Most people make a beeline straight to the garden the moment it starts to feel like summer, but that doesn't mean your interiors should play second fiddle.
Believe it or not, the warmer months offer a rare opportunity to take a look at your home's most-trafficked spaces and get rid of items that are past their prime.
Case in point: Your living room. When it's not warm and sunny outside, there's a good chance you're doing pretty much everything here. Binge-watching your latest streaming obsession? Curling up with a good book? Hosting a game night for your friends? Check, check, and check.
"Living rooms often serve multiple purposes, so they can quickly become a catch-all for everyday items," says designer Julia Newman. Furnishing your living room can start innocently enough, but over time it ends up filled with a lot of...stuff. Stuff you don't need, stuff that’s worn out its welcome, and stuff that, let’s be honest, isn’t doing your decor any favours.
To help, we asked a few designers to share the items you need to remove from your living room this summer and beyond.
With any luck, you can remove what’s not serving your space and have a living room that can rival the great outdoors as your favorite place to be on the best summer day.
An L-shape sofa
When it comes to your living room furniture, an L-shape sofa can certainly seat a crowd; however, designer Cathleen Gruver of Gruver Cooley says it can be an "overwhelming" addition. "It makes a living room feel cramped and limits how the room functions," she says. Instead, consider this your sign to think outside the box, and, yes, mix various pieces in one room.
"Consider a well-scaled sofa paired with lounge chairs instead," says Cathleen. "This creates better circulation and allows the room to feel more inviting for conversation and entertaining."
Matching furniture sets
Speaking of which, it's time to give those uniform furniture sets the heave-ho for good. Sure, buying a sofa and coordinating armchairs in one fell swoop might seem like a satisfying purchase at the time, but it can easily read ho-hum. Nobody wants their living room to feel like the store floor of a big-box retailer, which is why Cathleen implores you to shake it up.
"Living rooms feel far more interesting when the furnishings have a collected feel rather than looking like they came from a single showroom set," she says. "Mixing materials, silhouettes, and finishes adds depth and personality while still feeling cohesive."
Your television
Not to knock your latest streaming obsession, but Meta Coleman wants you to get rid of your television. "The TV becomes such a huge distraction and focal point in a living room," says the designer. Instead, she encourages you to design a living room with connection in mind. "Let's bring back connecting with people, entertaining, playing games, and reading books," she says.
Exposed cables
Can't part with your precious television? Then, Cathleen is begging you to take care of those chaotic jumbles of cables.
"Even beautifully designed rooms can feel unfinished when cords and electronics are exposed," she says. Instead of leaving your cords out in the open, she encourages you to find thoughtful ways to hide them in plain sight. Millwork, built-ins, or even simple cord management systems can make your space appear “clean and polished.”
Excess accessories
When it comes to purging a living room, everyone has something that’s off-limits. For example, Meta refuses to part ways with her robust book collection. However, she encourages you to give the space a careful audit.
"Your living room space should work for you," she says. "Fill that space with things that support how you live and how you inhabit your living room."
As for those items you never actually use, like that umpteenth throw blanket or DVDs that have been collecting dust since 2010? Meta gives you permission to get rid of them for good.
Too many cushions
We love a smattering of throw pillows as much as the next design lover, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
"Cushions are a great way to add colour and texture, but too many can make a sofa impractical to use," says Cathleen. "I like to keep the number intentional and focus on quality fabrics and beautiful details rather than quantity."
For a healthy balance, follow a one-to-one ratio for chairs. For example, an armchair that seats one person would look great with a single pillow.
If you are going to add more than one pillow, designer Lindsay Thornton of Cornerstone Design & Build wants you to cut out cookie-cutter cushions.
"Opt for cushions that vary in pattern, size, and fabric to create an interesting and effortless style," she says. "Holding yourself to a palette of three colours can help control the pairings as you grow in your confidence of mixing and matching."
White lampshades
The devil lies in the details, which is why Courtney B. Smith wants you to reconsider those white lampshades. You know, the ones that come with your lamp. These toppers might be versatile, but they often veer into basic territory. For a thoughtful touch, she encourages you to find shades reimagined in colours and patterns that complement your scheme.
"This simple upgrade helps take a living space from drab to fab," she says. "This type of attention to detail goes beyond aesthetic impact and helps weave a cohesive narrative about intentionality."
Mass-produced art
A picture might be worth one thousand words, but designer Margaret Ash says mass-produced art will only scream one: Cheap.
"I much rather see original art from lesser-known artists than a lithograph of Starry Night," she says. Instead, she encourages you to look for the unexpected. While vintage stores and flea markets might have unique pieces, Margaret also recommends virtual galleries like Saatchi.
More of a photo person? Designer Lauren McKay says this is your sign to remove those plastic frames you’ve had forever. "Coordinate finishes with what works best in the space," she says. "Your spaces will feel much more put together when details like framing are considered."
Cooling summer essentials
Comfortably Cool 1 Tog Duvet
ChillPill 3-in-1 Fan, Mist & InstaChill System
DREO 7500 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Emma Premium Pillow
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, ELLE Decor, and Country Living among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
