Consider fabric, function and style when selecting furniture for your remodel.
We’ve all seen cold rooms with furnishings lined inelegantly against the wall. Yes, the floor space is preserved wide and open. Yet the room doesn’t appear larger or more inviting. It isn’t conducive to conversation or drawing closer for a chat. The best rooms are not static boxes. They include furnishings that can be pulled up, dragged over or gathered around.
Designer Ann Lowengart says moveable seating is key. “We love swivel chairs that can face a sofa, the television or the outdoors,” she says. “Other favorites are stools and benches that can be moved around to create extra seating or facilitate intimate conversations. Moveable pieces give a space versatility — that’s why we love them so much.”
Every living room has a focal point. It’s the spot that begs attention when we first enter the room. Designers Alison Vanderpool and Ariana Villalta of The Elegant Abode suggest starting there. “Make sure you always start with a main focal point and begin placing furniture from there,” says Vanderpool. “Don’t be afraid to have your furniture placed in the middle of the room. A decent-sized area rug will ground it and create a more comfortable feeling.”
Vanderpool and Villalta begin with upholstered pieces, first and foremost, to delineate a pleasing seating arrangement. They like to use either two matching sofas facing one another or a sofa with two armchairs to encourage interaction and engagement with others in the room. To ensure there’s always room for more, “ottomans can also be a great addition to seating and can easily be moved around,” says Vanderpool.
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