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Choosing home furniture items can be a lot of fun – and also kind of a nightmare. It can be difficult to find useful, comfortable pieces that reflect your personal style and combine to create a cohesive interior. You also likely won’t want to throw everything out, and that brings about the question of which pieces to keep, reupholster, or otherwise modify to fit with the look of your room. In short, choosing furniture requires consideration of a number of both practical and aesthetic factors.
Furniture and its function
The first factor in deciding whether a piece of furniture stays or goes is its function. Ask yourself what furniture is needed – the different activities carried out in a particular room require specific furniture (beds for bedrooms, seating for a living room, etc.). Consider each person in your home – does one person love a cozy lounge chair? Do you need extra storage for all of your children’s toys? After thinking about those basic questions, pay special attention to the following aspects.
1. The basic furniture for every room
Each room or space of the house has specific uses and therefore needs specific furniture. These spaces are organized according to their activities: the dining room to eat, the living room to rest or as a meeting place, the bedroom to sleep, and so on. If you’re starting to make your list of furniture, start by deciding what type of furniture you need depending on the room and thinking about alternatives. For example, you can opt for bedside tables in your sleeping area or go a different route. You might want to hide the TV away or not want one in your bedroom at all or desire a reading area with a cozy seat and good lighting. Of course, everything is also subject to the square footage you have in each room.
In this bedroom, it was decided not to include any bedside tables, and instead use both sides to place some very personal objects, such as favorite books (which can also function as a table) and a lighting reflector, which could indicate the inhabitant’s love of photography. This room perfectly shows the personality and passion of the people who live here with just a couple of pieces smartly placed in an otherwise austere room.
Or maybe you desire a corner for reading, like this. The armchair and ottoman make it easy to create a space for book lovers in a living room or a bedroom.
Read more: Easy furniture financing options online for good & bad credit
2. Define your personal needs
An environment, such as a bedroom, has different needs according to those who use it. One person needs a single bed, whereas a kids’ room for two brothers will need two single beds or a bunk bed. Needs can also get more specific. The kids’ room for siblings may require two-night tables or a larger surface for studying.
Thus you can customize the list of furniture needed for your project. It is important to stop and think about what your family really needs, and how to resolve the issue of your home furniture to make day-to-day life more comfortable for everyone.
3. Complementary furniture
In order to carry out certain activities, some complementary furniture pieces are also needed, such as storage pieces, which are essential to maintaining order.
A room may need a large library if its inhabitants are book collectors, or perhaps a desk, a table for a computer, a TV cabinet, and so on. In a dining room, you can choose to place a cabinet for utensils that are not stored in the kitchen, such as fine tableware and cutlery, glasses, etc.
Size, dimensions, and shape of furniture for home
Once you’ve defined what furniture is needed, size and shape come into play. Practicality, aesthetics, style, and space available should be considered. Practical considerations are directly related to the furniture’s function, although specifications for each piece should be defined – for example, how many drawers are needed in a chest of drawers? How many guests will the dining table need to support?
Plastic considerations (aesthetics) are related to the integrated space design. For example, if the furniture will be straight or curved, if space requires tall or low furniture, etc.
Finally, as mentioned above, space determines the size of the furniture and also the distribution of the same. The different pieces of furniture have to always be related to space before buying them. Check to see if their sizes are appropriate for the overall design – for example, a sectional may not be the best choice for a small living area. Also, the physical space of the room and the ways furniture can be placed need to be considered, such as the size of a window or proximity to a door.
Large spaces allow for large furniture, as seen here. In this big, open room, the furniture helps divide the living area and the dining room:
The piece of furniture and the style
The next reference point in the choice of furniture for your home has to do with what is commonly enjoyed the most: aesthetics, style, color, and so on. These choices will be made taking into account the overall style of the project. Furniture can complement the overall style of the room, making a significant contribution to creating and achieving the visual impact you are looking for in the final result. See how these living rooms have a cohesive style, exemplified by the furniture:
1. Bohemian style furniture for home
2. Neoclassical style furniture for home
The materials
Finally, the materials that pieces of furniture are made from should also be considered, as this will be essential in determining their longevity and proper integration into the decorative style.
Usage and materials
Furniture must be made of a material that suits the use. Some materials are harder and more durable, like wood and certain upholstered fabrics, and others are more delicate. A lacquered table has a luxurious look but won’t stand up to family dinners over time without a lot of maintenance. In this case, hardwood or laminate is the best option. Something similar happens with fabrics: a faux leather chair is suitable for heavy use and easy to clean, while chenille is always delicate and easier to stain.
Material and decorative style
The warmth of wood, the modernity of lacquer, or the coldness of marble must be integrated into the general style of the project. Materials and textures speak for themselves, and the integration and combination of materials (such as floors, fabrics, and curtains) should be taken into account.
Final considerations
Keep in mind that every piece of furniture you like isn’t necessarily the right fit for your home. Keep function, durability, necessity, and aesthetics in mind when shopping. Of course, the most important thing is that you enjoy your furniture, but balance affinity with objectivity and look at the space, measure your room and furniture pieces, and evaluate what you already have before you throw everything out. By keeping these things in mind, you can easily create a great-looking space that complements your lifestyle.
Written by Oriana Gomez-Zerpa. October 6, 2015
Oriana is an accomplished architect with strong skills in creative thinking, conceptualization and design. She attended Architecture schools at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Universidad Central de Venezuela. She later pursued her Master’s degree at the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in Italy. She shares with us her passion for interior design and architecture.
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I really like your tip on making a list of furniture that you need for each room before you start shopping. In my opinion, that is a great way to help you separate what you need and what you want, which will help you prioritize during the buying process. Plus, if you find that you still have extra room after getting all of the necessary furniture, you can move on to your list of wants!
My wife and I have been thinking about getting some new furniture for our home, but we weren’t sure how to choose the right stuff. I really like that you say to look at the size and shape of the furniture you are looking at. It would be nice to know that everything is going to fit in the end.
I agree that your decoration style needs to play a role in the furniture you choose. It would make sense to find something that matches the overall design of a room. I’m looking for new bedroom furniture to go with a remodel so I’ll have to find some that are the same style.
Thanks for the great advice.
Great post.
I like that you mentioned to think about pieces of furniture you will need to compliment your room. We have a lot of stuff, so it makes sense we would want to look at storage pieces that mesh well with the rest of our furniture. My wife and I are trying to refurnish, and we are trying to decide how to get started. These tips should help, thanks for sharing.
I loved when you mentioned how you need to figure out what your family really needs before buying the furniture to help you live more comfortably. It makes sense to think that taking the time to assess your needs carefully can help you get the type of furniture that will fit in the space you have for it. We just moved to a bigger house and need to get some couches and chairs to add more style and comfort to our space, so I’m glad I found your post.
My fiance and I want to add custom furniture to our new home and want to pick the best pieces. I like that the importance of the room’s style is stressed so that there isn’t a clash between them. We will keep this in mind as we continue investing time and money into our new furniture.
Choosing the right furniture items is not a simple task as people think it is. The furniture items you are going to choose must be relevant to your interior and must reflect your style, personal needs and home’s design.
You made a good point when you said that we should consider looking at the material of the furniture that we will buy because that will help us determine their strength as well their fit for the decorative style of the place. I think that it’s worth knowing that, especially now that my mom has decided that she wants a rustic look for the house. Of course, it wouldn’t be nice if we use a furniture with a contemporary design for a rustic themed living, right? I will mention that to my mom. Thank you for sharing.
It was truly helpful when you said that when it comes to choosing a furniture piece, it’s best to consider the kind of material that we want to use because that will also determine their lifespan and durability. it was good that I came across this article because I have been researching for a while now the things that we need to consider before buying the living room furniture. I will add this to the list and conduct more research so as to be sure that I will pick the right set. Thank you!
I agree that you need to consider what kind of personal needs you have when choosing furniture. It would be good to consider the functionality of a piece of furniture above all else when choosing it. My husband and I recently redesigned our lounge and now we’re looking for new furniture for it. When we choose a few pieces, we’ll have to consider their functionality as well as style.
My favorite part of this article is the uploaded images! We have a bigger than the usual living room and I can’t think of anything but to put some pieces of furniture on it to make it beautiful. I love the Neoclassical style furniture, I would probably make it as my model!
It’s a nice blog! Because it is fully described right & perfect furniture. Also, this blog gives an idea about to choose perfect furniture. Soi know one of the best perfect websites for furniture is mydailyshop.com.au which is here in Australia. In this brand you get lot of attractive & colorful furniture at an affrdable price.
My husband and I were recently married and have gone to several furniture stores, just to begin to dip our toes in the water when it comes to decorating. I like that you mentioned that just because you like a piece of furniture, doesn’t mean it is the right fit for your home (function, durability, aesthetics). Thank you for your tips on home decorating!
It’s great that you’ve mentioned how one should stop and think about what the family needs so that the room or the house can be designed based on your preference. I have two young boys in the house and I want them to have a nautical-themed room. Since I’ve already specified what I want for the room, I’ll head to the store and find some nautical decor that I can place on the room and achieve the look that I want.
Wonderful blog that’s why i am going to inspire on this as because it is fully describe about right& perfect furniture. So i am going determine to buy furniture through gardenfurniturefrance.com one of the best website for furniture in which right & perfect furniture available.
Osm blog great to see this. So i am going to purchase money on furniture through mydailyshop.com.au one of the best website for furniture here in Austrlia. This furniture help for decorating my room & give feeling comfortable.
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Wonderful blog I am going to inspire on this blog as because it is best describe about right & perfect furniture. So i strongly determine to spend money on furniture & buy beautiful furniture through gardenfurnitureportugal.com one of the best website for furniture.
You’ve got great tips for choosing furniture here. We’re wanted to finally put in some couches and tables in our living and sitting rooms, so this is helpful. As for our personal needs, we just want enough sitting space to have friends and family over, so we’ll look for something like that!
Osm blog! So I inspired on this blog & strongly determine to purchase money on furniture. As because it gives full idea about right & perfect furniture. I am going to visit gardenfurnitureportugal.com this website. It is one of the best websites for furniture.
It’s a nice blog so i am going to inspire on this blog. So that’s why i am going to spend money on furniture through gardenfurniturespain.com one of the best website for furniture here in Spain.
I think you will get much more option about selecting furniture in several designs because by log into mydailyshop.com you can get various types of furniture as per your need.
Thankyou for the tips about how to choose furniture. I need to buy a new bed and also table for my room, i wanna the modern design. I will do your tips to get my furniture. kuhlhome.com
Hi Gomez, I had a new House and this time my difficulties in terms of choosing furniture and decorating, after reading this I feel greatly helped, thanks kuhlhome.com
My home is starting to feel like it has lots some magic. I want to update my furniture and get beautiful home decor. I love the different styles that you suggest for furniture: bohemian, industrial, minimalist, and neoclassical. Just like you said, “Furniture can complement the overall style of the room, making a significant contribution to creating and achieving the visual impact you are looking for in the final result.” I am leaning towards the bohemian style. I will just need to find the perfect decor and accessories to go with this theme!
Thank you for suggesting that you should check the style of your home. I’m wanting to get some new decor to help bring life to my living room. I’ll have to look around and see if i can find the perfect items.
I liked it when you mentioned that I need to figure out how I intend to use the space first before I start choosing the furniture pieces that I will buy for it. If that is the case, then I am pretty sure I will have to buy shelves and a study table for the bedroom. After all, I intend to use the bedroom as my studying area on top of being my sleeping chambers. Thank you for sharing.
Here are great tips on home furniture decoration. Your explanation is great and amazing that gives me the full idea about to choose best home decoration tools.
I really like your post. You have really given fantastic and fine pointers for selecting the furniture. Half the work is done if I decided the given points. Thank a lot.
It is really hard to choose the furniture complement to your home’s style plus the other beautifying things placed inside and outside areas of the house. And not just the style but also the function in every corner and sides of the home. Great to read about this wonderful article, it help a lot. Thanks.
I really like all your tips. Thank you. This will be of a great help. However, how can I determine the longevity of the chosen furniture?
Your article entitled How To Choose Home Furniture Items Like A Pro? very useful for me. Because I am confused to choose all of that. Thank you for sharing your experience. kuhlhome.com
Thanks for explaining that we should consider the practicality, style, and available space when trying to choose the right furniture. It makes sense that the right furniture would be able to really optimize and showcase a room. I’m glad I read your article because now I know what features need to be considered and balanced when selecting furniture.
I like that you say to think about your personal needs when choosing furniture because this way I can prioritize and make a list of my needs. Also, it makes sense that I should choose complimentarily furniture pieces that can also act as storage. This way I can keep my home organized and keep things from getting cluttered.
My house furniture is pretty old, and I’m thinking of replacing a lot of it soon. Your article had great tips for choosing something like this, and I liked how you said to consider how we’ll use the furniture in our home when choosing a material. We want something that will last, so I’ll consider harder and more durable furniture.
My sister sold her house furnished to move to a different state, and she needs to buy new furniture. It’s great you touched the subject of choosing furniture that compliments your room. This will make it easier to choose a style she likes to suit her new home.
I really appreciate your tip on listing the furniture that you need for each room before buying it. My best friend sold his house furnished, and now he needs to buy new fittings for his house. I will advise him doing the list of what exactly he needs in each room.
It makes sense that one should consider the size and shape of the furniture before buying it. My sister just got her first house, and she needs to buy furniture. We will discuss these with her so she can buy her fittings appropriately.
You made a good point about choosing furniture according to your specific needs and compliment the room. My son just got his first house, and he wants to buy new fittings. I will send him the article so he can get a clue fo what to get form the furniture store.
Now this kind of blog is the one that every homeowners should read. Specially those who are just starting their new home. This is a great guide for beginners,
It’s helpful to remember that we should consider how much use we’d expect a piece of furniture to get when we’re trying to decide what material it should be made from. We recently moved into a larger house and we’re thinking of getting some new furniture to fill it out. Getting more durable furniture for the more well-used parts of the home could help us enjoy them for a long time.
I like how you said you can customize the list of furniture you need because it’ll make your experience a lot better. I’m pregnant, so my husband and I want to give our oldest daughter her own room. That way the baby will have a place to stay!
I like how you said that thinking about what your family needs is important. My husband and I plan on moving into our very first home in a couple of weeks, and we are wanting to find some new furniture for it and we want to make sure that it looks nice. We’ll make sure to keep this information in mind as we search for furniture for our home.
Thanks for helping me understand how to pick a piece of furniture for a home. The idea of considering one’s personal needs in picking one is very interesting. Since my dad likes to rest on a sofa after a day of work, I believe buying an appropriate piece that could help him. I should share this with my mom so she can buy a piece of furniture for my dad as a gift.
I have recently bought the furniture and i am thinking to change living room furniture too. Thanks for sharing suggestions for home furniture.