As one of the most frequented spots in the home, a living room sets the tone for the rest of the house. With most of us spending months over the course of 2020 sheltering in place, our living rooms have transformed from refuge into multifunctional spaces that emphasize work, education, entertainment and hospitality. After what has certainly been one of the most challenging years in modern history, we have learned that our living room can be used to host many different activities. Whether that’s a cocktail party, a family movie night or a full time work-day – when revamping your living room, plan for real life. Understand what living means. Does it mean that you have state of the art entertainment equipment? How many places do you need to seat people? What will it be used for? A well decorated living room is instantly engaging and impressive, while remaining functional for comfort and relaxation.
First Things First…The Sofa!
Once functionality is figured out, the first piece of furniture you should think about is the sofa. How much use will this piece receive, and what’s the best color family and fabric. A mistake that plagues living rooms everywhere is going for the “showroom feel.” You want a living room that is comfortable, approachable, usable and practical. With people spending more quality time at home, having a few seating areas for reading and relaxing allows the family to still be together. From low-slung sculptured sofas, oversized ergonomic chaises, furry upholstery and elevated bean bags, there are a wide variety of options when searching for comfortable furniture that not only invites you in, but makes a design statement in the process. To find sofas and seating that have the perfect arm style, back style, leg style, fabric(s) and finish you are looking for, shop at Furnishings 411, Baker, EJ Victor Outlet, Adams Furniture, Aubrey Home, Stickley, Francesco Molon, Hurtado, Priba Furniture, Furnitureland South, Kagan’s, High Point Furniture Sales or Ashley Interiors By Braxton Culler just to name a few. If you do not have a big space, check out Simplicity Sofas for a very customized piece. They specialize in small scale, difficult to find sizes.
Multi-Purposed Furniture, A Growing Trend.
When your living room also serves as your home office and maybe even a learning environment for kids – furniture that does double, or even triple duty is key. Multi-purposed furniture is a growing trend because we have realized we need spaces that are flexible and can accommodate work when needed. Clutter is the bane of every home, not only does it take away from the beauty of the room but it also makes an area less inviting. Multi-purposed furniture helps in de-cluttering as it reduces the number of pieces in a room and provides storage space – allowing you to minimize clutter while keeping your space tidy, and in turn making the space feel more inviting. Head over to Hurtado, Priba Furniture, Ashley Interiors by Braxton Culler or EJ Victor Outlet to find multi-functional pieces!
Area Rugs – Make Or Break The Room
When choosing the perfect area rug for your living room, your lifestyle once again should have a big impact on how you go about shopping. If you’re a family that likes to walk around barefoot in your home – when looking for an area rug, look for softer materials like wool or silk. Know the rug size you are looking for. The size of the seating area can help determine how large the rug should be. An unconventional shape, such as a round or square rug, can help anchor the seating area and set it apart from the rest of the living room. Consider what the rest of the space is going to look like and choose patterns and contrasting colors to add visual interest. Zaki, Abu Rugs, Trouvaille Home, Sfeer + Co., Furnishings 411, The Attic, Capa, Priba Furniture and Furnitureland South are all great resources for area rugs.
A Blank Wall Is A Blank Canvas
Empty walls can make a room feel unfinished. This doesn’t mean you need to fill every inch, but decorating the walls with art is important. It’s a great way to add a big statement piece to a living room, while not taking up any surface space and transforming the aesthetic of the room. What one person considers art might be drastically different from what someone else thinks. The best thing to do is follow your instincts when it comes to what you like. Educate yourself on the basic rules of what to hang and how to arrange it, then let your heart be your guide. If you’re not a visual person, Wall App is a great way to visualize art on your existing walls. The free website allows you to upload a photo of your room and place potential art in a variety of sizes within it. A few places that you can find wall decorations and art in High Point are Gallery on Main, The Market, The Attic, International Manufacturers Showroom, High Point Art Antique and Design Center, Allen and James and Furnishings 411.
Accessorizing Is Like Decorating A Cake
Small decorative items and accessories make a huge impact in a room as they show your personality. Stop your room from looking like it’s been picked straight from a catalog and weave these pieces into the overall design of the room. Accessories are more than just trinkets or clutter, they are reminders of the places you’ve been or people you love. It also can give you a bit of wanderlust as accessorizing is a satisfying way to explore and rejuvenate your décor. However, when it comes to room accessories, less is often more. One unique piece may work better in your space than loads of tiny knickknacks. Think of accessories as decorations on a cake:
- Large accessories should be placed first
- Medium and small sized accessories are used for fill ins and adding balance
- Several small accessories can give the feel of a large item when grouped
- Don’t forget to leave some breathing room because less is more. Not every nook and cranny in a room needs to be filled with décor.
Most of our 100+ furniture stores and outlets have accessories for sale, but a few examples of places you can go are Allen & James, Golden Oldies, Aubrey Home, Cohab Space, Black Dog Home and Café, Ashley Interiors By Braxton Culler and Capa.
Just The Right Lighting…
Lighting can be a somewhat complex element of any room and there are important considerations that should not be ignored. Most importantly, you should include each of the three main types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Light sources should be placed at different levels throughout the room. Consider overhear chandeliers, table and floor lamps or wall sconces. Go a little glam without looking too showy. The ceiling light is all it takes to make the entire room feel special. Check out Butler Lighting, Aubrey Home, Cohab Space, Ashley Interiors By Braxton Culler or Furnitureland South for some options!
Your living room is the epicenter of all energy and then some. It should be a space that’s simultaneously warm, inviting and designed down to the last detail. A space that is serene, yet always equipped for entertaining. A space that keeps you inspired. After all, a home should be a place to rest, renew and recharge, so it doesn’t hurt to invest a little time in styling your living room just the way you want to! To see all options that fit your living room needs, visit our website and select Living Room, Lighting, Accessories, Rugs, or Mirrors/Wall art as your category to see all furniture stores you can in High Point and the surrounding area!
Furniture Shopping Tip: Make a Plan – this is an often overlooked yet critical step to having a functional living room. Once you have a general idea of what kind of pieces you want to include, configure an arrangement on paper. Do you want your sofa in the middle of the room or flush against a wall? Will you use floor lamps for lighting or hang one big statement chandelier from the ceiling? Discuss and answer these questions before you start shopping and keep your color and style selections in mind so they come together flawlessly!
Don’t get overwhelmed with this process – Take advantage of Visit High Point’s Complimentary Concierge Service and receive a customized furniture shopping experience just for you!