When buying new living room furniture, the first category you want to look at is seating. Decide whether you want a
sectional couch or a sofa. The upholstery material you choose for your
sofa is important, and should be decided based on not only aesthetics, but lifestyle. Leather is one of the most popular upholstery materials since it has a luxurious look, and naturally becomes softer over time. Microfiber is great to have around children and pets since it is one of the easiest materials to clean, and is available in a variety of colors.
In order to complete your seating area, you may want to add a loveseat, along with a sofa chair or
recliner. A recliner is a popular piece of living room furniture, and there are many kinds to choose from – first there are power recliners and manual recliners, and then they narrow down to rocker recliners, glider recliners, two-position recliners and wall recliners.
Loveseats have low backs and allow two people to sit comfortably, and settees have high backs and can allow up to three people to sit comfortably.
Once you have your seating picked out, think about whether you want a
coffee/cocktail table or an ottoman. A coffee table can come in many shapes, sizes, finishes and styles – you can find a wood coffee table for a traditional living room, or glass coffee table for a modern living room. Some coffee tables have built-in shelves underneath, which are perfect for storing books or photo albums. Ottomans will give you a cozier look, and are available in many colors and patterns. If you want to set drinks down on your ottoman, make sure you have a tray for stability.
End tables and side tables are great places to set table lamps and room décor to brighten up your living room. They are available in every style to suit any home. Some have larger surfaces than others, and some have built-in shelves to hold books and magazines. You can even find end/side tables that are available in matching sets. Think about the dimensions of the lamps and/or accessories you plan on displaying on your end table or side table, so you will have enough surface space to hold them with some extra room to spare. Side/end tables that are next to a couch or sofa chair should be a few inches shorter than the arm height.