Living Room Update - Everything but the Sofa
/Today’s blog post is sort of a sequel to last month’s post about a classic living room dilemma. We talked through how to work with multiple doorways, windows and a fireplace to create a cozy, conversation-inducing layout. We gave you a shopping list of all the furniture needed to make this happen. Today we’re talking through the details to consider as your find the right pieces for your unique home.
We have ideas and recommendations for everything…but the sofa. We figure most people already have a sofa they like/love. And if you don’t, you should. Other than a bed, a sofa is the most used piece of furniture in most people’s home. It’s worth a healthy budget to get quality (kiln dried wood frame, eight way hand tied spring system, down wrapped cushions).
Let’s look back at the layout we suggested last week. A sofa facing a TV wall, one or two armchairs facing the fireplace wall (maybe in your house it’s a window not a fireplace), and one accent chair angled in the corner to create a reading nook that can/cannot be part of the conversation scene.
With your sofa already in place, we have some thoughts on a rug, coffee table, armchairs, and accent chair. We recommend considering everything in advance - you may not be able to buy everything at once, but knowing the big picture plan is the best way to achieve a cohesive result.
Rug - A living room rug is one of the few rugs in your home that will be sat on occasionally (versus only stepped on). It’s where your kids play board games, your husband is forced to sit when all the seats are taken post Thanksgiving dinner, and that one friend inexplicably chooses to sit despite there being plenty of room on the sofa. So, you want something plush (not a flat weave) and soft. We’re big fans of wool, ideally with a cotton backing (it’ll last longer). You can’t go wrong with a neutral color and timeless style. Or, if you like color, the rug is an opportunity to inject personality and connect all the other color elements of your room.
Armchairs - This should be a beautiful chair that might look uncomfortable just because it’s so beautiful (not because it’s actually uncomfortable). Because it floats in the room, you want it to be beautiful from all angles. Slipper chairs (armless chairs) are a great option for a smaller footprint in order to get two into the layout plan.
Coffee Table - In order to accommodate a bigger crowd in a smaller space, we love a round coffee table. It’s great for crowd flow. The big barrel style coffee tables are very on trend and we love them. But, a leggy table with space underneath for a catch-all basket is great for some families (like ours) that inevitably find a scattering of stuffed animals, hair brushes and socks throughout the living room by the end of the day.
Reading Nook Chair - You can go so many directions with this one. This can be the really fun, interesting, stylized chair or the nothing-but-cozy chair or the extra chair you’ve been looking for a home for. The main idea here is that it doesn’t have to “match” any other furniture in the room, just coordinate. Be sure to pair it with an ottoman and a floor lamp.
Let’s put it all together. First up - a colorful, modern option.
Pouf / Floor Lamp / Pink Throw Pillow
And second - a transitional, neutral option.
Pouf / Floor Lamp / Blue and White Pillow
You can update slowly, overtime or save up and get it all in one HGTV style transformation. There’s no one way to get from vision to finished space, but don’t underestimate the planning phase. It’ll make for a successful “after” in function and style.
- Leah
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