Q: We painted our 969sqf flat white to make it look more spacious. but now, it feels cold. can we make it feel big, yet cosy? we are getting a black glass tv console and dining set. how do we make it all match? 

A: All-white colour schemes will create the desired airy, open, space-expanding ambience you need for your small living room. But as you found out, using too much of a white-on-white scheme can look cold and make your furnishings feel “lost” in a floating space.

You need to create anchors for the different furniture groups, so the dining and living spaces will feel warm and intimate. If you like the slick looks of black glass furniture, go for black-and-white accents to add smart focal points for each area. For instance, you could anchor the black glass TV console with a white lacquered coffee table and big, shaggy rug in pepper-and-salt hues (black, white and grey). The black glass dining set can be accented with some modern Chinese brush paintings hung on the back wall.

Finally, soften the scene with lots of homely touches – piled coffee table books, a gleaming metal sculpture, travel knick-knacks and a wooden bowl filled with apples will do wonders to cosy up a space.

Credits
Photography: Calvin Tan
Design: Recaptured