Design tips from interior expert Jacqueline Paredi to transform your living space into something personal, cozy, and functional
If your great room feels more like a forgotten showroom than the heart of your home, you’re not alone. Open-concept layouts often provide flexibility, but they can also feel cold, undefined, or simply disconnected from the way you actually live. For adults over 55, those issues become even more noticeable as priorities shift toward comfort, connection, and easy living. “We want our homes to reflect who we are today, not just who we were ten years ago,” says Jacqueline Paredi, founder of SRQ Interior Design and an expert in designing homes that evolve with life.
According to a recent Houzz & Home Study, over 60% of homeowners aged 55 and older are renovating to improve daily function, not just aesthetics. With more people spending time at home, especially in retirement or semi-retirement, the great room has a chance to become something greater, a place of comfort, warmth, and personality.
A great room should feel open, but also intentional. Think about how you spend your time and then let the room follow.
Give the Room Purpose, Not Just Space
The first step is defining how you actually use your great room and how you want to feel in it. Jacqueline suggests looking at the space as more than one big box. Instead of pushing all furniture to the perimeter, create cozy zones. That might mean a pair of armchairs near the window for morning coffee, a reading nook with a warm lamp, or a soft rug to define the TV area. Pendant lights or a small console table can help guide movement and gently divide the space without walls.
Comfort First, Style Close Behind
For Jacqueline, comfort and beauty go hand-in-hand, especially as people age. She draws on her background in fashion design to layer soft textures, calming colors, and rich neutrals into every room she touches. “A lot of our clients are surprised how something as simple as adding sheer drapes or mixing throw pillows in linen and velvet can dramatically warm up a space,” Jacqueline shares. And it doesn’t require a huge investment. Small upgrades like replacing stiff seating with plush cushions, adding footrests, or choosing breathable fabrics can instantly make a room feel more inviting, especially for sore backs, tired knees, and long family visits.
Blend What You Love With What You Need
Your home tells a story, and Jacqueline believes in honoring that. “We love working with our clients’ existing pieces. A treasured chair or a painting can anchor the entire room. We just help it shine.” By blending sentimental items with a few modern updates, you can maintain emotional connections while avoiding clutter. For older adults, this balance also helps preserve familiarity, which studies from Harvard Health show can reduce stress and improve cognitive comfort.
Instead of removing, Jacqueline recommends curating. Keep the items that bring you joy and reframe them with better lighting, thoughtful placement, or complementary accents.
Design That Evolves With You
For adults over 60, accessibility and ease matter just as much as appearance. Jacqueline often incorporates subtle functional features that make a big difference in everyday living. “We want our clients to love their space now and for years to come,” she explains. “That’s why we think about comfort, mobility, and layout from the very start.”
She recommends soft-close cabinetry for arthritic hands, rounded furniture edges to prevent bruises or trips, and layered lighting that makes evening transitions gentle and beautiful. Even something like the height of your coffee table or the depth of your sofa can help prevent strain or discomfort.
The Most Beautiful Rooms Feel Personal
No two great rooms should look alike, because no two lives are the same. Whether you love coastal neutrals or bold color statements, your space should reflect who you are today and who you want to be. “We focus on what our clients love, from color to pattern to how they live their lives, to create a room that truly feels like home,” says Jacqueline.
If you’ve been staring at a great room that looks not-so-great, now is the time to change that. With a few expert-led design tweaks, it can become your favorite room in the house.
About the expert:
Jacqueline Paredi is the Principal Designer at SRQ Interior Design, bringing a lifelong passion for textiles and fashion into vibrant, livable home spaces. After years designing garments in Manhattan, she now draws inspiration from Florida’s relaxed elegance, blending heirloom pieces with fresh, colorful palettes. Known for her collaborative approach, Jacqueline listens deeply to each client’s lifestyle to create interiors that feel balanced, personal, and welcoming.
