specific feel. If aesthetic is your driving force, consider investing in higher performance pieces such as slipcovered sofas, which will allow for easy maintenance (should your kids or pets make the occasional mess). Similarly, if comfort is your watchword, you’ll want to select pieces with ample cushioning that will be able to withstand years of reclining.

Tip 3: Rugs Are a Must

You may be thinking your flair for design is so strong and your furniture choices are so on point your living room won’t need a rug.

If so, you’re thinking incorrectly.

Rugs are an absolute must for any living room. Why? Because they have an in-built superpower that instantly makes a space feel warmer and more inviting. They also have a knack for tying design themes together (“the Dude” wasn’t lying) and for creating a more cohesive look.

If you like the idea of a rug but you’re feeling a bit put off by the performance factor (rugs are subject to a lot of wear and tear, after all), it might be worth looking into an indoor/outdoor rug that’s designed to weather a variety of storms. A synthetic rug might also be a possibility, as this kind of piece won’t be as affected by the thrills and spills commonly perpetrated by children, dogs, and cats. (Note: Polypropylene and polyester are materials to look out for here—they’re great at resisting damage. Be wary of viscose, however, as it doesn’t perform as well in areas prone to high traffic such as living rooms, dens, and communal family areas.)

Buying furniture can feel daunting. Let us answer any and all your questions about styling your space.

Tip 4: Let There Be Light

Floorplan is crucial, but sometimes it’s helpful to look up. Literally.

Layering your lighting scheme can introduce depth and character into your living space. The key here, though, is to mix up your light sources and vary your shading. Overheads won’t cut it on their own (especially if they don’t have a dimmer function). Wherever possible, consider spreading the light around with the help of sconces or floor/table lamps.

Don’t make the mistake of limiting yourself to just one fixture.

Tip 5: Accessories Are Your Greatest Allies

While larger living room pieces will likely take up the bulk of your time and energy, make sure they don’t claim all of your budget.

When it comes to what’s trending in living room furniture, accents are at the very top of the list. Your living room furniture allowance should therefore always include room for throw pillows, artwork, and other accessories. These items will help your living space distinguish itself, and their presence is what will make the room feel as though it’s actually yours. They’re also critical to “finishing” a space—that is, giving it a polished look. (We find rooms without a print or two on the walls or a few pillows on the sofas come off as too stark …don’t you?)

Accent chairs should also be part of your budget as they’re a fun and easy way to add personality to your living-scape. There are—quite literally—thousands of options to choose from, and, because the chairs won’t get as much use as your sofa, you can afford to compromise a bit on comfort in order to secure a look and texture that complements your room in the best way.

Whether you live in the Cayman Islands year-round or own an island property that you consider your home away from home, the expert team at HÜIS Cayman is happy to walk you through the detailed process of selecting and buying your living room furniture. We’ll provide guidance every step of the way, helping you blend functional with fabulous while always adhering to your own sense of style. And we won’t be satisfied until your living-scape can meet all the unique needs and expectations of each and every member of your family.

We look forward to meeting you and collaborating on your next Cayman living room project! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions in the meantime. You can also browse our website 24/7 or swing by our store during regular business hours. Hope to see you soon!