Overview:
The living room is the most public room of the house. People tend to spend the majority of time in the living room. It is where guests are entertained, families gather, and memories are made. Living rooms are inherently social spaces. The way in which a living room is decorated can either foster or discourage conversation. This is why seating is so important. This article will cover a range of seating options, different ways to accessorize tables, and entertainment centers. The last section will introduce living room layouts and discuss seating arrangements.
5.1 Seating
There is a wide array of options for living room furniture, each with its own purpose and function. When selecting seating, consider a variety of sofas and armchairs, as well as more alternative seating like beanbags, banquettes, stools, and large ottomans.
The next section will cover some of the more popular types of sofas.
Sectional Sofa
Sectional sofas are multi-piece sofas that can be configured in a number of ways. They require two pieces, usually joined at a 90-degree angle, and wrapped around a corner. Most often, sectionals come in sets of three or five. They can also include chaise lounges or closed-end pieces. Sectionals allow a decorator to create a custom sofa to exactly fit the dimensions and needs of the living room. Sectional also have the advantage of being easy to move.
There are three main shapes of sectional sofas: U, L, and semi-circular. U-shaped sectionals have two sectionals perpendicular at either end of a long sectional parallel to the wall. It is ideal for fostering conversation and looks great around a square coffee table. L-shaped sectionals typically have one long sectional across a back wall, facing the center of the room, and a second sectional attached perpendicularly at one end. This configuration is great for conversation and makes for a comfy corner to put your feet up and face the television. Semi-circular sectionals have a natural curve that feels intimate and cozy.
Like all other furniture, a sectional sofa should be selected with the goal of enhancing the overall room design and function.
Chesterfield Sofa
The Chesterfield sofa is defined by a quilted or tufted style. Historically, a Chesterfield is upholstered in deep buttoned, quilted leather and defined by a low base and rolled arms of equal height as the back. The history of the Chesterfield dates to 18th century England, when Lord Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, asked a local craftsman to create a furniture piece that would allow a gentleman to sit upright without wrinkling his clothing.
For much of the 19th century, the noble Chesterfield was reserved for the gentlemen's clubs of London. British officials sent to colonies as far away as North America and Australia brought their beloved Chesterfield chairs with them, and thus the sofas spread to the New World. For more than two hundred years, Chesterfield sofas have appeared in palaces, business offices, hotels, gentleman's clubs, and luxurious private homes. Few pieces of furniture tell a story about refinement in such a way as the Chesterfield sofa.
The Chesterfield sofa of the 21st century can be very different from its 18th century forefather. It is still available in classic brown leather, but can be updated when upholstered in electric blue velvet or dove grey linen. Furniture designers are experimenting not only with color and texture, but also with proportions and lines. For example, a white cotton blend Chesterfield sofa with nailhead details can look modern when paired with white walls and streamlined metal furniture. The style has also been adapted to window seats and reading chairs.
If a homeowner is looking for a touch of class, the Chesterfield just might be her best option. When placing a Chesterfield sofa, avoid making the living room too stuffy, by pairing down other elements. Instead of a heavy coffee table, pair the Chesterfield sofa with a streamlined Midcentury Modern table and keep other furnishings to a minimum. Another way to incorporate a more traditional Chesterfield sofa is to pair it with more delicate details. Doing so balances the feminine and masculine energies to create a harmonious space.
Lawson Style Sofa
The Lawson sofa is one of the most popular sofa styles. It was designed for maximum comfort at the turn of the century for a businessman named Thomas Lawson. Inspired by the new trends of modernism, Lawson rebelled against stiff, ornate Victorian styles and opted instead for a clean lined, boxy shaped sofa with ultra-comfy cushions.
Lawson sofas were the first to feature back and seat cushions separate from the frame of the sofa. The cushions typically used in a Lawson sofa are the kind into which one wants to melt. They are ideal for lounging and feel casual in any living room. The arms of a Lawson sofa are lower than the back and come in a variety of styles, from narrow tracks to traditional rolled arms.
Lawson sofas are a great choice for nearly any living room because they are so comfortable and highly customizable. They are even said to be the most comfortable sofas for an afternoon nap. Lawson sofas look fabulous in a variety of fabrics. A Lawson sofa in a taupe cotton blend with rolled arms and skirt is more traditional in comparison to a sea foam green polyester blend with exposed solid wood legs.
Daybed
The daybed is one of the oldest living room furnishings. Its origins date to antiquity, when Egyptians lounged on daybeds to escape the desert heat and were buried with them to take into the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, daybeds were made from simple wooden frames and covered with woven strips of fabric. Daybeds were also popular for the Romans and Greeks, who preferred to lounge, rather than sit upright, in social settings.
Daybeds continued to be popular into the medieval and then the modern era. In 1600s England, the Carolean daybed was made with an extraordinarily elaborately carved back, paw feet, and cushioned seats. In the early 18th century, England introduced Queen Anne style curved daybeds with cabriole legs that fan out to provide a sturdy base. Meanwhile in France, imperial daybeds of gilt wood and luxurious upholstery decorated palaces. Across the Atlantic, the neoclassical American Federal Style revived the Grecian daybed. The American version was shapely and deep, with double scrolled upholstery and round pillows known as squabs. The arms, legs, and back rail were further ornamented with carved Greek motifs, rosettes, gilding, and paw feet.
The chaise lounge is a daybed with only one arm, or one arm higher than the other, developed in 17th century France in response to renewed interest in classical antiquity. The chaise lounge has seen several iterations in the last two hundred years. In 1825, American Duncan Phyfe designed the Meridienne, a graceful chaise lounge with swooping lines and a dramatic crest back rail. The silhouette of the Meridienne is dynamic and a source of visual excitement. The legs make a nod to the chaise's Grecian ancestor with lotus leaves carved on scrolling legs. Fast forward yet another hundred years and decorators will find a staple of midcentury modern design--the Le Corbusier LC4 chaise lounge. Known as the "relaxing machine," the LC4 has a curvilinear frame that moves in all positions from an upright, seated position to a full recline.
Today, chaise lounges and daybeds are made in a wide variety of styles and are often associated with outdoor furniture. They are a great option for a casual living room where one can kick her feet up, lounge around, and maybe even nap. For example, a light, wood framed daybed with low arms, delicate carved features, and stark white, quilted upholstery is a chic addition to a Country French living room.
5.2 Tables
Seating areas require tables. Tables serve a functional purpose, while also providing opportunities to create focal points and arrange accessories. When selecting a coffee table or side table, consider the proportion of the table in comparison to the couch and chairs. The table should be easy to reach from the sofa, so it should not be too low, too high, or placed too far away as to be difficult to reach. Consider the visual weight of the coffee table in comparison to other furniture elements. One can also experiment with less conventional tables. For example, placing two smaller tables side-by-side increases versatility and mobility.
When choosing how to decorate a coffee or side table, consider displaying a collection. The living room is where people entertain. It is therefore helpful to display objects that tell stories or stir conversation. Collections of boxes, books, or knickknacks can be displayed alone or using a tray of a complementary color and style. A silver tray topped with brainteaser puzzles can be visually interesting and add variety to a Midcentury Modern room, while a floral tray containing antique gold snuffboxes functions in a Country French setting. When selecting objects to display, think carefully about how each object fits into the overall style of the interior. A decorator may find a minimalistic arrangement of potted flowers and stacked books functions best.
The standard rule to keeping table compositions artful is to adhere by the "high, medium, low" rule. Arranging objects of varying heights together makes a composition visually interesting and composed, as opposed to rigid and sterile.
5.3 Entertainment Center
The entertainment center often serves as the focal point of a living room. It is where family and friends gather to watch television. There are a variety of styles to fit all needs. When selecting an entertainment center, it is important to not only think of the overall style of the living room, but also of what objects one would like to have on display (books, sculptural artworks, etc.), and which objects should remain hidden (media consoles, cords, etc.). It is crucial to consider the proportions of the entertainment center and how the weight counterbalances other pieces in the room.
When choosing an entertainment center, one must know basic measurements.
Determine the height, width, and depth of the television. It is not enough that the television merely fits. Consider the proportion and scale of the television in comparison to the entertainment center. One must also know the dimensions of the living room and the area of the floor space in which one wants to place the entertainment center. Be aware of where the cable connection is located and consider the overall arrangement of the room. The middle of the television should be aligned with the middle of the largest seating area.
Television viewing is most comfortable from a distance. As a general rule, a 29-inch television requires three to four feet of space; a 39-inch television requires four to five feet; a 46-inch television requires five to six feet; and televisions larger than 46 inches require seven to eight feet.
The last measurement one needs is sightline. For optimum television height, the lower half of the television should be level with a person's sightline. To determine sightline, sit on the furniture and measure the height from the floor to the eyes. The bottom of the television should be no more than 12 inches below this measurement.
Wall Unit
A wall unit is a large piece of furniture that surrounds a television. The other elements of a wall unit vary, but typically include cabinets, drawers, and open shelves. These compartments are used for both storage and display. Wall units with open shelves are ideal for displaying such objects as family mementos and photographs, small-scaled artworks, books, and various collections. When arranging objects in a wall unit, be wary of cluttering too many objects together. Objects standout and are more visually appealing when given room to breath. A general rule to maintain visual interest is to mix two-thirds hardcover books with one-third accessories.
Wall units can take up a small section of a room or stretch the full expanse of a wall. They can be bought as a single, prefabricated unit, or customized in a variety of materials, colors, and styles to fit the needs of a specific living room. They command attention and become the definitive focal point of the room.
TV Stand
A TV stand is a long cabinet, on top of which the TV stands. The cabinet can either be open or closed and is typically used to store media components and other TV-related items, like DVDs. A TV stand is a great option for those with a flat screen TV. When mounted above a TV stand, a flat screen looks sleek and natural and avoids being overpowered by a voluminous wall unit.
Like wall units, TV stands come in a range of materials and styles. A glass TV stand with a clear or black finish, and chrome, silver, or black legs fits best in a contemporary styled living room. In comparison, wood TV stands can look modern or traditional, depending on details such as the shape of the stand, and the material and style of the handles and legs.
Media Chest
A media chest is a tall, slender armoire that combines the functions of a TV stand and a dresser. What makes a media chest different from a dresser however, are special compartments designed to fit media devices and consoles. The television can either sit on top of the chest or fit inside a cabinet with doors that close when the television is not in use. Media chests are more often used in bedrooms, but are great budget-friendly options for smaller spaces, like studios or lofts.
5.4 Layout
When decorating a living room, consider the Three F's: flow, function, and focal point.
The flow of a living room is how easily people move in, out, and around the room. When arranging furniture, consider where the entrance is located and how much space is needed to comfortably move between furniture pieces.
The layout of a living room determines how easily conversation flows and whether people are more likely to watch television, play or listen to music, engage in lively conversation, or play a board game. These are just a few possible functions of a living room.
When decorating a living room, it is important a decorator consider both the features of the living room and the lifestyle of the people using it. Some living rooms will have no television and instead use a piano as the room's focal point. Others will gather around a fireplace or want to take advantage of a fabulous view. If the primary function of a living room is television viewing, all seating should be oriented toward the television. In contrast, if the primary function is socializing, seating should be arranged in intimate and cozy seating groups.
The focal point of a room can be a television, fireplace, bay window, artwork, or large mirror (a great option to enlarge a smaller living room). A focal point creates interest and makes a room both dynamic and orderly. When decorating a living room from scratch, the focal point can help guide all other decorating decisions. One way to do this is to pick up on a color or pattern in the focal point and repeat it throughout the living room. Doing so creates balance and visual interest. A large-scale painting, feature wall with framed collected objects, or an accent wall covered in fabric or wallpaper, are a few ways to turn an empty wall into a focal point.
