How to a furnish a room? This is probably one of the most common questions in interior decorating but many are intimated to ask. There are many ways and many reasons to furnish and arrange a room in a certain way. Many people are intimidated at the idea of furnishing a room, this is probably one reason why home staging is so successful – it takes the guess work away!
The basic pieces:
Furnishing a living room is like filling a wardrobe with clothing you might wear everyday. Just like you would with clothing, start with the basics, so when selecting your furniture start with sofa(s), chairs, side and coffee tables. Make sure the items are classic in shape and colour and of course, take proportion into consideration.
Now that you have your foundation pieces, you can start to dress your room up with details that add personality and interest.
The room’s advantages:
When furnishing a room you also have to consider the room’s most beautiful elements and deciding on how you want the room to flow. Is there a fireplace you’d like to be near while reading on the sofa or club chair?
Or, is there a window with a fabulous view that you want to call attention to? These are called focal points. Be sure to choose pieces that you can arrange in a way to take advantage of the room’s assets.
The arrangement:
The most common pieces placed in a living room are:-a sofa, two arm chairs, two side tables with table lamps and a coffee table. How you arrange these pieces can add some uniqueness and personality to your space.
Try an L-shape formation (the sofa facing the fireplace and two arm chairs side by side on one end of the sofa, end tables on either side of the sofa and the coffee table right in front of the sofa).
The U-shape formation (sofa facing fireplace, coffee table right in front, side table with lamps on either side of the sofa and armchairs on each end of the sofa just facing each other).
These are pretty typical formations. But here are some other suggestions:-
Face to Face (place the sofa on the right side of the fireplace facing the window, and the two arm chairs side by side facing the sofa and coffee table in the middle.)
Diagonal arrangement (use the U-shape formation but place the sofa on an angle and every other piece accordingly – this is a great way to take advantage of a window in the spring/summer and angle pieces in the direction of the fireplace in the fall/winter).
See below for some other room planning ideas for a long living room. When it comes to planning out your furniture layout – hoe you want to live in the room plays a huge factor so be sure to pay attention to that!
The accessories and styling:
Dressing up the room is how we make the space ours. Adding those elements like colour, texture and shine. Adding decor pillows, throw blankets, artwork, mirrors, knick knacks, lamps, and other unique touches. Side tables and coffee tables are functional and fashionable but keep them clean from clutter, a rule of thumb no more than 3 pieces on a table. So a lamp, a small plant and a small dish is more than enough.
If you want to display some of your collectibles this rule applies too – too many objects make a space cluttered an no one can see your beautiful pieces. The sofa is also a piece to present colour and texture. Try mixing different textures and patterns to create a warm and cozy area for guests and yourself.
I personally like to start with a neutral foundation piece (cream, beige, camel, grey or espresso) are good tones to start with, they are classic and timeless and you can add any colour you wish.
Don’t be intimidated to furnish your own space, it is fun! Afraid your place is too generic? That’s where unique pieces you love, colour and texture come into play. Use books and magazine for inspiration.
Take your time it does not have to be finished over night.
