The time has come for you to purchase some living room furniture. For some, this can be a very exciting experience, while for others, it can be stressful. What type of furniture do I need? What is my design style? Am I getting good quality, or am I paying too much? Being prepared with answers to these questions will make your shopping experience much more enjoyable and could save you money in the long run.
One of the first things you must determine is what pieces you will need to furnish your living room. How the room is used and the number of people in your family will help you answer this question. If your living room is the primary gathering spot for your family and guests, you will most likely need quite a bit of comfortable seating, such as couches, loveseats, easy chairs, recliners, and ottomans. However, if you want to combine your living room with work and leisure, you may want to consider adding home study furniture. Lighting is also essential. You will need task lighting for reading and crafts, ambient lighting such as small lamps and sconces, and accent lighting in the form of table lamps and overhead lights. The room isn’t complete without the addition of items like coffee and end tables. If the television is in the living room, you will need a piece of furniture to house the TV and components.
Finding Your Style
Now that you’ve decided on the necessary furniture pieces, you will need to identify a “style” you like. Do you prefer the clean, straight lines of modern or contemporary furniture? Or is the ornate carving and dark wood of Louis XIV more your style? Perhaps you enjoy the informality of country or rustic furniture. This is often a hard question to answer because most of us like elements from many different styles. Take a look around your home and see if any of your favorite pieces have anything in common. For example, is most of your wood dark or light? Are your existing upholstered pieces overstuffed with rounded arms, or are they clean and simple? Does your favorite room feature antiques? The answer to these questions may help you identify a style that resonates with you more than others. Another method is to browse through decorating magazines and books, making note of rooms that catch your attention. Identify what you like (or dislike) in each room. Perhaps it’s the shape of the loveseat or the glass-topped coffee table. Maybe you like the modern living room with an antique desk in the corner, or perhaps the image of a book-filled library with overstuffed leather chairs makes you feel warm and cozy. Once you make note of your preferences, you will most likely uncover a recurring theme that will help you identify your decorating style.
Determining whether you are buying quality furniture is much easier than figuring out your decorating style. When purchasing upholstered pieces, the frame is the most important part of the furniture. A kiln-dried, hardwood frame is an absolute must. The most common hardwoods used are oak, maple, and ash. In a quality piece of furniture, the frame will be joined using dowels and blocks that are not only glued but also screwed together. The legs should be part of the frame, and larger pieces such as couches should have a center leg for additional support.
The springs are the support system of the furniture. There are two common types of spring systems used in upholstered furniture: sinuous and eight-way hand-tied. A sinuous spring system consists of s-shaped wires running the length of the furniture, spaced a few inches apart. The quality of this type of system depends on the type of metal used for the springs and the number of springs—more springs generally means higher quality. Eight-way hand-tied springs are considered the highest quality spring system available. This system uses coils attached to webbing at the bottom of the piece, tied together with high-quality twine at the top of each coil to prevent shifting during use.
The padding is the next item to consider when purchasing quality upholstered furniture. A well-made piece will not only pad the cushions but also the entire frame, preventing fabric from rubbing directly against the wood, which can lead to wear. The most common padding materials include high-density foam wrapped in Dacron (the least expensive option) or cushions with innerspring coils wrapped in foam. The ultimate padding is down or a down blend, where feathers are wrapped around foam and covered with a muslin bag. While this padding requires fluffing after sitting, it offers superior comfort and a luxurious appearance.
Finally, you must consider the type of upholstery fabric. Durability and appearance are the two key factors to weigh. If durability is the priority, choose a fabric with a high thread count. Synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and olefin, along with natural fibers like wool and cotton, are highly durable. If your furniture won’t be exposed to heavy use or wear, and you desire a luxurious look, consider using linen, silk, or blends of rayon and acetate. Be sure to account for not only the amount of use your furniture will receive but also any environmental factors such as excessive heat or sunlight.
It’s important to purchase the highest quality upholstered furniture your budget allows. A well-constructed piece can be reupholstered or restyled as your tastes evolve. Purchasing less expensive items such as tables and lamps can free up funds for a higher-quality upholstered piece that will last for years to come.