Buying a new house, or even remodelling the one you have right now, requires buying furniture. If you're doing it on your own there's a chance you might get overwhelmed because there are so many options on the market. The living room is one of the most commonly used rooms in the house and it's important to make it right. You'll spend a lot of time on the sofa relaxing, watching TV, entertaining friends or having a good time with the family. Before going out and buying some furniture, there are a few things you should consider.
Tips to Get You Started
Measure and Plan the Space
If the room is completely empty and you’re just starting the planning process, it’s always a good idea to begin by measuring the available space. Make a plan about the position of the furniture, sofas, storage space, chairs, shelves, tables etc. This will give you an idea of where to start first. It might be overwhelming in the beginning because there’s a wide array of home furniture to style your house.
To make it easier take some tape and outline the spaces of each piece of furniture and where will it go. This way you’ll also get a rough measurement, so you’ll know what dimensions to look for, for the coffee table, the sofa and all the rest. If you pick the TV as the central point, start building from there by determining the sofa’s distance from it. By making this you avoid creating an overcrowded or empty room.
Pick a Theme
The first thing to do is choose a theme you like before starting the hunt for specific items. To make things look cohesive, plan out an overall theme for the whole house instead of focusing just on the living room. This way I'll be coherent with every space in the house. Once you choose the theme you like, you can start looking for some pieces.
You have plenty of styles available. For example, a casual theme will include a naturalistic and cool feel with a few accessories. A contemporary design looks great with its metallic and angular features. The vintage theme will give you an industrial look that has a lot of brown, red and neutral tones. It's advised not to mix styles together, because most of the time it turns out as an awkward and confusing space.
Choose Good Materials
This is an important consideration because it’ll influence the longevity of the furniture. Pieces made of high-quality materials will last for decades if you treat them with care. If you lean towards wood, some of the best choices are mahogany, maple, oak and walnut. If you like metals, aluminium, wrought iron and steel are good choices.
Textiles can be tricky as well. Natural materials such as cotton, wool or linen won’t last as long as synthetic ones. If your furniture is made of olefin, polyester or nylon, it'll last longer. Textures can also make a difference. Every material feels different to different people. Choose this together with the family and see which one is liked by all. This will make everyone comfortable.
Start With the Basics
The seating area is probably the central element of every living room. This is the basic piece you should start with. You'll need something comfortable for everyone to enjoy, no matter if you’re a small family or want to have a lot of guests over. A sectional sofa is always a good choice. It can stand at the centre of the room and if you’re bored of that look, you can always move it to a corner. If you’re dealing with a smaller room, a sofa and a couple of chairs will do perfectly. Once you decide on this, start building from there. Continue with the coffee table, shelving, rugs, curtains and storage space.
Make the Materials and Colours Harmonious
The furniture must blend in with the style of the room. You should consider the colour of the walls, the floor, and any unique features the ceiling might have. If your home is neutral, with soft and light hues or wood, you can mix designs and colours fearlessly. However, if the room has a dynamic floor with a lot of colours and heavy visuals, you will need to look for lighter furniture. This way it won't interfere with and detract from the visual effect of the floor.
The Main Living Room Furniture
Sofa and Chairs
These items will probably cost the most, so it’ll be good to take them off the list first and make sure they fit the space. Before searching for some Australian furniture online or going to local stores, measure the space and look for a couple of possible positions for them. Make a few plans and see which one leaves you with the most space. It should also be practical and visually appealing.
Coffee Table
These tables are very practical and are often settled at the centre of the seating area. Remember that the height of the table should be slightly lower than the sitting section of the sofa or the chairs. Its length should be around 1/3 of the length of the sofa. If you’re not a fan of coffee tables, benches can do the same function.
Leave enough room for movement around it so you don’t bump it every time you stand up and sit down. Coffee tables can be a good source of storage space where you can store your magazines, some small cushions, remotes, books and small items like batteries, spare keys or some everyday tools.
Rug
The rug is a good way to mark the seating area. But a lot of homeowners often buy a carpet that’s too small for the task. If you want to do it right, make sure all of the furniture sits on the carpet. If you still want a smaller one, at least let the front legs of the furniture be on top of the rug. This piece is a great way to blend in the colours of the living room and make it look cohesive.
Side Tables
Even though they may not look very important or necessary, they can be of great help. You should have at least one on each side of the sofa. Or if you have some chairs, beside them would be a good setting. Their height should be around the height of the arm of the sofa or the chairs. This way you can easily pick up and put down things such as drinks, snacks, books etc. They come in many different designs, sizes and colours. Some of them have good storage space which is always a plus.
