Before you start planning your decoration and new furniture you need to think about who is going to be using your living room. Thinking about who is going to use it and when they are going to use it will help you to make the best use of the space and allow you to plan your budget accordingly. The majority of people will fall into one of the following categories:
You may be a single person. These days there are more people than ever living alone. One consequence of this is that the living space is often more limited so you have to be a little more imaginative in making the best use of it. You can furnish it to suit yourself as there is no-one else to please, but you may find that you are doubling up on some areas. For instance, in a single room flat you may find the kitchen and bedroom areas encroaching into the main living space. A solid oak chest of drawers may also double up as a temporary desk or occasional table.
You may live as a couple. Perhaps you have just started living together or maybe your children have left home and you are living as a couple for the first time in many years. Whichever of these applies, you will both have to make efforts to discover a harmonious middle ground. You can not just think of your own tastes but must also take into account the needs and preferences of others. It is a good idea to divide the space a little to offer both partners the opportunity to do things separately as well as together.
You may be bringing up a young family. You will have to use some imagination here as you will need to provide a safe and secure environment for the young ones. It needs to be cheerful and fun but at the same time be easily converted back into a restful place for the adults in the evening. Furniture needs to be durable and hard wearing and be flexible in its use. Solid oak and pine furniture is a good choice here as you can easily remove scratches and marks from the surface of the wood by some careful sanding and waxing. A large oak or pine sideboard will give you the opportunity to tidy away clutter quickly while still adding style to your room.
You may have a grown-up family. Teenagers really do need their own space and you will need to plan how to give them provision for TVs, computers and consoles as well as giving them a quiet area to work and study. Oak TV cabinets and console tables will not only give a lot of character to the room, they will also be durable and hard-wearing. Plenty of flexible and comfy seating is a good idea for when they invite their friends around.
You may share accommodation. Getting a harmonious communal living area together can be very difficult especially if you are not living with family or friends. The living space needs to be simply arranged with little fuss so that it is easy to keep clean. Avoid disputes by planning ahead and having space set aside for everyone.
By thinking ahead and working out who is going to use the living room you will be able to get more effective use out of your living space and have a much better idea of the sort of furniture you need to buy. Natural wood is always a good choice as it helps to keep the room feel light and spacious and also has that unique feel you can only get with handcrafted solid wood furniture.
Robert J. Conley is a freelance writer and photographer with a particular interest in interior design. For further information on how to buy oak and pine furniture online please visit Pine Furniture Online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_J_Conley
No comments:
Post a Comment