5 Buyer Guidelines for Living Room Furniture

You need new living room furniture and think you have found the perfect set. It looks great and the price is right. However, there are many other factors that you need to take into account before committing to purchasing the set you are considering.

Below are 5 of these factors and being cognizant of them will ensure you purchase the living room furniture set that meets your needs perfectly.

1. Size

When purchasing living room furniture, you need to be mindful of the space you have available as well as the size of the set. Buying a large furniture set with small space means sacrificing a lot of space and the room will be cramped. Having a small set in a large area means it will look scant and empty.

Before buying the set you are considering, take measurements of the room and match it to the furniture pieces, obviously with an idea in mind of how you will arrange it. This will give you a good idea of how much space it will take up. Also take into account accent pieces such as coffee and side tables and also measure doorways to ensure the set will fit.

2. Existing design

Whether you are renovating your living room or looking for new furniture for it, you need to ensure that the furniture you buy will match. Otherwise, the room will clash and look unsightly.

When looking for living room furniture, be mindful of all of the things in the room that you will need to match it to. These can include paint, trim, curtains, tables, and other furniture pieces that may be present. Also consider any existing architectural design of the room. For example, if you live in a century home with cathedral ceilings and old-fashioned windows, you may want to keep with this motif and opt for a furniture set that is more traditional as opposed to something that is modern or chic.

3. Purpose

Your living room furniture should not only look fantastic, but it should be useable. While some people buy furniture just for show and rarely use it, the living room furniture you choose should work for you and coincide with your lifestyle.

Regarding seating, you should be conscious of how many people are typically in your living room. If it is usually just you and your partner or family, you can opt for a smaller sofas or loveseats which means you can probably save some money.

If you are used to hosting many guests for parties, you need to maximize seating as much as possible. In this instance, you should choose a set that includes a larger sofa, loveseat, and a few chairs.

4. Fabric

You also need to think about the purpose of your living room furniture because it will determine what type of fabric you choose. Doing so will allow you to avoid incidents that could potentially ruin your living room furniture set.

If you have pets or small children, you need to choose a fabric that can resist wear and tear and is easier to clean spills off of. This can include leather, faux leather, or furniture pieces with removeable suede covers you can wash. Many furniture pieces also come with fabric that has different patterns or designs. Before choosing this option, determine whether it will match the rest of the room.

5. Construction

Living room furniture is built with many different materials and what you choose will greatly affect not only its cost but its durability. Choosing a living room furniture set that is well-built with solid materials will prevent you from buying another set long before you should have to.

There are three common materials that living room furniture is built from: particleboard, MDF, and solid wood. Particleboard is composite wood that is either painted or brushed with veneer. It is weaker than other types of wood but relatively inexpensive. MDF is is stronger than particleboard but expands when damp and this often leads to cracking. Solid wood is strong and lasts a long time, giving you high quality furniture if you are willing to spend the extra money.