Make a Lounge Statement BACK

Event for marketing firm The Farm does the lounge look well, courtesy of Contemporary Furniture Rentals.

Call it the South Beach nightclub effect or connect the dots back to jazz and supper club themes, but the event industry is certainly finding its mojo in lounge.

Once upon a time, event receptions might sport a few chairs and tables as thoughtful resting spots for guests and their dishware. But sleek and sexy now reigns with venues morphing into to-die for living room spaces with a series of lounge pods or conversation nooks as the décor's foundation.

Lounge is a mighty force (for the foreseeable future, anyway) and you can take it sitting down on designeresque sofas and ottomans, or standing up at edgy looking cruiser tables and bar stations. An extremely versatile look, TSE's furniture specialists share the following lounge-appeal ideas:

Have A Seat: Clean, crisp, angular geometry does it in furniture design--sofas, ottomans and benches. Rectangular and cubism work an elegant angle, while circular modules go for funky fun. Favour neutrals, black and white in tightly woven solid-coloured fabrics, leathers and suede. Brushed chrome gives accent.

Tiered Eye Candy: Lounge furniture sits low so build interest and defined spaces by varying heights of other décor. Set tall vases and luminated lighting on consoles between sofas. Suspend curtains, chandeliers and florals from the ceiling. Interchange low-lying sofas with taller rectangular cruiser tables with standing and bar stool-seating space.

Seating Elevation: Rim the room's perimeter, or sections of the main floor, with raised staging and steps up to VIP lounge seating areas. Take it a few feet off the floor or go for scaffolding heights. Just keep in mind safety precautions, such as railings, that need to be in place.

Décor & More's Loungevity captures cool with an all-white palette.

Shine On: Cast a reflection and catch the light wherever possible. Shimmy and shine with mirrors as tabletops, on cushions, underneath cluster votive centerpieces and on walls. Go for the beauty of crystal obeliske accent pieces and transparent chic of acrylic tables, bars and chairs uplit and backlit for ice-appeal without the chill. Brushed chrome accents reflect on sofas and tables; beaded shimmer curtains and iridescent organza draping define seating areas.

Eclectic Approaches: Go for unexpected details, like pairing a rustic butcher-block table with raised sleek leather sofas as the seating. Mix and match materials and colours such as faux crocodile-print leather sofas with fabric covered benches in a jewel tone. Call into duty stylized furniture where least expected, such as rows of sofas replacing theatre-style seating.

Go Wild: Use faux animal skins-pony, zebra and cowhide-as sofa/chair cover upholstery, or add a touch in throw blankets and cushions. Find nature in earth tones and accents. Discover hip colour complements such as chocolate brown, pink and turquoise.

Cushion Play: Have fun with cushion colour and textures, brightening up an all-white sofa with punches of fuchsia or emerald green. Go patterned-repeating a cushion's Pucci print in the lampshades-or add tactile appeal with feathers and fun fur.

With input from
Dan Noot of Loungevity, a division of Décor & More, loungevity.ca
Suzanne Turnbull of Signature Rentals, signature-rentals.com
Craig Gruzd of Designing Trendz, designingtrendz.com
and Peter Sommers of Contemporary Furniture Rentals, cfrentals.com