Not Being Practical

You’ve set your sights on your dream living room interior in that glossy magazine or on Pinterest. It’s clean, contemporary and effortlessly cool. But is it liveable? Many shoots are set up to look great but they just aren’t practical. Remember that you and your family will be using the space, so keep key factors like comfort and durability inline with your styling dreams!

Poorly Planning Your Layout

No one wants to squeeze past your coffee table or climb over your footstool to sit down. Plan out your spacing so there’s enough room for drawers and doors to be opened, tables to be walked around and legs to be stretched out and put up without getting in the way.

Not Enough Light

We talk a lot about how important lighting is for your home and lighting your living room is no exception. (You can read more here if you’re keen to find out how to do it well). Consider where the natural light will fall in the day and what areas you’d like to illuminate when it’s dark at night. Living rooms are generally more relaxed settings, so you’ll want ambient lighting to help to create a softer, calming glow.

Buying Everything At Once

It can be tempting when furnishing a new space or renovating an existing home to get everything in one go. But not everyone has the time or money to have that luxury! And that’s not always a bad thing. Start with your essentials like your sofa and seating. Then you can colour match and coordinate accessories to this. Trends and fads come and go, and you can always change your accent pieces over time. But matching to your staple furniture in the space means your living room will always feel up to date.

Not Checking Your Measurements

One obvious living room buying mistake but also one that can be easily missed. When ordering furniture online, it’s best to check, check and then check again that the furniture can fit through your door, that it’s the right size and shape for your space, and that you haven’t overfilled the setting. You can do this by drawing a floor plan on squared paper or marking out your furniture using making tape. Either way, you want to know it’ll fit.

Leaving Out End Tables & Surface Space

The comfiest sofa isn’t half as accommodating when guests have to sit with their drink in hand and snacks on their lap. That’s why it’s always handy to have a surface near your seating, whether that’s a coffee table or smaller end table next to your sofa. If you’re short on space opt for a side table that can nest or be stacked when not in use.

Making Everything Match

Although coordination can go a long way in creating a well thought out space, overly matchy-matchy interiors can look a bit static and uninspired. Start with your basics and have one central colour or theme, but don’t be afraid to introduce different patterns and textures through your soft furnishings and accent pieces. This will really help bring your room to life and give it some character.

Living Room Buying Mistakes -Avoided!

Have we inspired you to freshen up your living room? You can browse our collection of living room furniture over on our website.

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