Designing a Stylish Clearwater Living Room with Functional Furniture
We’ve all seen them, those stylish living rooms that grace magazine covers and make us envious of their beauty. But take a closer look. Just how functional is that living room? Does the furniture look cozy and inviting or is it just a little too stylish for comfort? Can you picture a family gathering taking place there? Don’t worry, you can have a beautiful, yet functional and family-friendly, living room. It just requires the right mix of furniture and accessories laid out in a manner that works in the space.
Consider the Layout
What do you do in your living room? Is it reserved for entertaining guests or does your family actually live in it? In either case, you’ll need to consider the layout. Windows, doors, and features like fireplaces and other built-ins will all affect the furniture layout. So too will any walkways that link it to other rooms. If people are constantly dodging pieces of furniture to get through the room, that’s a problem!
Keep These Considerations in Mind:
- Determine a focal point for the room. A room without a focal point looks like a hodge-podge while the same room with a focal point looks intentional.
- Design conversational seating areas that don’t require shouting across the room at each other. They also shouldn’t be intersected by any pathways.
- Anchoring conversation areas with a rug gives them definition.
What Are Your Storage Needs?
If you just use the room for entertaining, your storage needs might consist of a liquor cabinet with room for glassware and a place to stash extra coasters. A living room that’s actually lived in, however, will need far more storage than that!
We’re Talking About Places to Store:
- Remotes for the TV and other entertainment systems. You might also have remotes for a fireplace, fan, or other devices. Where are you going to stash all of your remotes so that they’re handy but out of sight when company comes over?
- Gaming systems and other forms of entertainment. Teenagers and preteens can’t live without their video games while younger kids generally have coloring books, art supplies, toys, etc. You might also have a collection of board games for game night. That all adds up to a maze of cords and clutter. Consider adding an entertainment center designed with gaming systems and closed-door storage in mind.
- Books, books, and more books! If you have voracious readers in the family, you know how quickly books seem to multiply. Unless everyone does their reading on devices, a bookcase (or three!) is definitely in order.
Keeping Things in Scale
Consider the scale of the room when designing a layout and choose furniture and accessories that fit. Bulky furniture makes a small room look even smaller! If your room is small, let your furniture do double-duty. Choose multi-purpose pieces like a sofa that turns into a guest sleeper in a matter of seconds. Add a storage ottoman that serves as extra seating and it can also store the pillows and blanket until needed.
Larger rooms invite larger or bulkier furniture pieces, more than one conversational seating area, and possibly even two focal points. You may have enough space to separate the room into zones based on functions like entertainment, reading, or visiting.
Choosing Materials and Finishes
According to HGTV’s Candice Olson, you should always choose colors, fabrics, and materials that work for your family, including children and pets who will share the space. Rustic wood, leather upholstery, and patterned rugs are all family-friendly choices. Animal hair is much easier to remove from leather than it is from upholstery fabric unless you choose a performance fabric like Sunbrella. Whatever you choose, durability is key!
Getting Help With the Design
If you’re having a problem with the layout of your Clearwater living room furniture, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. At Florida Leather Gallery, our designers can help you create the living room of your dreams. Visit one of our five convenient locations or contact us for more information.
