A Guide to Buying Living Room Furniture

Personalizing your living space is what makes a house feel like home. Consequently, customizing your living room, the room you spend the most time in, can considerably improve your mood. One of the easiest ways to add flair to your living room is to select the furniture that brings out your individuality and lasts a long time. You can spruce up your living room by getting new seats and tables.

However, buying new furniture is more complicated than it looks. You have to consider several factors and find a balance between functionality and aesthetics. Consider the following before choosing your living room layout:

1. The Size of Your Living Room

Determine your living room’s spaciousness and plan for your new furniture accordingly. This consideration is crucial, as UK homes have shrunk by a third since the 70s. A practical way to do this is to list the furniture you want and measure your living room space against it.

A smaller living room means you cannot fit in more oversized sofas with multiple seats. If you want coffee tables, side tables, TV consoles, and other optional furniture for your living room, determine how much space they will take up before deciding on your sofas.

2. Your Furniture Aesthetics

The color and aesthetics of your furniture matter a lot. Make sure to match your sofas and tables to your wallpaper or wall paint: warm, rich wooden furniture wouldn’t do well with grayed, cool-toned walls! Your living room furniture should also complement the rest of your house and make you feel at home. Buy furniture that goes well together

Since you and your family will likely spend most of your time in the living room, the room’s aesthetics should make you feel comfortable and cozy. Factor in your taste in interior design and add individuality to your furniture.

3. Durability of Furniture

You usually don’t buy new furniture every other year. It is a one-time investment, so it should last you decades. Make sure you’re buying from reputable vendors like Kasala. Vet the materials used in the furniture and see if they can last you a long time. For instance, wood can be considered one of the durable materials for living room furniture. It can also help make the furniture look great as it’s available colors, designs, and styles.

There are also other durable materials that you can choose for your living room furniture. Aside from wood, synthetic materials can be ideal since they’re easy to clean, durable, and aesthetically pleasing in your living space.

If you want to buy a sofa, consider the sofa foam, the table material, and the material of the sofa frame, and ensure you aren’t compromising on quality. Try to buy pieces of furniture that complement each other, not just in color but also in feel and material selection.

Thankfully, you can visit some reliable shops online with a vast collection of living room essentials. These include furniture which is designed and manufactured using durable and high-quality materials. Whether you need a sofa, table, cabinet, or other living room furniture, these online stores can help you find the right one for your space.

4. Cost

Cost is perhaps the most important consideration you’ll have to make. Go for furniture that is within your budget but never compromise on quality. If you’re having trouble finding money for the furniture you want, consider reselling your existing furniture instead of sending it to a landfill. You can also sell your existing furniture to a junkyard to get funds.

5. Lifestyle

When buying furniture, it’s essential to consider your lifestyle to ensure the one you choose is functional for your living room. For example, if you want to keep your space more organized, consider adding furniture with storage where you can readily keep pillows, throws, and other items in the area. If your family loves relaxing in the living room, having ottomans can be an excellent idea. They can be ideal for putting your feet up while watching tv or reading.   

Whatever living room furniture you consider, ensure it meets your lifestyle and personal needs. This way, you can get the most out of this significant investment.

Choosing the Right Furniture

Your typical living room furniture includes sofas, chairs, and center and side tables. Before you order any furniture, here’s what you should know before buying these living room essentials:

1. Sofas

Your living room sofas are multipurpose and versatile. You can use them for eating, reading, watching TV, or resting, so you should go for the best quality you can find. Determine what purpose you will use your sofa the most. If you prefer to lie down, go for a sofa that is big enough or a sofa bed. 

Ensure you get a sofa with a durable frame. Ideally, go for a solid hardwood frame over a particleboard one. For cushions, go for comfortable ones that need less maintenance. Feather cushions may be comfortable but need plumping time-to-time, while foam cushions will flatten over time. A solution to this problem is getting cushions made of feathers and foam. The feathers will provide comfort, while the foam will ensure the structural integrity of the sofas.

2. Chairs

Along with the sofas, your living room chairs will be where you spend a lot of time. Buy chairs that complement your sofa well, but ensure that your living room chairs are proportionally similar to your couch. Fill up any small, unoccupied space in your living room with accent chairs. Not only do they fill any gaps that look empty, but they also add additional seating for when you have a lot of guests.

You can get a leather chair, a fabric chair, or a microfiber chair for your living room. Leather chairs, if properly cleaned, add a sophisticated look to your room, but they may wear naturally. Fabric chairs are for a casual look and are available in several hues, so consider them to add some color to your room. Microfiber chairs are limited in colors but are easy to clean, so they are a practical choice for people with kids or pets. 

3. Tables

Your living room needs a center table and some side tables in your seating area. They can spruce up your living room by hosting decoration pieces and are practical as well. The center table anchors your seating furniture in the room. You can get two or more center tables if your seating area is more extensive. A rule for buying a center table is to select one smaller than two-thirds of the largest piece of seating in the room. However, it should be big enough for showpieces and everyday objects such as laptops and coffee mugs. Your center table’s height should never be more than your sofa’s seat – ideally, keep it two or three inches smaller to access things easily on the table. 

Once you have your center table, fill the gaps in your seating area by getting some side tables. Try to keep your side tables aesthetically similar to your center table, or it will risk looking out of place. Try to get one side table on the ends of each sofa and near every chair for convenience. You can also use side tables as stands for sculptures or plants to fill up space and spruce up the room. 

Endnote

Choosing your living room furniture is one of the best outlets for your aesthetic sense. Personalize your living space with hand-picked furniture without compromising on quality or practicality. Just make sure you choose your sofas, chairs, and tables according to the size of your living room, aesthetic sense, budget, and durability.