Did you know that this year DFS is celebrating 50 years of furniture making and that many of their sofas are hand made in the UK? I didn’t either! I also didn’t know that DFS offers a 15-year guarantee on their sofa frames and springs OR that they have the BSI Kitemark for upholstered furniture.
What I did know, however, is that DFS often collaborate with cool brands such as Joules, House Beautiful and French Connection to create affordable designer sofas. French Connection’s exclusive range at DFS, in particular, is one of my favourite interior brands.
DFS French Connection Sofa
So, when DFS asked me, as part of their 50-year celebrations, to create a room set for their Living Room Goals Winter Look Book I said yes please. I jumped for joy when they said that the Look Book was being photographed by Debi Treloar - basically my interior photography idol!
First of all, I had to select the DFS sofa I wanted to create a look for and I chose the Enchanted sofa and armchair in Blush Pink Sensual Velvet which has just launched and is now available on the DFS website and in store - here!
I chose the Enchanted for its elegant design with its nod to Art Deco. It looks glamorous, without being too fussy and clean lined without being austere. I also liked the slim legs and slim arms which make the sofa appear daintier than it actually is. A sofa on legs always creates the illusion of space as you can see underneath it. And it’s easier to get the hoover underneath it obviously!
You can see me discussing the look in more detail in this video below
I chose velvet because it very much suits the design and also because velvet is no longer just for luxury interiors, it’s for everyday use too. Velvet adds glamour, texture and comfort to daily living and is so cosy, especially in Winter. And, in my opinion, pink is not such a feminine colour any more. It’s a very useful neutral colour and goes brilliantly in many colour schemes - the ever popular whites and neutrals, the still popular greys and the upcoming trends for pastel greens, baby blues and lilacs.
The new trend for pastel greens - Dulux Tranquil Dawn Sofa at DFS
I chose to work the Enchanted sofa into a rustic French setting mostly because I was on holiday in France at the time! I also love, love, love the French way of juxtaposing luxury materials with more rustic textures. Think velvet paired with slubby linen, silk with raw wood or marble with rough stone. I’m particularly loving the trend for distressed walls at the moment (which you see all over France) and velvet looks amazing against it - again the juxtaposition brings out the best in both materials.
Slubby linen and velvet - a match made in heaven.
I accessorised the Enchanted sofa and armchair with foraged foliage from the countryside and some old frames and books from a vintage shop. I strongly believe that once you’ve invested in a sofa then it should last a long time and you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money to ring the seasonal or trend changes. Bringing in materials such as grasses, dried flowers and logs from the garden add loads of texture and interest. And choosing other accessories from vintage or charity shops means you can add character and personality to a room without breaking the bank. And with sustainability in mind, making balanced choices on what you spend your money on is more and more important.
Old books and frames and foraged foliage add character and texture.
Talking of sustainability, I also didn’t know that for every DFS sofa bought, the customer can opt for DFS to take away their old sofa to be sold in a British Heart Foundation charity shop. Over £20 million has been raised for the BHF from this initiative already.
I really enjoyed working with DFS to create this room set for their Living Room Goals campaign. Check it out here on DFS Instagram alongside other beautiful rooms from a range of designers, stylists and cool brands. It’s amazing the #livingroomgoals you can achieve with DFS when you put your mind to it!