Inviting some F.R.I.E.N.D.S into your Living Room

We can’t promise you the Friends that Monica Geller had, but following these accessoriSing tips will sure help you get a living room like her!

Ever settled down to watch yet another episode of Friends and daydreamed of having an apartment like Monica’s? Ever imagined about recreating her living room with its iconic purple walls and famous vintage French poster? On a budget and have only a small area for a living room? Longing for a space where your friends can hang out over board-games, wine sessions, and binge watch television shows together? On the eve of the legendary show’s twenty fifth anniversary, here’s our guide on how to finish your living room in the style of Monica’s. If the key to making a plain dress come to life are the adornments we choose, the answer to dressing up the living room of your dreams also lies in the choice of its accessories. We have for you a few home decor options for your living room.

Ever settled down to watch yet another episode of Friends and daydreamed of having an apartment like Monica’s? Ever imagined about recreating her living room with its iconic purple walls and famous vintage French poster? On a budget and have only a small area for a living room? Longing for a space where your friends can hang out over board-games, wine sessions, and binge watch television shows together? On the eve of the legendary show’s twenty fifth anniversary, here’s our guide on how to finish your living room in the style of Monica’s. If the key to making a plain dress come to life are the adornments we choose, the answer to dressing up the living room of your dreams also lies in the choice of its accessories. We have for you a few home decor options for your living room.

Rugs Are Chic Drawing Room Accessories

Let’s begin with examining the floor plan of Monica’s living room. We immediately see that it is open space, with any dividing walls being noticeable only by their absence. How does she then visually demarcate the living room from the kitchen and dining areas? By using a large-oversized rug! Monica’s flower-patterned rug does wonders to divide the space up. She also follows that golden rule of choosing rug sizes; it should be large enough to touch at least some parts, if not all, of the surrounding furniture thus tying them together. For your living room, pick out a chic rug that extends up to, or even goes beyond the furniture. It will help unite all the components together while adding texture and color. Not a fan of floral? Update the choice of pattern and color to complement the rest of your room. Rugs make for great drawing room accessories no doubt!

Coffee Table, The Cynosure Of Your Living Room

Let’s move on to furniture in and around the central area of the living room. Monica has several side tables scattered throughout the room and one can see the effective use of both wood and glass. We are also big fans of her center table, complete with its sculpted legs, that occupies the central part of your room with pride.  

Monica’s large square coffee table isn’t just reserved for coffee, often being the centrepiece around which the friends cluster in the living room. We believe that such tables complete a room, often lending heart especially to otherwise spartan spaces. A table can also create defined passages of negative space, giving definition and makes for a fabulous decorative item for a living room!

The Perfect Pillow Talk

From tables to seating spaces, note how the sofas and armchair in Monica’s living room are in neutral shades, they are set off by several throws and cushions creating a warm and welcoming look. Such an effect is easy to replicate with accent pillows and sofa throws of your own. Choose decorative pillows in various shapes and sizes, from bolsters and boudoirs to Euro shams and round pillows. Picking elaborate patterns and plush fabric will help you dial the luxe up. A throw can further relieve any hard lines of a space with graceful flow and texture. Throws come in a variety of options – modern or traditional, shabby-chic or retro – and it’s hard to go wrong with them. Drape one casually over the back of the sofa or over an armrest and sit back in both luxury and comfort.

Curtains Add Character

Staying with the theme of soft furnishings, let’s discuss curtains next. A soft breeze, warm sunshine, the chirp of birds and billowing curtains, all ingredients one needs for a sunny and happy living room. While the first few may not be in your control, you can definitely call the shots when it comes to dressing your windows. Curtains that have character can add style and sophistication to your living room as well as bring color and texture. We love interesting layers that Monica creates by using both blinds and drapes. 

However, these became a regular only as the show progressed with the large windows left unadorned in the whole of the first season. Monica (as well the show producers) had budget constraints too, you see! Greg Grande, the show’s set decorator, talks about this in an NBC interview – roman shades and swag were added in Season 3, and (statement velvet) curtains came even later.

Flower Power

Flowers were a theme across the apartment. The rug had a floral pattern and there were several instances of fresh flowers in vases across episodes. Flowers, however, were not the only way that nature was invited into Monica’s living room. She had houseplants in various corners of her house across seasons, with a leafy fern having a permanent home by the television. Such greenery can fill up empty corners and lend sensuality to your living room as well. In India, we have plenty of local options to choose from when it comes to indoor plants. Areca palms, English Ivy, Aloe-vera, Indian Basil and Spider plants are just a few that you can consider. Not only will houseplants brighten up your room, but they will also help purify the air and bring the outdoors into your home.

Art, Decor, Candles In All The Nooks And Crannies

Yet another great way to light up the room, literally and figuratively, is to use candles. Place candles on your coffee table, side-boards or cabinets, using eye-catching candle holders. Intersperse these with photo frames and tchotchkes, personal tokens and trinkets that you have collected over the years. These can personalise your living room and make it more homely and inviting. Monica, too, finished her room with some personal touches – there were colored glass vases, ceramic figurines, candles, and photo frames in various nooks and crannies. In one of the most talked about features of her room, there hung over her television, a vintage French poster advertising a child’s rocking horse. Candles area easy and simple drawing room decoration item and come at no cost either!

As you do up your living room, remember that Monica’s reflected her style and times. Grande talks about how he was briefed that the friends were ‘young, struggling Generation X-type characters who had to struggle to make a dime.’ He hence chose ‘furnishings (that) came from swap meets, thrift stores’ mixing the modern with traditional, attempting to create ‘this eclectic feeling’ where all the pieces came together to create an ‘incredible space’. Such a vibe may or may not be your alley. Following our accessorising tips as guidelines but bringing your personal touch to them will be what will make the space truly yours –going a long way in making it somewhere your friends will choose to hang out. We are sure our suggestions for drawing room accessories will help you liven up your living room!