The best place to start is to think about how many people you will need to fit in your living room regularly. Knowing this will help you choose the right living room furniture.
So, what should I put in my living room?
Do you have a large family? If so, you will need a larger sofa and a couple of armchairs, so everyone has a comfortable area to sit.
If your space is relatively tight, consider bean bags and poufs as a way to sneak in extra seating. They can be stowed away easily when there are fewer people in the house.
If you are a person who likes to entertain in your living room, it’s a good idea to have a few lightweight side chairs handy. They can be moved into more social arrangements when your guests visit. Small side tables are another handy addition, giving your guest a place to put their drinks.
How should I set up my living room furniture?
This truly depends on your living room’s size and what you plan on commonly using the room for. If you have a small living room, it may require you to place furniture against the walls to give your guests enough space to move about without having to navigate a lot of furniture, not to mention banging their shins on a coffee table or, much worse spilling wine on your rug.
Ideally, it would be nice to give your guests about 1.5 to 2 feet to allow for a smooth traffic flow.
If you have more space to play with, bring the furniture away from the walls to create more seating areas. Make them cozy. This idea is excellent in more open-plan living spaces. Zone it out and to keep the relaxing areas calm from a lot of foot traffic. If your sofa is older or the back is not much to look at, put a low console table behind it and decorate it with objects you’d like to showoff.
Don’t forget the rug. A good rug can help those zoned areas stay more calm and intimate. It’s good to keep the front legs of the sofa and chairs on the rug, leaving the back legs off to give mismatched furniture a more unified feel.
If your primary TV is watched in the living room, it goes without saying that the seating should not be too far away from the television. Nobody wants to squint while watching their favorite show. Not having a TV in the living room give you the freedom to choose more pleasing focal points, whether it’s a fireplace or a chair or table that makes a statement.
Another thing to consider is if you do have a TV in your living room and don’t want it to show when guests are over, you can always hide it behind the doors of a nice TV cabinet.
Where would I store my objects?
We are not exaggerating, but good storage is almost as good as layout. You don’t want clutter building up by everyday use. Consider coffee tables with drawers for keeping remotes out of sight. Footstools that open up are a great place to store blankets and throws. Open shelving is excellent for books and ornaments, but it’s also useful to have some drawer or cupboard storage, where you can hide things like laptops or anything else you want to be tucked away.
What are the color trends for 2021?
You can never go wrong with muted tones like gray, but if you want to be on-trend, shades of green are the way to go. If you want a more playful look, consider pastel shades like lime green or Minion yellow. Orange is another popular color in 2021. Consider orange and pumpkin. When you choose paint colors, you need to consider the furniture and textures already in the room. You want to show color combinations that will inspire you. Perhaps the best rule of thumb for picking a color is to keep it simple and cozy. Don’t get too complicated.
How should I light my living room?
Living rooms have a lot going on in them, so they need lighting for everything you plan to do in there. First, you’ll need a general light source, such as a ceiling pendant light that will light the room at darker times of the day as people mill about.
Table lamps and wall lights give off a softer glow when it’s time to relax. We’re big fans of adjustable reading lamps next to cozy chairs that help you focus on your book rather than bug other people in the room.
For more formal living rooms, decorative lighting is a great idea to impress. A designer chandelier or a statement lamp is a great way to draw attention. If you are an art lover, accent lighting or a picture light will hold attention to your favorite work of art. Also, consider installing dimmer switches to control the level of light to suit the time of day and the mood you’re trying to achieve.
Now’s the best time to dive in and get your living room ready for the new year. To meet with one of our team members or tour one of our exquisite homes call us at (225)751-0499 or email us at distinctivehomesbr@gmail.com
