How to: Elevate your living space with these 3 simple things

Many of us think we have to spend a small fortune on furniture and miscellaneous items to make our most used living space a welcoming and cosy place to spend time in...

I’m here to say it can be much simpler than that!

Let’s keep this simple and cut out all the noise.

In my opinion, you need these 3 things to help bring your living room to a whole new level – for you and your guests.

Lamps, Mirrors & Diffusers!

So let’s get into it -

First… let there be light!

1.        Lamps

Lighting plays a huge part in defining what makes a room feel welcoming…or not.

In my experience, I’ve found lamps, particularly table lamps, with a warm glow from the light bulb, to have the biggest and gentlest effect on my mood and others. It gives us a chance to turn off our main lights and have something more subtle, allowing us to relax without sitting in total darkness with just the glow of our tv screens or Kindle lights.

It even has a direct impact on our behaviour; studies have suggested sitting in a lower light can increase our mood, help us to relax, and in some situations even concentrate more (Zhou et al, 2025; Noyonika, 2024)

Often best placed to the side of our sofas, preferably on top of side tables, table lamps create a warm and inviting tone in our evenings when we’ve come home after a long day.

Hue is also important, I would recommend you choose bulbs ranging between 2700K – 3000K and avoid anything higher as it will move into ‘white light’ territory, which we want to avoid in spaces like our living room.

Some of my recommendations can be found here:

1. Celia Taupe And White Pattern Ceramic Table Lamp. Cotswold Co. £125.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Artemis Tall Table Lamp. Dunelm. £59.

   

   
   

3. Country Rib Table Lamp. John Lewis. £160.

   
   

   

   
   
   
   

4. Knipton Ceramic Table Lamp. Laura Ashley. £130.

   
   

   

   
   
   
   

Some things to consider:

• The last thing you want is to be stepping across any unwelcome wires, so see if you can ideally place your lamp already near a plug socket so you can tuck those wires away, out of sight out of mind. Or, even better, buy a light bulb that is self sufficient!

  
  

• Opt for a floor lamp if you do not have a side table as these can be just as effective. If you also have a busy household, a large dog or a cheeky cat, where things often get knocked over, floor lamps might also be the better option.

2.        Mirrors

You’ve probably heard it a million times before - mirrors help make a space feel bigger, and they’re not wrong!

Mirrors have an underrated effect to bounce natural light beautifully around a room, making any space feel larger and brighter. Whether large or small, and it will depend on the wall space you have available, a mirror will make a considerable difference.

When in doubt, large, black-rimmed circular mirrors fit well in most spaces. If you have a small or large room, and even if you have limited natural light, placing a mirror above a sofa or a fireplace or even next to your dining table if you have an open plan living room like I do, can make a space feel much more open, welcoming and styled.

Some of my recommendations are as follows:

1. Bridgewater. William Wood. £199.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Foxcote Overmantel. Cotswold Co. £249.

   
   

   

   
   

3. LINDBYN. IKEA. £150.

   

   
   

4. Georgian Window Style Lean to Mirror. The Range. £79.99.

3.        Diffusers

Choosing diffusers, and mixing them up occasionally, is such a fun activity of mine.

Diffusers are such a great way to welcome guests and yourself, into your home.

I always think of diffusers as a way to make your home feel and smell clean, even if it actually isn’t … or if you stress, like me, about having guests round when you haven’t sorted your washing yet or put dishes away! Think of it as a little cheat route.

Make sure to place them in high-traffic areas of your home, and by which I mean places where there is the most movement, like your corridor, so you get a fresh whiff when moving about the home and it sends the scent around without you even trying. Placing it in a stagnant area like your living room is also great as the smell stays in one place.

I personally love using the same diffuser throughout my home, to keep smells consistent and reduces the chance of smells clashing. But you can choose this as you like.

You might ask, why not candles?

If you prefer candles, go for it!

But in my experience, diffusers are technically ‘on’ all the time, which means it doesn’t have to rely on being lit to then begin making your home smell amazing, which is a plus. It means they can also do their job unsupervised, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.

Most candles, even our favourite ones, are made from paraffin wax, which have been suggested to emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can cause various health problems and headaches when not properly ventilated. This article from Rhea London is helpful.

So if going the candle route, be sure to check the label for soy or bee wax candles as they give off less harmful emissions. Be sure to check the labels!

I  will add some options if you are interested below.

1. 'Heather Moor'. Beeswax Candles - The London Honey Co. £21.

2. 'Fig & Wild Plum'. Rhea London. £21.95.

3. Organic Beeswax Pillar Candles. Skar Organics. £37.50.

Some of my recommendations for the diffusers are below:

1. My personal go-to: Pomegranate by Jo Malone - £75.

2. A perfect dupe, but less strength, I use is ‘Pomegranate’ by Aldi - £4.

3. 'English Fig' by Neptune. £49.

So there you have it! 3 things to help elevate your living space. Whether big or small, being your space or your budget, there is something out there for everyone to enjoy and share.

I hope this first blog of our series has been most helpful.

Join us next month for our next blog release: 'How to: choose the right lighting for your space'.

See you next time,

Helena