Living Room Essentials Checklist for a home

It can be intimidating to stand in the entryway of an empty living room at your new apartment or house. It might be challenging to know how to decorate your area when there are so many possibilities for furniture, accessories, and decorations.

Also, everyone will want something a little different to make their home feel like a home depending on personal tastes and aesthetics. Certain living rooms can support different furniture than others due to differing spatial constraints.

Even so, there are a few living room necessities that we believe belong in almost any room. This living room basics checklist can assist you in determining what your home needs, from living room furniture to entertainment options to accessories and décor.

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Living Room Essentials Checklist for Homes

1. Furniture

The furniture is by far the most significant component of the living room’s decor. Since furniture takes up the most space, it’s usually the first thing guests see when they enter your living room.

While there are a variety of alternative arrangements, some living room furniture, in our opinion, is just necessary for any home. This section will provide information on these essentials as well as a variety of suggestions for living room furniture.

2. Sofa

The sofa is arguably the single most significant piece of furniture in any living room. We all understand how crucial it is to having a comfortable spot to relax our bodies after a hard day, even though couches are typically the largest and most expensive items you will purchase.

Also, since the sofa serves as the focal point of the space, it is a good idea to start your furniture shopping here in order to establish a baseline for both style and price.

Functionality is the first consideration when choosing a sofa. How many people I want to be able to accommodate on this couch, for example, is a question you must ask yourself.

A sectional can be the best option if your family is huge. A smaller, more sturdy piece is definitely wiser if you’re a bachelor living in a bachelor pad or a couple living in a smaller flat.

While selecting a sofa, it’s also important to consider wear and tear.

Do you own animals?

Children?

Do you frequently throw parties?

Consideration of each of these issues is crucial while selecting upholstery.

Various types of upholstery require different amounts of upkeep and cleaning, and some are more susceptible to stains than others. After you have a few sofa selections that satisfy your functional requirements, consider whether the style is appropriate for your house.

Try to think long-term and avoid getting too caught up in the newest fashion trends. Keep in mind that most sofas are kept for between five and 10 years. Moreover, think about the style trend you are establishing for your living room when you buy a particular sofa and whether you can design a fashionable and useful living space around it.

The most crucial piece of advice for customers wanting to purchase a new sofa is to test it out!

3. Coffee Table

You’ve decided on a sofa, then. You’re off to a terrific start and have installed the living room’s focal point!

Because they offer a central surface area for items like glasses, periodicals, TV remotes, and other items, coffee tables are incredibly popular. To give their living space a more “open” vibe, some people use end tables rather than coffee tables. Although this is purely a question of taste, we believe coffee tables have a way of unifying a living room without overpowering it.

Things to consider when selecting a coffee desk

Shape

You should take your sofa and the size of the space into consideration when choosing a coffee table because they come in a variety of forms and sizes. While modern sofas or huge wrap-around sectionals can contain a square or circular table, enormous, long couches typically function best with long oval or rectangular tables.

A round coffee table can also “soften up” a space that has a lot of sharp, square lines.

Height

Selecting a coffee table requires consideration of its height. Your table will interact awkwardly with your sofa and produce functional and stylistic inconsistencies if it is too high or too short.

To be on the safe side, pick a coffee table that is equal to or just a little taller than your sofa seat. Choose a table that is a little lower for a more relaxed atmosphere.

Materials

The two key considerations when selecting a material for your coffee table are functionality and personal desire. Perhaps you should steer clear of glass if you have young children.

Avoid the gorgeously finished walnut if you don’t typically use coasters. Be sure the material you chose for your coffee table works both practically and aesthetically with the other items in your living area.

4. Chairs/ Recliners

Recliners and accent chairs are excellent options for adding additional seating for visitors in a living area. They should be placed after a sofa because they should match your sofa’s aesthetic. You might think about choosing this choice to make your life easier since some “sofa chairs” come as a set with your sofa. As an alternative, adding chairs is a terrific idea as long as you match their design to your sofa’s.

Furthermore, think forward when deciding where you might put the seats. While you don’t want your living room to feel overly crowded, adding chairs is a fantastic way to make up for any extra empty space.

Need an office chair?

5. Entertainment Units

The TV is typically the center of attention in living rooms. The possibilities for housing your TV might be daunting, ranging from TV stands to entertainment fireplaces to whole entertainment centers.

We advise selecting a media console that complements the space while offering all the features you require. Consider whether you will wall mount your television before selecting a device that will accommodate it.

Choose a TV armoire if you want a more discreet appearance. It will house your TV in a cabinet with doors and hide it while not in use. Choose a corner unit for small living rooms.

6. Side Tables

Side tables can be a lovely, seamless solution to increase surface area in a room in addition to a coffee table. Side tables are fantastic because they give individuals seated on the ends of the couch, away from the coffee table, a place to set down beverages, etc., especially in bigger living rooms with longer sofas.

Consider matching your coffee table to the decor and color palette of your living room, and make sure to pick a height that is suitable for your sofa and/or chairs.

7. Accessories

Although significant, furniture is not everything. You may improve the look and feel of your living space by picking the appropriate accessories. Accessories can significantly increase both aesthetics and functionality without costing a fortune.

This is our list of essentials for your living space.

Plants

According to us, every living room should have plants. In addition to supplying oxygen to the air and removing noxious substances, plants look fantastic and go well with almost any type of furniture.

Prior to making a purchase, consider where your plants will be in relation to windows and make sure they are acceptable for the quantity of light they will receive. Always adhere to the species’ maintenance and care instructions!

Rug

Depending on the type of flooring you have, you might want to add an area rug to your living room to give it a pleasant atmosphere. Rugs are wonderful complements to living rooms because they make spaces feel cozy and welcoming. Pick one that blends nicely with your room’s decor.

A Personal Touch

Your living room serves as the focal point of your house, and each one is unique. What distinguishes yours? To add a personal touch and enhance the cozy and inviting ambiance in your living room, think about hanging some family photos or something similar.

Curtains

Curtains, also known as drapes, are well renowned for being the key component of a beautifully decorated room. And living rooms are no different.

Draperies are a great way to give your living room personality. Consider using a striking color or pattern that doesn’t compete with the other elements of the design but adds some life to the space.

Accent Pillows

Pillows provide comfort.  This is common knowledge.  In the living room, pillows?  Really cozy.  Throw pillows may give comfort to any seating arrangement and can be extremely helpful for people with lower back problems. Add some to your couch and chairs today. 

Moreover, accent pillows can inject some color into a plain couch or chair.  You’d be astonished at how much personality a living area can gain by simply adding a few well-selected cushions.

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Living Room Lighting

Unless your living room has no overhead lighting at all, installing more lighting might not be the most important thing to do.  Having said that, floor and table lamps can significantly alter the appearance and ambiance of your living area. 

Table lamps, floor lamps, and other accent lighting can help you better control the design and mood of a room in addition to their practical use as task lighting if you intend to read or work in the living room.  When designing a small living room, better lighting can also give the impression that the space is larger.