The living room or great room is often the heart of the home—a multifunctional space where families gather, entertain guests, or simply relax. Choosing the right furniture for this space can have a huge impact on its overall feel and functionality. When designing a great room, it's crucial to think about furniture not as an afterthought but as an integral part of the room’s layout, lighting, and overall design. Planning your furniture early in the design process will ensure that the room flows well and meets the practical needs of your family and lifestyle.
At AV Architects + Builders, we understand the importance of integrating furniture choices early in the design process. With years of experience designing custom homes, we know how to create living spaces that balance style with functionality. Our approach ensures that your living room is not just visually appealing but also works seamlessly with your lifestyle.
In this article, we’ll guide you through key considerations for selecting living room furniture, including layout, lighting, and design, to help you create a space that fits your lifestyle.
The furniture you choose for your living room will shape its layout and how other elements of the room, like walls, windows, and lighting, are positioned. Large pieces like sofas, sectionals, and media centers will determine where windows, built-ins, and lighting fixtures are placed. For example, if your furniture arrangement revolves around a television or a fireplace, it’s important to plan for these focal points early. Placing large pieces near windows may obstruct natural light, so furniture placement should enhance rather than hinder the room's brightness and view.
Lighting is another critical element that depends on the furniture layout. If you want to use side tables with lamps, you need to ensure there’s space for floor outlets or nearby wall outlets to plug them in. This kind of forward planning prevents clutter from running cables and adds to the overall comfort and practicality of the room.
When choosing furniture, you should understand the difference between soft furnishings and hard furnishings, as each type plays a distinct role in the overall design.
Soft Furnishings: These include movable items such as sofas, chairs, coffee tables, rugs, and other accessories. Soft furnishings are portable and can be taken with you if you move. They also provide flexibility, as you can rearrange them over time to refresh the room’s look and feel.
Hard Furnishings: These are permanent or built-in features, like custom cabinetry, built-in media units, or a fireplace. Hard furnishings stay with the home and are integrated into the structure. They require more planning during the design process because they can’t be easily changed, and they need to complement the rest of the room's furniture.
Furniture Should Not Be an Afterthought
Furniture should never be an afterthought in designing a Great Room. The size and layout of the room should be planned around how you will furnish and use it. By designing the space with furniture in mind, you can avoid common pitfalls like overcrowding or lack of functionality. For example, planning ahead for a sectional sofa might mean leaving more space in front of windows, or if you want to have built-in shelving, making sure the dimensions match your media center or artwork.
The key to designing a successful Great Room is knowing how you’ll use the space. Will it be a place for quiet relaxation, or will it serve as an entertainment hub for family and friends? Your intended use of the space should guide your furniture selection and room layout.
When choosing furniture for your Great Room, consider these questions to ensure that the room functions well and reflects your personal style:
1. How will the space be used?
Is this a room primarily for family gatherings, entertaining, or more personal relaxation? Knowing how the room will be used will help you decide on the scale and types of furniture you’ll need, from cozy seating to larger sectionals.
2. Will you have a TV?
If so, where will it go? The placement of the television will influence the entire room layout. You’ll need to plan how high the TV will be mounted, based on whether you’ll be watching from a seated or standing position. Also, will the TV be the room’s main focal point, or will it share the space with a fireplace or other feature?
3. Will you have a fireplace?
If your Great Room will have a fireplace, you’ll need to decide whether the TV and fireplace will be on the same wall or separate walls. You could even stack them or place them side by side. These decisions will affect where you place your seating, lighting, and additional furniture.
4. What kind of furniture will you use?
Consider how many people typically use the room. Will you need a large sectional or multiple seating areas? What type of seating arrangement will allow for comfortable conversations, watching TV, or enjoying the fireplace? It’s important to strike a balance between comfort and aesthetics when selecting pieces.
5. Are there other items in the room, like a piano or artwork?
If you have special items, such as a piano or large artwork, their placement needs to be considered in the overall layout. These pieces can serve as focal points or accents, depending on their size and function.
6. Will you need window treatments or curtains?
Window treatments play a major role in controlling light and privacy in your Great Room. Do you want motorized blinds, manual shades, or curtains? Will the tracks for the treatments be visible or hidden? These are important questions to ask before the room is fully furnished.
7. What’s the layout of the furniture?
The layout should allow for easy movement around the room. Do you have enough space for side tables next to seating? Will they hold lamps, and if so, do you have floor or wall outlets to plug them in? Considering these practicalities in advance will save you from clutter and frustration later.
8. What type of lighting do you need?
Will you rely mostly on natural light, or will you incorporate general, task, and ambient lighting? Floor lamps, table lamps, or ceiling lights should be chosen based on how you’ll use the space. If you need plug-in lighting, plan where outlets will be positioned to avoid exposed cords and wires.
The Solar House, Arlington, Virginia, AV Architects + Builders, Photography by Maxwell Mackenzie
Choosing the right furniture for your Great Room is about more than just selecting pieces that look good. It involves careful planning to ensure that the furniture, layout, and design all work together to create a space that is comfortable, functional, and visually appealing. From the placement of major items like sofas and TV units to the more subtle details of lighting and window treatments, every decision you make will contribute to the room’s success.
If you’re ready to start your custom home journey, Schedule a Discovery Call with AV Architects + Builders to discuss your project. For more insights on residential design-build, check out our Learning Center, where you’ll find helpful tips and expert advice to guide you through the design process.