Living room furniture: an essential guide

Modern circumstances have forced us to think hard about what it means for us to ‘live in’ our living rooms. In the past, living rooms were a place where we could spend an hour after work or jump in the tub. Today, they are where we answer our emails, get our morning coffee, teach our children, and even exercise. Therefore, it is crucial to choose furniture that makes our lives easy and joyful. Here are my tips for furnishing a stylish, comfortable living area that is practical and affordable.
In recent years, the living area has started to lose its title as ‘the heart and soul of the house’ to the kitchen. These two rooms have been becoming partners, or even part of each other, more frequently. You will need to consider how these two rooms interact when you are choosing living room furnishings. You may add lamps or curtains in the kitchen to make it more functional. And the living room might have to take over the main dining (and maybe working!) area. table. I installed hardwood flooring in my home that flows seamlessly between the two rooms.

My first recommendation for what to choose from trade furniture suppliers is the sofa. When you have a place where you can rest your rump, the pressure is gone. Everything else can be put off until you find the perfect piece. I wouldn’t go on Ebay to bargain hunt for a sofa, as this isn’t the case with other furniture. A lot of 20th-century sofas are made with fillers and foams that tend to cause the fabric to shrink and sag. The high street has many affordable sofas, including sofa beds.

Sofas can take up too much space. If you are more of an upright shape than a lounger, such as me, you can choose the more modern, upright designs influenced by mid century modernism.

You should place the sofa in the spot you like best. It will usually be in a spot where the sun slants into it, or you can see out the window. I used to live in a flat with no obvious place to put it. It was due to the presence of doors, windows and draughts. Don’t think about it too much. You will gravitate towards the places you love and end up there anyway. Make sure you listen to yourself and place the sofa in a position where it will be comfortable.

Find the right dimensions for the other pieces. The dimensions of a coffee table that will not interfere with the door’s opening, or be too close to someone’s foot. Any nooks where storage might be placed. You should also note the standard heights of a table at 75cm and a coffeetable at 40cm, to avoid mistakes in scale (a major danger when you shop online for furniture). You can also make scale drawings on A3 paper to show the layout of your room. The real dimensions of furniture can be tested by placing masking tape, paper or cardboard on a floor to see how it looks.

The type of person you are will depend on the space available. Do you want to spend the evening lounging with a beverage and a book? If yes, you will probably need a sidetable for your glass, and a floor or table lamp to read.
This is a simple guide to furnishing a Living Room.
Other seating

Once you have your sofa set up, think about the other seating options that you might be able to fit in the space. It’s possible to have daybeds, or even a comfy armchair. A bay window can be a good place to put benches or window seat. For an added touch of elegance, you can also cut up any lumpy upholstery and replace it with a single piece of furniture like a wood bench or a small chair (see example below). Rita Konig explains in her column that it is important to let the upholstered pieces be loose. Have fun putting together new pieces and old friends. You can create a balance by using vertical lines and solid surfaces (lamps, tables and other tabletop items are good for this), rather than a space of seats. ‘.

A coffee table or upholstered ottoman

A coffee table, ottoman, or other piece that can be used to center the space is both practical and decorative. A tray can be placed on top of upholstered pieces in order to make them more functional. It is also a good idea to check out coffee tables with drawers and/or low shelves beneath.
Textiles

There is much to discuss in this article – how do you dress different window styles? How to properly scheme your textiles? – but I will share a basic formula for making your fabric choices work.
1. You should limit your palette to only three or four colours
2. You can choose two plain fabrics.
3. Mix the strips with a smaller or larger pattern.
If you aren’t sure, don’t worry. It wont look bad. Rugs can also serve as a cohesive element of colour and pattern. Because it can be distracting, to walk on top large, figurative images can be difficult for some people. My first priority would be to choose the colours I love.
Tables

Place a table beside any seating. They are ideal for breaking up large spaces. You will find many antique side tables, tea tables, and coffee tables with lots of character. These tea tables have a tendency to be more whimsical than the traditional designs, which can include flame or scallop tops as well as bobbins with barley-twists, zig-zags, and barley-twists. It would be a shame not to use this opportunity to add some flair.
Lighting and Lamps

Ambience is only possible with good lighting. Wall lights work well in evening mode. But, if an electrician is not available you have many options. Or you can plug in and fix the wall yourself. You can get a flattering glow from the lampshade with gold card on its inside.
Art, plants, artifacts that reflect character

The best way to add atmosphere and character to a room is with art. However, it doesn’t need to be expensive. Look out for big coffee-table books that contain illustrations or photos from second-hand bookstores, or from publishers such as Rizzoli and Taschen. These books can be quite expensive but they can also contain hundreds upon hundreds of artworks. You can use a scalpel or a knife to cut out pages. Once you have done that, frame the pages for a gallery wall. Download other pieces from the printable art series Things to Put in Frameworks. You can add scented bulbs in spring by adding low-maintenance flowering plant like geraniums. For temporary bulb pots, you can use old scented candlejars.
Shelves and storage

These items are not to be bought in a hurry. It’s not necessary to rush to buy built-in shelving. You might be able to find a unique and affordable antique with the right dimensions if you have enough money. Like many, I prefer to watch television on the computer. However, I know that I haven’t seen a hiding-the telly solution I love.