What it takes to have a sleek lounge

A lounge is a place where people sit to relax. It is normally a family room or TV room where the children can play from and it is limited to a specific room and the feeling can be created anywhere on the house structure.

Irene Kajubi, an interior designer at Interior Expressions in Bugolobi, says not everyone can have a lounge because it requires maintenance and without a spare room, you might turn it into a bedroom.
Lounges can be open or enclosed within the house and if it is a storeyed house, one can have a lounge upstairs for the family and one downstairs for the guests. .”

Charlotte Nuwagaba, the head – agency of Knight Frank Uganda, says a lounge requires a set of sofas as opposed to rattan seats.

A lounge’s sole purpose is to entertain guests and resting for some family members. Lounges may be classified according to the purpose they intend to serve. The specifications are the same but only vary on who you are making it for. It can be for your guests, office , family or bar.

On the other hand, Kajubi discourages the use of rattan seats in a lounge. These are basket-like chairs. Pay attention to the visual weight of furniture, not just its actual size. Light-colour furniture or pieces with legs appear lighter than dark or boxy upholstered pieces.

In other lounges, Kajubi recommends fabric upholstery as opposed to leather because the former is more welcoming. Leather portrays sophistication and looks better in an office. Read on for what it takes to have a lounge.

Guest lounge

Creating space for guests in your home involves more than providing a comfortable place to sleep; it’s an opportunity to make people feel welcome and ensure that their time spent with you is memorable.
When doing décor for a guest lounge, put everything you would want to see in a home. Let it be simple with a few wall hangings and a TV.

Window treatment
Irene Kajubi, an interior designer at Interior Expressions in Bugolobi, advises on having fabric curtains with sheers. The lounge can take on any design but Victorian is best because it makes the room more cozy, welcoming and relaxing.

“If you have small place, that has a living room, dining area, I would advise you not to have the same kind of furniture,” She says. Get a cozy couch that is comfortable enough for you to relax and another that is convenient for guests who do not like comfortable chairs.

Remember, if you have adequate of space, you can have a stand alone lounge. Afterall, not every home must have a lounge.

To accessorise the room, you can put a piano or a fire place. You can use antiques for a centre piece, nice pictures or wall hangings but refrain from overcrowding the room.

Outdoor lounge

You may want to relax at home but not indoors. For that, you can create an outdoor lounge in your backyard. Mbabazi, an interior designer at Erimu Company Limited, gives a few helpful tips you can follow.
“You can use wooden foldable chairs with a canvas cover. These are easy to deal with in case you want to create more space,” says Mbabazi, adding that setting up a fireplace would also make it more attractive.
He recommends if the place is big enough, you can use big cushions and the lighting can be natural or from other sources such as a fire place or a lantern. With this kind of lounge, you can appreciate nature as you sip on your drink and converse with your friends.
Colour used in a lounge depends on one’s taste. Colours such as soft white, purple haze, gardenia gold, crafty grey can be used because they are easy on the eye.
Remember this is one place where you can easily create contrast but endeavour to keep it simple.
“You can contrast colours like maroon with purple haze as this creates a cool feeling in the room,” Mbabazi explains.

Lighting
He recommends floral or striped patterns as these are more welcoming and relaxing. The paint used should complement the colours of the furniture and vice versa. Floor lamps, table lamps, ceiling lights should emit warm light because, Kajubi says, “colour and light go hand in hand. Light enhances colour.

Use any colour as long as it is your preference and if you are using warm light, there is no need for bright colours.”

A bulb with low watts qualifies as warm light. Accent lighting systems could come in handy.
These include, chandeliers, wall brackets, lamp shades and spot lights around wall hangings because they create a focal point in the room. “You aim them on areas where you need more light and they will create a beautiful reflection in the room,” says Kajubi.

Bar lounge
If you are interested in bringing a bar lounge closer to your home, consider the lighting you will use and the type of furniture placed in there. Other factors like alcohol held constant, Mbabazi has a few recommendations.“Use strong colours such as red, deep blue and these must be coloured lights because they are not very bright.”

However, do not forget to insall a music system in the room. “Music is a must but it must be soft music that will make you spend more time at the bar. Remember the ultimate goal of a lounge is to make you relax.”

The furniture used must be cozy, soft and Mbabazi does not recommend use of furniture made out of fabric but, “I would recommend leather and vinyl or a combination of leather and fabric. However, it must be soft to make someone feel comfortable.”

It is always nice to do space planning before you finish the interior as this helps you use all the space effectively. If you can’t do it on your own, have an interior designer look through on your behalf after all. We all need some time to relax and there is no place to relax and drift away like home.

Style
Any interior décor style can be used. You can mix the styles as this does not kill the look because the more you mix, the better it will look. Kajubi recommends a potted plant as a must have in a lounge.

COLOUR IDEAS
Having a theme in mind is important when picking out furniture so that you can achieve your desired aesthetic. You might also want to consider changing the colour of your walls to match your preferences. Consider the following ideas for themes:

• Warm tones Paint your walls cucumber-green and buy yellow and orange accent pieces, which include arm chairs, throw pillows, and pieces of artwork.This colour scheme creates a warm, playful environment that is both colorful and settled.

• English country This includes green, blue, red, or gray toile-patterned wallpaper, accent pieces, shabby-chic furniture, and elegant china. Offset the splashes of colour with neutral tones to avoid a living room that is too busy.

• Modern style This is very minimalist; stick with neutral tones like beige, gray, and dark brown, and choose furniture with straight lines and smooth surfaces (stay away from detailed embroidery or carvings).Try a long, L-shaped couch in beige with dark gray throw-pillows and a dark wooden rectangular coffee table.