Out with the old, in with the new. When it comes to bland, greige living rooms, 2026 is the year of change.
We caught up with a selection of Finest Directory designers to understand how they reimagine living spaces. Read on for some serious inspiration to refresh your own this New Year.
Susi Bellamy’s Feminine Scheme
When we think of truly unique designers, Susi Bellamy immediately comes to mind. Working out of Ouseburn in Newcastle upon Tyne, Susi creates vibrant homeware based on original artwork painted in her studio. Known for her fearless use of colour and pattern, Susi’s designs feel both timeless and refreshingly modern. One of our favourite projects of hers (with some serious use of colour!) comes in the form of a beautifully styled living room in a Northumberland country home.
Using a distinctly feminine, pastel palette, Susi styled the living room with her luxurious linen cushions in her signature marbled designs. “Scale and proportion are important when choosing which cushions to use in a scheme,” Susi explains, describing the finished arrangement as a ‘sofascape,’ where cushions of varying heights are arranged at either end of the sofa. “We often opt for one end or the other for a grouping of colours and patterns – in this case in the same family but subtly different in colour.” The delicate, book-end marbled designs “seem to echo a bygone era of leather-bound books and open fires,” bringing a sense of nostalgia to the space while remaining contemporary. Susi’s inclusion of her marbled rose linen lampshade offers another subtle nod to the past, “taking a classic look and giving it a modern twist” by overlaying her signature marbling onto a classic chintz pattern.
Susi also upholstered the client’s Bergère rattan sofa in Susi’s Duck-Egg Bouquet velvet, which she paired with matching tasselled oblong pillows. To further enrich the room, her latest box files were placed around the space, offering both practical storage for stationery or keepsakes and another opportunity to layer the interior with her distinctive, colourful design.
Click here to visit Susi Bellamy’s website.
Products Used
Blue Rose Marbled Linen Empire Lampshade | £155
Duck-Egg Bouquet Velvet Fabric | £125
Dahlia Plumes Square Linen Cushion | £105
Yellow Stripy Rose Box File | £75
Simon Mayhew’s Warm Neutral Scheme
Few know how to go about designing a neutral living room quite like Simon Mayhew.
The brains behind TXTURED, Simon’s approach to interiors is rooted in a deep understanding of balance. This is especially evident in his award-winning Islington Townhouse project, where organic textures are layered with earthy tones and bespoke details. “The space was small so it needed to be considered,” says Simon. He began with a warm neutral palette on the walls, using it as a soft backdrop to build depth through furniture, lighting, and architectural detail. “We used lots of character pieces to make it feel more homely and then layered it up from there.”
The Theodore armchairs from Soho Home were one of the standout pieces of the scheme. Upholstered in a rich rust velvet, they “bring a pop of warm colour that makes the space feel immediately inviting,” says Simon. To highlight them even further, “we added an arch into the lounge, framing it beautifully.” Taking cues from mid-century designs at Soho House 40 Greek Street, the armchair has long been a brand favourite. Styled with the Pierre Frey Tsomba Cushion also from Soho Home, the tribal-style graphic pattern serves as an additional layer of interest and complements each armchair beautifully.
Lighting was equally important to the scheme, with Simon favouring the Renwick ceiling pendant from Lights&Lamps. Its five bow-tie linen shades on an aged brass frame add a modern yet timeless touch, casting light up and down to “captivate the eye and act as a statement centrepiece of the room.”
Click here to visit TXTURED.
Products Used
Theodore Armchair in Velvet Rust | Soho Home | £995
Pierre Frey Tsomba Cushion in Cocoa | Soho Home | £350
Renwick Aged Brass Pendant | Lights&Lamps | £369
Studio Raymond’s Layered Scheme
Bold wallpaper, antique accents, and characterful artwork – that’s what comes to mind when we think of Studio Raymond, and Carina’s Chelsea Garden Apartment captures this signature approach perfectly.
“The clients owned a number of vintage pieces, including an antique rug and mid-century armchairs, which they were keen to incorporate into the living room, alongside several important artworks,” Carina explains. With these characterful elements setting a strong foundation for the scheme, she kept the wall colour deliberately neutral, allowing the furniture and artwork to take centre stage rather than compete with it. Colour is instead introduced in a considered, layered way throughout the space: the antique Persian rug brings warmth and depth, while the hand-painted blue library joinery adds “a confident yet restrained” pop of colour. Accessories and soft furnishings were then carefully selected to echo these tones, creating a cohesive scheme that feels calm, but never flat.
Given the generous length of the living room, zoning played a key role in ensuring the space felt both functional and intimate. A relaxed TV snug anchors one end, while a library and drinks corner occupies the other, allowing the room to adapt to different moods and moments without feeling fragmented. A bespoke window seat visually frames the space and draws the eye towards the garden beyond, while also providing practical additional seating for family life. The result? “A layered, balanced living room that feels curated, comfortable and deeply personal.”
Click here to visit Studio Raymond.
Products Used
Cabana Sheepskin Chair | Timothy Oulton | £2,695
Cromer Swing Arm Wall Light | Vaughan | £450
Lazaret Upholstered Storage Ottoman | Oka | £1,495
We hope this article has inspired you to rethink your own living space, as it has us. For further inspiration, explore The Finest Directory to discover how the rest of our partners are reimagining living rooms, and every other corner of the home.