It is non-negotiable to tag the living room as one of the most important spaces at home. As a common area, one must establish the vibe of the environment upon entering. Make it a space where you and your family feel most comfortable. It may seem crucial in finding ways on how to do it but the first step is knowing how to choose the right type of furniture to dominate the space with. The looks and the environment is what are most important. Thus, working on the furniture first is the key for the space to thrive. It is a place of comfort and happiness. We have narrowed down 10 things to try on how to choose the living room furniture.
1. Define the Budget
The remodel project for the living room would not be possible without defining the budget. Ask yourself how much are you willing to spend on the furniture. Make a list of the different stores that you are rooting for. Set boundaries on how much it is going to cost you to purchase a sofa set, table, ottoman, and other pieces that make up the space. Always remember to go back to the list and make some cuts of which one to get and which ones can be cut off from the list. If you have troubles with spending so much on furniture, be resourceful and scoop the must-haves in thrift stores. Defining the budget will allow you to go back to the list when things are getting out of hand. Add at least 20% on top of the budget to make room as a leeway.
2. Sketch the Floor Plan
An important and fun activity to do is sketching the floor plan. It is not all about getting everything as planned. All you need are the important details such as the shape and dimension. To make it more convenient, it would serve you best to measure the floor-to-ceiling height too. This will help in managing the height of the other furniture that you need such as shelves. Sketching the floor plan would not take much time. You just want an idea of how much room the furniture will cover. It can be a waste of time and money to purchase furniture that would not fit the space that you have. Draw variating ideas of how you would want the living room to look as you make room for every piece of furniture.
3. Select the Theme for the Space
Before shopping for furniture, one must identify the theme for the living room. There are plenty of ways on how to style the space. You can go for a classic traditional and antiquated style for more curvature and details. If you are up for sleek and sharp edges, work with metro and modern styles. There are plenty of styles to begin with. You just have to know which one would suit your taste best. Have a clear understanding of how you want the living room to look in a theme and how the furniture will follow through. For those who are not for an overall remodel, pick the pieces of furniture that blend with the existing look of the living room.
4. Pick Complementing Colors
Whether it be existing or new, the pieces of furniture to make up the room should complement the colors of the space. It may be difficult on how to but it would be best to work with a color wheel and identify which ones match and which ones does not. There are plenty of colors to choose from. If you do not find it comfortable with working with colors, picking the materials it is composed of would work too. Common materials in furniture are wood and steel. They make or break the look of the living room space. We understand how perfect you want the look to be but it would be best to go back to the basics and work with the colors and materials that you see fit for the living space.
5. Take Note of the Measurements
As important as the dimensions of the living room space, the measurements of the furniture should be taken into account as well. While you take note of the measurements, having a tape and tape measure will come in handy. Line up the tape to know the positioning of the furniture. Actual measurements are important to know whether or not the furniture will fit the designated space for the living room. Empty the living room and line up the furniture location using tape. This will help you identify if the circulation of the space is accessible for the users. Take these measurements as you go shopping for furniture. It will help in narrowing down which ones would fit the entirety of the space.
6. Evaluate the Interior Architecture
Before hitting the furniture depot, take a good look at your surroundings. Glance well at the existing interior architecture of the living room. Are there exposed beams and columns? How many windows are there and would there be hindrances with acquiring natural light? Take these questions with you as you scan the living room. Or better yet, take a picture of the space. Scan the colors and materials used for the walls and flooring. Having swatches would help too. This way, you have plenty of options in your hands that you can go back to when you need to make a decision already. Have an image of the entire living room that you can use as a basis when you are already at the store or shopping online. Use it as a reference to having an idea of how it would look.
7. Know the Number of People
We want you to make a smart and budget-friendly choice. Thus, you need to know how many people will your living room be covering. Do you live in a household of five to ten or do you just live alone? Knowing how many people will use it helps in narrowing down the type of furniture to look out for. It would be best to make room for excess in cases where you are hosting a gathering or maybe just a simple movie night with friends. Have enough seating furniture for the users to feel comfortable. It will dwell on the idea that the room is inviting for them.
8. Be Resourceful
If you are on a tight budget, we highly suggest working with what you can. Scrutinize a variety of furniture depots with their available couch, armchair, coffee table, side table, and shelf. Apart from what is in-store, check online shops too for other ideas. It saves you the time and energy of going to the store just to see that the resources are limited. There are unlimited options with what you can see online and they come with dimensions too. But, do not forget to manage your expectations in seeing their actual look. Always look out for reviews from the previous customers who bought them. Opting for second-hand products is not a bad thing too. Some prefer to declutter their home furniture even when they are still in good condition. It is worth the shot. Apart from the online marketplace, you can store great items too from thrift shops.
9. Scrutinize the Type of Material
Knowing the type of material used in building furniture is a must. They often come in the manual or you can ask experts yourself too. Ensure that the material used is susceptible to heat, dust, and moisture. Low-cost leather can sometimes turn flaky or rough over time. It would be best to invest in materials that can be used long-term. More than just leather, opt for fabrics that can be easily maintained in cases of stains. With the help of new technology, they created a vacuum that cleans the interior of any furniture. Apart from ensuring its cleanliness, you must take into account how it would look in the long run. Ensure that the furniture is made from top-notch quality materials and upholstery. It may be quite disturbing to know how luxurious pieces tend to be more expensive but they last longer than cheaper materials. Stain-resistant fabrics are highly recommended, especially if you are fond of hosting parties or having meals while watching a movie.
10. Allow the Furniture to Coordinate
More than just picking the materials, design, and color of the furniture, one must know how to allow all the elements to coordinate with one another. It is a tougher job than purchasing furniture because it is the moment of truth to know whether or not they fit the ambiance that you are looking for. Furniture coordination is not always about belonging to the same type of color or material. Instead, it is about how they complement one another when the entire living room is in use. If you think they do not work well with one another, it would be best to think of ways on how to make them feel belong to the same place. Bend a few tweaks and be creative on how to put them together.
