Start with your ‘Big Picture’ in mind – decide on the overall look and feel you want to create
Start an Ideas Folder of finishes, fabrics and paint colours and narrow them down until you have your ideal colour scheme and style for the living room
Select furniture pieces for their design merit and don’t follow trends – classic designed pieces are always going to be a sound investment as they won’t date
Consider the proportions of the space and select the scale of furniture to suit
Think about the number of people you want to seat at any one time
Consider the size of the occupants of the house when selecting sofa size and depth –
Custom made furniture is a great option and not necessarily more expensive
Measure length and width of your room and draw a simple plan with dimensions
Take your plan to the furniture showroom to see if the furniture fits before buying!
Layout 1: Use Tape Measures and Masking Tape to size and tape out in positions on the floor to see how much space sofas and armchairs will take up
Layout 2: Measure newspaper to size and lay out in positions on the floor to get a visual representation of the area sofas and armchairs will take up
Start with a focal point to the room such as a fireplace, entertainment unit or a view and plan furniture placement accordingly
Ottomans are a great addition to a furniture scheme – pulled up to a sofa to stretch out and watch a movie, extra seats when there’s a crowd or used as a coffee table
Colour, pattern & texture in fabrics are all important considerations – Sofas and/or armchairs upholstered in bold colours or prints create interest in a room
Furniture pieces upholstered in neutral fabrics can be instantly lifted with contrasting cushion fabrics in plains or patterns
