Most living rooms are designed to look good in photos. The problem? They don’t always feel good to live in.

This week’s Kassina's Edit is about creating a moody, scholarly living room that your body actually wants to sink into. Think rich leather, layered textures, and lighting that calms instead of glares. It’s not just design — it’s nervous system science. When you give your senses contrast (smooth leather next to soft textiles, crisp lines softened by patina), your body relaxes.

RUTED Tip: Research in neuroaesthetics shows that material contrast and tactile variety lower stress and improve mood regulation. One study found that exposure to natural textures like wood and leather reduced cortisol by up to 15% (Higuera-Trujillo et al., Building and Environment, 2021). 

Another study on ambient lighting revealed that warm, diffuse lighting improves parasympathetic activation, helping the body enter a “rest and digest” state (Knez & Hygge, Lighting Research & Technology, 2002).

In other words: your living room doesn’t just need to look stylish — it needs to feel grounding. Here’s how I built this one, and how you can shop the look for yourself.

Every scholarly living room needs an anchor, and here it’s the sofa. Chesterfields are my go-to because the deep tufting and worn leather bring instant heritage.

• Bergen Sofa (as shown) – our classic Chesterfield, grounding the whole space

• Alma Leather Chesterfield Sofa or Loveseat – perfect if you need scale flexibility

• Roland Sofa – a modern twist with equally grounding proportions

Balance the heft of a sofa with sculptural chairs. Different silhouettes add rhythm and keep the room from feeling like a “set.”

• Billi Sling Chair – casual, grounding, and textural

• Oscar Leather Club Chair – classic and moody

• Vendela Leather Accent Chair – clean-lined but soulful

• Molly Lounge Chair – rounded, soft edges for balance

Think of tables as punctuation — not everything has to match, but each one adds rhythm. I always like to mix wood and stone to layer weight and tone.

• Wayde Marble Side Table

• Ari Marble Side Table

• Ramona Marble Table

Lighting makes or breaks a room’s nervous system regulation. Warm, directional lamps create pools of intimacy and calm. Avoid overhead glare whenever possible.

• Bjarne Floor Lamp – sleek but grounding

• Vintage-inspired sconces or table lamps for layered light

Here’s where the nervous system really thanks you. Layer textures your hands and body want to touch. Leather needs counterpoints — linen, wool, sheepskin.

• Atli Kilim Pillow

• Hodur Lumbar Pillow

• Toni Pillow

• Robin Pillow

• Icelandic Curly Sheepskin or Texel Sheepskin

Art gives your living room a narrative. I always recommend mixing scale and framing for a collected feel.

• Brenn Framed Artwork

• Lagertha Framed Artwork

Design Tip: A gallery wall with layered frames and varied sizes mimics the irregularities found in nature — and studies show irregular patterns feel more “human” and less stressful to our brains than sterile, uniform layouts (Leder et al., Aesthetic Science, 2004).

This scholarly living room feels grounding because every element supports nervous system regulation:

• Sofas and chairs provide weight and structure (security cues).

• Textiles soften and contrast (tactile comfort).

• Lighting is layered and warm (physiological regulation).

• Artwork provides narrative and continuity (cognitive ease).

That’s the RUTED Method: blending design, science, and story so your home feels like more than a showroom. It feels like you.

Moody and full of vintage patterns and prints: SHOP THE FALL COLLECTION  

P.S. I’d love to know how you're incorporating the RUTED tips into your home. Leave a comment below or connect with me on Instagram and let’s talk design.

P.S.S. If you're looking for more help, we can do a Virtual Session (or 2, 3, 4+) or dig deeper with our full service design offerings.