The living room is the area in the house where members of the household or guests can relax and get together. For this reason, the living room should be comfortable. This should be the primary consideration in choosing living room furniture. Secondly, the furnishings must match the shades or decor in the room. However, picking the right furniture can be a daunting task considering the fact that there are so many furnishings to choose from such as sofas, armchairs and couches.

Here are some tips to help you select the right furniture pieces for your living room.  

Tips for Choosing Sofas

  • When a sofa has its upholstery in the shape of its frame, it is called a tight-back sofa. A sofa that is buttoned down to keep the cushion from moving around can give the living room a formal look. The room will also look contemporary when it has a smooth, cushioned seat and back. A loose back sofa, on the other hand, has cushions that are removable and not directly attached to the frame. Some are only attached to the sofa on the top. If you do not like the idea of having to rearrange the pillows every so often, then go for tight back sofas.
  • When it comes to the arms of a sofa, the appearance should be considered, as well as how it will feel in case you take a nap on it. You can choose between wood arms, upholstered arms, curved arms, square arms, low arms or high arms. There are also sofas that have no arms which give a spacious look to small rooms.
  • The feet of sofas can be straight and smooth, made of metal or wood. Classic sofas usually have carved wood for feet while contemporary ones have straight and smooth metal feet. A couch that has a skirt can look casual when it has ruffles or formal when it has box pleats.
  • The frame of the sofa should also be considered. It is usually made of wooden pieces which are put together with screws or glue. Take note that soft woods are cheaper than hardwood frames but hardwood is stronger. You should also consider the sofa’s weight capacity.
  • The upholstery materials used in sofa construction can greatly vary. There are traditional fabrics, microfiber or leather. If you think the sofa will be seeing a lot of use and abuse, go for durable materials like leather. If you have kids who are prone to spilling liquids or generally messing up, microfiber is the way to go. Just keep in mind that the material does not have to be expensive to be durable. Take silk couch, for example. If possible, choose a sofa with flame-retardant foam.
  • It is also essential to make sure the sofa fits the room and those who will be sitting on it.
  • Consider the average height of the family members and use it to choose a sofa that can fit their legs comfortably. Select a low seat if you have elderlies at home so that they will not have difficulty in standing up. If you have a living room with plenty of space, pick a sofa that can fill the room or go for a sofa set.

For extra seating

For additional seating, you can buy chairs, futons or loveseats. A loveseat can make a conversation more intimate when you don’t need to sit far apart or across the room. Futons are flexible appointments that can be turned into beds when watching movies or simply napping. Additional chairs can help create an area for conversation. Just make sure they are the right proportion with the living room.