Living room furniture is used for creating comfort and receiving guests, comfortable rest, orderly storage of dishes, books and other things.

Furniture choice for the living room depends on its main function. For the reception of guests you will need a comfortable sofa and coffee table. If the living room is designed for family rest with watching TV, then you can not do without a roomy TV stand and comfortable chairs.

Types of living room furniture

Sofa set - consists of a sofa and 1-2 armchairs. Such a set is used to furnish recreational area in the living room.

Coffee table set - consists of a coffee table and style matching end tables (usually 2). Such a set is will help to make your leisure in the living room fabulous.

Set (modular) - consists of modules (objects) in various versions: as separate elements or in combination with each other. Allows the owner to independently define and change the interior of the living room.

Complete living room set may include a bookcase, a TV stand, a coffee table, hanging shelves, style matched sofa set. Usually such set allows you to purchase any component of the set separately.

Storage furniture for living room

• Bookcase - the main element of the kit for storing books, dishes, souvenirs.

• Entertainment Center - a design of several modules: for books, audio and video equipment, dishes and other items.

• TV-Stand - low profile cabinet with special place for placing a tv.

• Buffet - usually used for storing dishes. In the upper (glazed) part place elegant and expensive dishes, and in the bottom - cheaper and more modest utensils. This furniture piece is rather part of the dining room, but also can be place in the living room

• China Cabinet - looks more spectacular than a buffet. The showcase is designed for storing elite dishes, works of art, porcelain and crystal products - beautiful objects that are shown to guests. Also mostly belongs to dining room furniture.

Shape

Straight - the classic version and the most common. Such a cabinet is perfectly placed almost anywhere.

Corner furniture - allows you to enter the cabinet into the corner and save space in the living room. At the same time, it is quite roomy. Such a cabinet is suitable for small living rooms. The angular model can not be placed anywhere.

Furniture Facades

No-glazed - doors are made of the same material as the cabinet. In a similar cabinet store clothes, everyday utensils, various household appliances and other things that are not intended for demonstration to strangers.

Glass - completely or partially opening the gaze of the contents of the cabinet. This option is perfect for storing books, dishes and other items. The glazed facade is found in furniture of any styles.

Stained glass - it look the  most impressive, but because of the high cost it is used only in high-end furniture sets.

Material

Wood is eco-friendly, beautiful and durable, but expensive material. Wooden furniture sets look massive and will be appropriate in spacious living rooms. Oak and beech cabinets are expensive, but the lifetime of such furniture is estimated in tens of years. Budget solutions, for example, from pine have a shorter period of operation.

Chipboard and MDF - imitates wood, but are much cheaper. In appearance and service life inferior to natural wood.

Sets of furniture for living room are laminated or covered with veneer (a more expensive option). Laminated models are diverse in color, resistant to moisture and mold. Veneered - perfectly imitate solid wood and look impresious.

Important: when purchasing for the living room a set of chipboard, pay attention to the environmental class of the product in the certificate. The headset of the E1 class is relatively safe, and the furniture with the E0 marking is the most safe.

Living Room Furniture Sizes

Before choosing a headset, measure the parameters of the living room and sketch out the plan with the location of the pieces of furniture.

Ususally, the living room is divided into two zones: for rest and for meals (lunch or dinner). Furniture for the living room helps to zonate the room, place accents in the interior and form "centers". For the rest zone, such a "center" will be a TV stand or a coffee table with a sofa and armchairs, and for a dining room there is a dining table surrounded by chairs.

In small rooms it is better to purchase separate items, rather than a ready-made set. Such rooms do not allow visually to divide the living room into zones, so for its arrangement it is better to use padded stools, a coffee table-transformer, a sofa bed and other multifunctional furniture. A good solution can be corner sofas and cabinets.

When equipping a small living room, think about the mobility and roominess of pieces of furniture. It is worth giving preference to a curbstone with wheels equipped with additional storage places.

If there is not enough space in the living room for the couch, buy a few armchairs (including a chair-bed) or a modular sofa from several parts. These items can be rearranged or used separately, turning into armchairs and pouffes.

You can visually increase the space with use of open racks, glass items (countertops, shelves), furniture without armrests.

Medium and spacious living rooms can perfectly fit a complete set of furniture, which includes a large number of items.

Most frequent furniture dimensions

• sofa - 80 inches (length), 30 inches (depth);

• chair - 24 inches (length), 24 inches (depth);

• coffee table - 24-55 inches (length), 16-32 inches (depth);

• cabinet (books, dishes) - 32 inches and 47 inches (length), 12 inches (depth).

Living Room Furniture Styles

Classic - an exquisite set of furniture in various "historical" styles, for example, baroque or rococo. Such furniture is characterized by curvy contours and an abundance of decor - inlaid, gilded, elegant carvings. Preference is given to natural materials, especially precious wood species, which affects the cost of the living room furniture.

Modern - functional furniture with straight geometric shapes, lack of decor and often - asymmetry. Materials - MDF, glass, metal, artificial stone, plastic. Due to the cheapness of materials, "modern" living room sets are more affordable than similar kits in the classical style.

Color Choice of Living Room Furniture

When choosing the color of furniture for the living room, proceed from the color scheme of the design of the apartment, the size and lighting of the room.

Light furniture visually enlarges the room and brings ease and cheerfulness to the interior. This is a good solution for small living rooms, but it requires regular maintenance, as stains and dirt are clearly visible on the light furniture.

The dark suite visually reduces the space, but gives the living room a stately, majestic look. Furniture of dark tones masks stains and defects, but can create a dull atmosphere. This option is suitable for a spacious room.

Living rooms of light colors can be executed both in classical and in modern style. Dark colors is a top-choice solution for modern styles, for example, high-tech.

There are also available in the living room combined colors (often black and white). Such furniture is made in the style of minimalism and brings dynamism to the interior.

In a room with good lighting, a dark-colored set fits. If there is not enough light in the living room, it's better to stay on light furniture.

The color solution of the living room interior depends on its function. This applies, first of all, to upholstered furniture. In the room for parties and parties, bright and cheerful colors - orange, red, yellow - will be the best option. If the living room is just a place to rest, then it is recommended to use furniture of light green, blue and other soothing colors.

Neutral colors (beige, olive, cream) are especially interesting in combination with bright objects - pillows, rugs and even paintings.

Decor and Accents

Without additional decor - differs simple forms, restraint of colors, modest design.

Material work - give the furniture a smart look. Materials: wood with decorative carving, MDF, leather (eco leather), stone, etc.

Photo printing or drawing - decorates the doors (facades) of the cabinet (landscapes, city views, images of animals and plants, various ornaments).

Extra Features and options

Backlight - is built into the furniture and creates the illusion of "floating" furniture effect.

Tips for choosing Living Room Furniture

• Carefully inspect the furniture - it should not have any defects (chips, deformations, scratches).

• Ensure the reliability of the sliding mechanisms, connections, furniture fittings.

• Check the strength of the shelves in the bookcase: it is important that they can withstand heavy weights.

You can also check our other shopping guides: "10 Tips how to choose a right sofa for your living space", "Bedroom Furniture Buying Guide", “How to choose dining room furniture?”