2022 saw over five million homes change ownership. For many of those homeowners, that means that renovations only recently ended or are ongoing. That’s when homeowners must start making serious decisions about what will go in their homes.
The types of furniture you want will play a big role in those decorating decisions. Some people opt for a combination of new and used furniture they already own. Others will go for entirely new furniture.
Are you struggling with how to select living room furniture? Keep reading for our tips on picking the right furniture for you.
Also, Read Different Types of Ceilings and How to Choose the Best One
Types of Furniture
Before digging too deeply into the actual selection process, let’s do a quick review of the standard furniture options. For living rooms, there are three main kinds of furniture.
Couch
The couch, sofa, or loveseat is usually the biggest item of furniture in a living room. They can typically seat two to three people. The exception to this is a sectional sofa, which can often seat up to five people.
Chairs
Most living rooms also have at least one or two chairs. There are several types of chairs commonly found in living rooms, including:
- Recliners
- Wingback chairs
- Accent chairs
- Club chairs
The choice of chair often depends on personal preference.
Tables
The other main kind of furniture you see in living rooms are tables. Common choices include end tables, coffee tables, and sometimes console tables.
Other kinds of furniture may show up in your living room, such as entertainment centers or small bookcases. With the types of furniture out of why, let’s move on to how you actually pick the furniture.
Set a Budget
Shopping for anything without a budget is often a fool’s errand. It’s far too easy to fall in love with a piece of furniture only to realize you can’t really afford it.
You should set a budget for furniture that won’t strain your finances. That upper cap on spending will limit your choices but also prevent overspending.
Decide on the Layout
Before you go looking at furniture, you should decide on a general layout for the living room. Minimally, you want at least one focal point in the room.
In many homes, the position of the TV determines the main focal point. Homeowners will arrange furniture around the TV to make viewing comfortable. This can also serve double duty as a conversation area.
Something else you should consider is the traffic flow through the room. You want the furniture organized so it won’t impede traffic flow. If possible, though, try to position the focal point of the room out of the main traffic lane.
Measure Your Space
Next, you should take a lot of measurements in your living room. Pay particular attention to where you expect to put pieces of furniture.
You may well discover that there is less square footage in that living room than you expect. After all, any room without furniture in it will look a little cavernous.
Pro tip: make a drawing of the space with the measurements on it. You can take that with you when you visit furniture stores. Having those measurements handy will let you evaluate furniture at the store more easily.
Measure Potential Furniture
When you visit a furniture store, take a tape measure with you. It will help you with taking furniture measurements. Once you have those measurements, you can compare them with the available space on that convenient drawing you made.
Don’t just measure lengths. Measure the height and depth of the furniture as well. If a couch proves too deep, it can throw off the arrangement of furniture around it.
You also want to make sure that the back of a couch or chair isn’t tall enough to partially obstruct a window.
Don’t confine your measurements to couches and chairs. Measuring a coffee table will give you a better idea about whether it will allow for leg room around the other furniture.
Consider Your Existing Interior Decoration
There are concerns beyond the purely practical matter of furniture sizes. There is also the matter of meshing the furniture with your existing interior decoration. A black leather couch may look great in the store. That doesn’t mean it will look good sitting in the middle of your cozy, farmhouse living room design.
Look for colors and materials that will blend in seamlessly. The exception to this is if you’re decorating from scratch. Then, you can pick the furniture pieces you love and design the rest of the interior design around them.
Focus on Quality
Give some serious thought to the quality of the furniture you pick. Inexpensive furniture is easier on the budget, but it generally doesn’t hold up very well. It’s generally not a win for homeowners if they must replace furniture after a few years.
Spending a little more on a few high-pieces that are still comfortable and look good in five years usually is a win. Of course, it’s better to stick with inexpensive furniture if that’s what your budget can manage.
Shop Around
Furniture is like any other consumer product. You can often find the same or similar pieces for a better price with a bit of patience and some careful shopping around.
For example, you can often find identical pieces of furniture at a steep discount through a furniture outlet. While it won’t always work out that way, it never hurts to look.
Use a Process to Select Living Room Furniture
A thoughtful process is almost the best way to select living room furniture. Instead of picking things you like and then trying to make them work, consider the setting. Decide on a layout in advance.
Take measurements of the room. Measure the furniture to make sure it will fit properly.
Consider the style and materials of the furniture to ensure it fits well with your interior design. Don’t forget to set a budget.
Are you looking for more interior design ideas? Check out the posts over in our How To – Tips and Tricks section.
Also, Read Four Smart Ways to Make Your Home Look Elegant
