Check out these helpful space-planning tips, and discover how to furnish your living room in a way that truly works.
How to Furnish Your Living Room Like a Pro
Purchasing fine furnishings is a significant investment in both your home and your lifestyle. Before visiting the furniture store, take the time to understand basic design principles, look at the layout of your home’s floor plan, and consider the primary purpose of your living space. This will help you to confidently choose new living room furniture that will enhance your lifestyle for years to come.
Consider Your Floor Plan
The floor plan of your home will be a big influence on what type of furniture you choose and how you place it within the room. If your home has a more traditional floor plan with rooms well-defined by walls, doors, and hallways, your furniture choices and placement may be very different than a home with an open-concept floor plan with minimal walls and open sight lines to different rooms. Homes with a more traditional floor plan, where the living space is a separate room with four walls and a well-defined space, may need furniture that doesn’t overwhelm or make the room seem crowded. Homes with open-concept floor plans, where the living space may flow right into a dining space as well as the kitchen, may need furniture and accent pieces that create boundaries – such as a long sofa facing away from the dining area – and a firm sense of the purpose of the space. Distance ratios are also important. For instance, the ideal distance between your sofa and your TV is typically three times the height of the TV screen. Allow for plenty of space, and don’t let your furniture become cluttered.
Consider Your Zones
Whether you have an open-concept home or a more traditional home, you will want to create different zones within your living area. Some zones to consider are conversation zones, entertainment zones, and quiet space zones. Many times, these zones can overlap. In addition to differentiating the zones within your living space, consider the traffic patterns that you and your family use to move in and out of the room. This is particularly important if your living space features a door or exit to the exterior of your home. If you plan on having guests often, you may need a sleeper sofa. Consider how much space might be necessary when the bed is pulled out and your guests need to maneuver around the room.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Furnishings for your home should enhance and reflect the needs of your lifestyle. A home with young children will have different furnishing needs than a home for empty-nesters. In addition to considering your family’s age and stage, you should also consider your pets as you purchase furniture. The colors, materials, and durability are often of primary concern when children and pets are part of your lifestyle. As you consider all the factors that come into play when investing in new furniture, remember that the professionals at Fairfield Gallery Furniture Store in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are ready to help with your furniture needs.
