How to Choose Living Room Furniture : A Complete Buying Guide
There are many factors to consider when you choose living room furniture for your home. Since the living room is an area in your house where you can relax and welcome guests, you should make this space look as attractive as possible. Choosing the right furniture is the key to making your living room look attractive. The right furniture can create a warm and welcoming ambiance in the space, which is what living rooms should be.
Tips To Choose Living Room Furniture
1. Come-up with a Plan
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When choosing living room furniture, it’s important to have a precise idea of the area. Take note of corners where you can place a piece of furniture without forsaking comfort. Having an interior designer is also very helpful. Make sure to stick with the plan after.
2. Keep in Mind the Traffic Flow
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Do not impulsively buy furniture just to fill-up space. It is important to consider the passageways and the number of people. Leave enough space for everyone to easily walk around without having to think about bumping to a piece of furniture or another person.
3. Decide on a Theme
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It will be easier to choose the right furniture for your living room if you have a theme in mind. You can go for modern, contemporary, cozy, or traditional. If you decide to go for a modern design, then your furniture should look modern.
4. Measure Your Doorways
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This is sometimes overlooked by many people when buying living room furniture. Prior to shopping for furniture, measure the width of your door first to avoid delivery problems. You do not want to buy a beautiful set of furniture only to find out that you cannot bring it inside.
5. Begin with the Basics
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Before you look for eye-catching decors, start with the must-haves. Some basic items in the living room include the sofa, chairs, center table, and a television. After securing the necessary ones, you can proceed with other furniture that will blend and fit in the area.
6. Consider the Colors of Your Wall
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It’s important that the furniture will complement the color of your living room wall. If you have chosen white or neutral colors for the wall, you can have dark-colored furniture. But if your wall is dark, the furniture should be light-colored.
Also Read: 41 Wonderful Living Room Ceiling Ideas
7. Blend the Patterns
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Pattern harmony is important when it comes to living room ideas. Avoid having too many variations of prints, especially bold ones. Having two pillows or rugs with daring prints will be alright, but not more than that. Decors with horizontal stripes will also help make your living room appear wider.
8. Look For Multi-Purpose Furniture
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Save some space by purchasing furniture that can be used in many ways. Examples include a sofa with storage space inside and a coffee table installed with drawers. These can help you lighten-up the area while conveniently keeping the clutter away.
9. Be Playful with Colors
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Your choice of colors can help set a particular mood or highlight a piece of existing furniture. Pairing neutral colors such as white and gray with bright ones will produce a mid-century atmosphere. A cool color like blue will instill a feeling of calmness.
10. Balance-Out the Sizes of Furniture
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When planning your living room furniture layout, make sure you balance the size of the furniture. The size should depend on the area of the room. For small spaces, decors that are smaller and lighter are ideal. Having ones that can be easily moved away when not in use are also advisable. Bigger spaces can have larger items but should be placed closer to allow cohesiveness.
11. Invest in Hanging Shelves
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Take advantage of placing shelves on your walls. These will help you free up some space and tuck items away when not needed. Smaller rooms should place shelves as high as possible and must leave a few unfilled to create an illusion that there is still so much space.
12. Look For a Focal Object
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Find a piece that you take much interest in. It can be anything you really like that will serve as the highlight of the living room, such as this tiled fireplace that will truly attract the attention of visitors. Then search for other accessories that will blend with this focal object.
Also Read: 41 Graceful Living Room Curtain Ideas
13. Expand the Space Using Mirrors
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When it comes to small living room layouts, use mirrors to expand the space. Mirrors and other reflective materials intensify light that helps visually-produce a wider and brighter interior. These items should be placed near a light source or adjacent to a window.
14. Choose Long-Lasting Items
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Larger families usually have more to look out for. You can search for durable fabrics that don’t wear out easily, stain-resistant furniture, or a couch that comes with a detachable cushion. Leather is also good since it’s easy to clean and still looks good even when old.
15. Take Note of Your Needs
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Think of the furniture and other accessories you will need to make your everyday routine more comfortable. If you need to work at home, consider buying a worktable. If you have a big family, then bring in more chairs to accommodate everyone.
16. Make Use of Carpets
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Carpets are helpful in defining living room seating areas. Take note that all furniture must sit comfortably on a rug and don’t use carpets that are too small. But if your place doesn’t permit it, have at least the front legs of big upholstered pieces to be on the carpet.
17. Consider the Material of Cushions
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Some cushions are stuffed with down from quill-less feather clusters. Unfortunately, down-made pillows break down easily and wear quickly. It is more advisable to look for cushions made with wrapped foam. Foam is durable and at the same time comfortable.
18. Avoid Overdoing
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Too much furniture will make the room appear crowded and could possibly block the passage. Also, a congested number of decors will not appear to be presentable anymore. Remember to keep things in balance and prioritize the most useful ones, such as living room sofas.
Also Read: 39 Eye Catching Christmas Living Room Decor Ideas
FAQs
Q1: How to Choose Living Room Furniture Color?
A1: When deciding the color of your furniture, you must first decide whether you prefer warm or cool colors. Then think of colors that appeal to you the most. Make sure the color of the furniture will complement the overall theme of your living room space.
Q2: Who makes the Best Living Room Furniture?
A2: There are several furniture manufacturers that are known to make the best living room furniture in the world. However, the brands that stood out in terms of quality and design are La-Z-Boy, IKEA, Bernhardt, Basset Furniture, and American Couture.
Q3: Where should I put my Sofa in the Living Room?
A3: In living rooms where there’s a mantel, the sofa should be placed in such a way that it will face the mantel. If there’s no mantel, look for an object that will serve as the focal point of your living room and place the sofa right across it. It could be a huge painting, a TV set, or a piece of art.
Q4: How to Choose the Right Size Sofa for a Living Room?
A4: Consider the 2:3 rule when deciding on the size of your sofa. It means that it should be about 2/3 of the size of the entire space. If you wanted to add a coffee table in it, then the table should also be 2/3 of the size of the sofa.
Q5: How far should a Couch be from a TV?
A5: When watching a TV, the general rule is to sit about 1.5 to 2.5 times the size of the diagonal screen, and with a 30-degree viewing angle. So if you’ve got a 40-inch TV in your living room, the couch should be placed somewhere between 5 to 8.3 feet away from the screen.
Also Read: 36 Elegant Entryway Design Ideas
Final Thoughts
These days, you’ll find plenty of stylish furniture pieces being sold in the market. Deciding the right furniture can be a bit confusing. So keep these tips in mind when you choose living room furniture for your home. These guidelines can help you to come up with a living room that is both welcoming and appealing to your guests.
