Is your living room feeling a little bit drab? Maybe your furniture is dated, or it no longer matches your current aesthetic.
When we furnish our homes we have the intention of keeping those pieces for a long time. After all, we love them when we get them. Over time, though, they wear down, discolor, or maybe just lose our interest.
Whatever the reason, it’s time to start furniture shopping again. But how do you start?
Well, we’re going one room at a time and we’re starting with the most “lived in” room. We’re looking for furniture for living rooms.
You have a lot of options but we’re going to help you narrow it down. Here are 7 factors that you’ll want to keep in mind on your next living room furniture hunt.
1. Budget
This is the first and least fun part of planning your new living room setup. What exactly is your budget for furniture?
This is where you should start to prioritize. Budgeting isn’t just about figuring out your available money for the room in general. It’s also where you decide where that money can be allocated.
Do you want to spend all of your money on a plush new couch and then buy some armchairs secondhand? Do you have your eye on a fancy OSIM massage chair that will take center stage? Maybe an antique glass coffee table is going to be the new centerpiece of your space.
Regardless, figure out where the bulk of your money is going to go and then work around that.
2. Spacing
You only have a finite amount of space in your living room so you’re going to be playing some mental-Tetris to figure out what you can actually fit and where things can go.
You can use your current living room setup (if you have one) to guestimate the overall arrangement of your new furniture, but it’s best to also take measurements.
You should make sure that you have enough living room space for your new things.
According to experts, you should measure the length of your walls, any pieces that you plan on keeping, and the doorways.
Once you have measured your living room and have a clear understanding of the space available, consider integrating tailor-made rug designs to complement your furniture arrangement.
These customized rugs can be crafted to fit the exact dimensions and aesthetic of your space, ensuring they enhance the room’s ambiance without overwhelming it
It would be unfortunate to get your new furniture home and then not be able to get it into the house.
3. Patterns and Colors
If you’re buying all new furniture you might want to coordinate a bit. There are living room sets that you can buy pre-arranged, but you can also get creative with themes of color and patterns.
Many people think that you can’t pattern mix and this couldn’t be farther from the truth. You just have to do it effectively by using a monotone color palate.
Remember, you want your space to look cohesive (even if you’re going for the kitschy look).
Go for colors that either match completely or compliment each other and try to stick with a central color theme.
This will make it easier to play with patterns and also to decorate the rest of your space later.
4. Plan Your Furniture Type
Everyone has a piece that they’ve always wanted. Maybe it was something that you had in your family home, or maybe it was something that you never got to have at all.
You don’t have to stick with the standard 3-seater sofa and armchair look. How do you feel about loveseats or hanging chairs? What about a chaise lounge or an L-shaped couch?
If you have the room for it, why not give it a try?
There are so many unique furniture options that it would be silly to not at least check out some of the less traditional pieces.
Even if you end up choosing what’s familiar, you might be able to throw in a statement piece or 2.
5. Make a Cohesive Style
Furniture comes in different styles. You might want a minimalist style with lots of flat edges, smooth fabrics, and monotone colors without patterns.
Maybe you’re into the antique look with glossy wood and brass accents.
You can do a bit of mixing and matching, but a cohesive living room typically sticks with one primary furniture trend and matches all furniture and decor to fit.
Do you want a comfortable and “lived in” look with soft knits, pastel couches, and rounded edges?
Do you want something that looks plush and expensive with leather seats? It’s up to you.
6. Don’t Forget the Important Objects
It’s easy to get caught up in the comfy things. Going through the store sitting on new couches and chairs and choosing fabrics is a lot of fun.
What about things like shelves, television stands, and storage items?
These things are also important and without them, your living room will be noticeably bare.
You can save them for last so that they can fit around your larger objects, but don’t omit them completely or you’ll be scrambling to fit them into your budget later.
7. Function Over Form
Having a beautiful sofa in your favorite color is useless when it’s so stiff and uncomfortable that no one wants to sit in it.
The living room is a gathering space. If you have family or friends this is where they will spend your shared time. Make sure that it’s comfortable, inviting, and functional.
There should be places to put items like drink cups and phones and nothing should feel too “sterile”.
Having a beautiful space is meaningless if no one wants to spend their time there.
Choosing Furniture for Living Rooms Is Fun!
Don’t get too stressed out when you’re choosing furniture for living rooms. It’s a lot of fun to pick new things, plan new styles, and make a space that’s all your own.
You don’t have to impress anyone. This room is yours to live in and enjoy so you should make it fit your personal style.
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