Furniture Tips

Modern living rooms are a family’s social hub, a place where they work, read, study, watch TV, and visit with friends and family. As such, creating maximum comfort and style in your living room has become more important than ever.  Even before you start requesting fabric samples and matching colours, there are a few important considerations you should keep in mind. Paying attention to the natural aesthetics of the room — size, flooring, and lighting — will be a huge aid when you start shopping.

First you need to consider the size of your living room. A larger living room with lend itself to multiple seating areas, storage spaces, and tables, while a smaller room calls for less furniture to maximize space. Large entertainment centres look great in rooms with high ceilings, but crammed in rooms with low ones.  Knowing the size of the space you’re working with will help guide you in your purchases. Before you start shopping, stage what your ideal living room would look like by marking where each piece of furniture will go — seating, tables, entertainment centres, and storage.  Take a step back to assess the markings and determine the number — and sizes — of the pieces you’ll buy.

Next, consider the room’s function. If your living room is your main space for entertaining, you will want to make sure you have enough seating to host your friends and family. Sectional couches and loveseats are both good choices to give your living room an open, conversational feel, while recliners and cushiony chairs provide maximum comfort for readers and couch potatoes. Make sure to leave space for an entertainment centre and a table that can be used for informal meals and snacking. If your living room receives less foot traffic, you can make more formal choices. Pairing tight-back sofas and chairs with symmetrical end tables and lamps will help to achieve this look.

The flooring of your living room is another important point to take into consideration. If you have hardwood or laminate floors, select living room furniture that uses a different colour or texture of wood. You can also create contrast between your furniture and floors by paying attention to upholstery colour — use dark hues for lightly-coloured floors and light hues for darker ones.

Carpeted floors come with their own design considerations: neutral-coloured carpets complement bright and dark furniture, while vibrant carpets are best accompanied by neutral pieces.

The amount of lighting your living room receives should also factor into your furniture choices. Houses with shutters or closed blinds receive less lighting than open floor plans, so in these cases your choices should include light woods, soft yellows and greens to brighten up the room. By contrast, if you have an open floor plan with ample windows and lighting, you can incorporate darker woods or fabrics in your furniture choices to create a more modern look.

No matter which design style you ultimately decide on, it’s important to purchase the best quality furniture that you can afford. Stylish, durable furniture will be the focal point of your living room for years to come, so make sure you choose wisely. Check out Achica, a members-only luxury lifestyle store, for daily promotions on designer furniture that will help turn your dream living room into a reality.