Shea McGee shares how she made a huge open-plan living room feel cozy and inviting despite its scale

There are, of course so many pros of having plenty of space to work with, but large square footage can be tricky to navigate, especially when you want the space to feel inviting and cozy.

This was the task designer Shea Mcgee was faced with when decorating the living room in her new project The Oaks. She recently took to Instagram to explain how she worked with the beautiful, lofty architecture in the home and designed an open-plan yet cozy living room. Shea created a space that felt intrinsically welcoming despite the size of the room.

We're impressed by every single room in The Oaks but the living room is one of the spaces we are most excited about. Shea has worked with the size of the room, managing to make it feel warm and lived-in with her clever use of living room furniture.

It's important to consider the overall intention behind your design on top of the style you're going with before purchasing any furniture or decor. You want your living room to feel eclectic yet coordinated, with each piece being part of an overall connected look.

In Shea's case, she considers the large windows that overlook the onlooking oak trees, weaving them into the overall scheme of the living room to highlight the view and architecture.

'I didn’t want to lose the view and neither did our clients,' explains Shea. 'There are views on both sides of the windows so we made sure to add lower profile chairs and a daybed on one side. This allows seating or you can lay down and the height won’t obstruct the view.' Daybeds are an easy way to make a space feel thoughtful, without dominating a space and taking up too much room.

Each piece of furniture is unique and different yet they all come together to create a coordinated space that nails Shea's iconic modern rustic style. 'The furniture selections in this living room are really interesting and engaging and I love the way they work together in harmony but each piece is very beautiful on its own,' says Shea. She opts for a pair of plush ottomans and a striped daybed, both muted in tone and soft in shape, making them feel part of a connected look. Shea is sure to be practical and consider the client, saying 'We got a large sofa which is comfortable for this family of five.'

The light living room and plush furniture are purposefully contradicted by the placement of a statement wood coffee table that connects to the outdoor scenery. 'The living room is huge so we needed an 84-inch coffee table.' Organically shaped coffee tables made from marble, wood, or stone make a room feel organic and modern, providing a charm that comes from natural materials.

Shop The Oaks living room look