So, where do we start? . Your sofa, no exceptions!

Picture this very common scenario.  A couple comes to the store looking for a living room set.  They've already painted the walls, covered the floors, even picked the paintings they will hang on the walls, and now they're looking to find a sofa, loveseat and chair to go with that decor.  One hour later, they're cannot make a decision because they can't find the right sofa for that wall color, that floor covering, the drapes they've hanged, the paintings they've purchased.  Can you see what's wrong with this picture? They simply started from the wrong end. That does not mean that they will never find what they are looking for, it will just be a lot harder than if they had started from the sofa set first. When it comes to decorating a living area in your home, your sofa is always a great place to start. Once you've selected the sofa that's right for you, it should be considered the focal point for choosing wall colours, floor coverings and accessories. in other words, your sofa IS your main centre of attention of your living room. It should be the very first thing your eyes see as you enter the living room. (see left and right photos).

Everything else, is simply "complementary" to the sofa set. No other single piece in there from the accent chair to the painting on the wall to the color of the floor should overwhelm nor compete with the sofa itself. The only exception should be made when you have a  fireplace in the living room. Depending on the position of the fireplace respective to the entrance to the room, you may have to give your fireplace numero uno status (picture to the left). Or, in some cases where the fireplace is removed or distant from the sofa set, you may end up with two distinct focal areas, one with the sofa at the elm, the other with the fireplace. (picture below).

So, next time you are re-decorating your living room, remember this very simple rule of thumb, purchase the sofa set that you like first, then the coffee and end tables to go with it. Then any window coverings, drapes etc, next any possible paintings or wall decor, in that precise order. This will allow you to keep you sofa as your main piece and decorate around it sequentially. Once you have all of that in place, step back, take a deep breath and decide on the wall colour(s) and floor coverings of your choice.

Selecting a Style

Today's sofa style selections range from familiarly traditional to fashionably modern and everything in between. When selecting the style that's right for your living space, consider:

• How the room will be used

• What other furniture you will be placing in the room

• Overall feeling you want the room to have

In areas where seating will be used primarily for television watching or reading, consider sofas and chairs that recline to give you added comfort. These pieces, known in the furniture trade as motion upholstery, are available in a host of styles and covers. Modern or Contemporary styles usually feature linear designs or straight lines. These will normally be of a solid color with no patterns or floral designs. This type of design is also often used in a "Monocromatic" (One colour troughout) (Right photo) and/or "urban" type of setting (Left photo).
                                                                                                                  Traditional, is the style that never goes out of "style". Is the style which will still be "in style" 20 or even 50 years down the road. Choosing traditional is choosing "conservative", you are not taking no chances, but you also making a choice you will most likely never regret making.

Other Styles

Victorian. Just like the name suggests, this type of furniture is basically fashioned after a "Queen Victoria" style. Very "Regal" in appearance with plenty of curves and round forms and a hefty dose of carvings make this type of furniture beautiful to look at and a fine conversation piece, (Photo below). It is not for everyone however, and it is not for every home style either. Which brings us to a very important point. When choosing the style of furniture you like, you should also keep in consideration the "style" of home you are going to be using it in. You wouldn't want to use a modern sofa set in a "Victorian" home or vice versa.

Transitional. Just as the name suggests again, "Transitional" is an "in between" type style, somewhere between traditional and modern. (Photo below) Transitional also stands for "Passing Through", suggesting a style which may be  fashionable today but not necessarily in the future. A style which may "come and go"...and then come back again. this may be your best choice however if you like a modern look with a hint of traditional.

Santa Fe' / South American / Spanish. This type of furniture is often of very simple construction. Artisan made in most cases handmade and often one of a kind pieces. Many pieces will be unfinished, at it's natural state. Very attractive in certain settings, especially in "Rustic" and Summer home type of decor.

Teak. Teak Furniture always features clean straight lines, light colored woods, plain simple designs. Teak furniture is a "Nordic" style of decor imported from mostly Scandinavian/North European areas. It is pleasant to look at and usually well constructed and durable. It does not add a lot of "character" to you living room, but if what you're after is "simple", this may be your your furniture.

Country. Country style furniture is colorful and rugged looking. It lives to it's name, country style furniture reminds you of old west flavours and relaxed, quiet  simple "cabin on the lake" living.

Consider the cover
The covering you choose for your seating will be either natural or synthetic. Naturals include cotton, linen, silk, wool, and leather. Synthetics are acetate, acrylic, nylon, rayon, and polypropylene. A variety of fabric coverings are available on selected motion styles.

Sit On It
How a sofa or chair sits is important. The size and construction of the piece will make the difference.
Consider who will be using the piece most frequently. It’s important that the chair fits right. A medium-size chair will be comfortable for most average-sized people; a larger scale works for taller, heavier people; and those with shorter legs will appreciate more petite sizing.

Placing Your Sofa
Here are a few helpful hints when considering where to place your sofa:
 

• By keeping your sofa four to six inches away from the wall, a shadow will be cast making your sofa look farther away and creating the illusion of a larger room.

• Always hang art in relationship with your furniture. A six to eight inch space between the top of your sofa and the bottom of the piece of art is a standard.

• If the back of your sofa must face the entrance to your room, try placing a sofa table behind the sofa. Place a few accessories on the table and your room will be warmer and more welcoming than the bare back of the sofa alone.

Trends

When making choices for home decorating, it’s good to do a little homework on the latest trends. Trend forecasters are influential in the product planning of many industries. Their forecasts often determine what consumers find on the shelf when they go to purchase paint, fabric and furniture.

The Latest From the World of Furniture.
European furniture shows lead the way in furniture design. Europe’s best and biggest furniture makers exhibit at the Köln Furniture Show in Cologne, Germany. This winter several strong trends emerged. Board on frame construction was frequently seen in case goods. Modularity remains popular and asymmetric proportions added interest to entertainment and wall units. Glass top tables and platform beds with low headboards foreshadowed a movement to smoother, sleeker profiles for case pieces.

Long and low was the look for upholstery. Many sofas sported wide arms and deep seats. Two over two seating is gaining in popularity. Two-piece sofas and multi-piece sectionals were seen, many with chaise components. Making a big impression was the ottoman. Cube-shaped or over-sized rectangles, the ottoman was a close companion to many sofas seen at the Köln Furniture Show.

Livingroom Decor Don'ts.

Way too busy. Too many pieces in one space and no sense of direction. it does not flow.

Colors are nice, and they usually make you feel good, in this case                                                                                    they may give you a full blown case of depression.

Contrast can be interesting, too much contrast is not.

This room has no sense of direction. It appears "messy" even when it is not.

Nice choice of colors....if you like green that is. And, the "Focal Point" here...the wall.

Too "bottom heavy". Too many pieces and nothing on the walls.

Too much of a good thing can be just that...too much.

What would you say is the focal point in this living room? The sofas or the window frames?

..and here? The sofas or the wallpaper?

....life was so simple back in the 50s!

  ...there you have it!  I hope this information has helped you a bit when it comes to  "Styling" your livingroom...

Should you have any inquires please do not hesitate to contact me.

                                                                                                                             Marco Governali

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Disclaimer: The material in this page and throughout this website is purely of  informative value only. As such, it should not be taken as fact and it should not be deemed as determining factor in treating you furniture and/or preventing any damage to it. The writer is not responsible for any damages or any other type of liability as a result of the information given herein. website created by Marco Governali. 2006. All logos and brand names copyright of their respective owners.