Following is a list of various furniture terms that you may have to select: armoire, commode, bureau, bowfont, break front, buffet, dresser, camelback, case goods, couch, credenza, etagere, table, KD, motion, upholstery, coffee table, console, RTA, secretary, seat, sideboard, bed, chairs...
Shape matters, especially in white, uncluttered rooms. Take a piece of furniture and isolate it to reveal its form, but make sure it merits the attention. In a stark, simple room, the burden of proof falls on furniture. You want the pieces to combust with energy in a contained explosion of style. Don't lock a room into one particular period because consistency is boring. The only way to really appreciate a particular style is to juxtapose it with something from another period. Shapes must balance each other to form a coherent whole. If you furnish everything in the same style, you have boxed yourself in. A mix gives you more freedom to incorporate a new find without bringing down the whole ensemble. The point is not to create a rigidity uniform whole, or even a perfect, don't change a thing whole, but a dynamic combination based on the idea of change.
This is the time to get specific with the pieces you want to use, because their shapes and colors mean more in an elevation study than in a floor plan. Always think in terms of contrasts: high, medium, and low; rough and smooth; leggy versus voluminous. The character of each piece reads better in contrast to others. Think of the compositions as mutable rather than rigid hierarchies. A room with contrasting elements can shift easily as your point of view changes. If, five or ten years from now, you are thinking more traditionally, you can emphasize the more traditional pieces. A room will have a longer life if your initial concept embraces change.
Furnishing a living room
When selecting main furniture pieces (sofas, chairs, armoires, side and coffee tables), classics are always the best. Start with a large proportioned sofa. Add comfortable armchair. Once you have easy-to-live-with foundation pieces, you can begin to dress up your room with details that add personality and interest.
Choose pieces that you can arrange to take advantage of your room assets. How would you like the space to flow. Is there a fireplace you'd like to be near while nestled on the sofa, or a window with a great view that you want to call attention to?
When choosing furniture, keep the proportions of your space in mind. Oversized furniture in a small room can be overpowering and could compromise traffic flow, while pieces that are too small produce an environment where the space, rather than the people in it, dominates. Create a sense of balance by choosing furniture that is the right size, shape, and scale for the room.
Dissimilar pieces can be visually linked by grouping them closely together, or by relating them to a common line, such as along a wall or the edge of a rug.
Arrange furniture in relation to a backdrop, a large painting or an archway or other architectural element.
Think of groupings of furniture as islands you can occupy for different purposes: socializing, watching TV, playing with children, or writing letters.
Shapely basics that adapt easily are the best building blocks to accomplish this.
To achieve flexibility in your room, it's best to have pieces that easily adapt to different orientations. Look for multi-use furniture like a large ottoman or bench that can also serve as a coffee table. Changing slipcovers on sofas and armchairs, rearranging furniture, and using new accent pieces are all quick ways to adapt your rooms to changing functions and seasons
Changing a sofa's soft accessories is a quick and easy way to change the whole atmosphere of a living room. Use throws and pillows in different textures and colors to transform your sofa. Warm up the room for winter with heavier textures and deeper hues; lighten it for spring with crisp linens and refreshing blend of brightly colors can work year-round. Fabrics in neutral colors can work year-round; whites and creams can be dressed up or down in almost any
surrounding
Shape matters, especially in white, uncluttered rooms. Take a piece of furniture and isolate it to reveal its form, but make sure it merits the attention. In a stark, simple room, the burden of proof falls on furniture. You want the pieces to combust with energy in a contained explosion of style. Don't lock a room into one particular period because consistency is boring. The only way to really appreciate a particular style is to juxtapose it with something from another period. Shapes must balance each other to form a coherent whole. If you furnish everything in the same style, you have boxed yourself in. A mix gives you more freedom to incorporate a new find without bringing down the whole ensemble. The point is not to create a rigidity uniform whole, or even a perfect, don't change a thing whole, but a dynamic combination based on the idea of change.
This is the time to get specific with the pieces you want to use, because their shapes and colors mean more in an elevation study than in a floor plan. Always think in terms of contrasts: high, medium, and low; rough and smooth; leggy versus voluminous. The character of each piece reads better in contrast to others. Think of the compositions as mutable rather than rigid hierarchies. A room with contrasting elements can shift easily as your point of view changes. If, five or ten years from now, you are thinking more traditionally, you can emphasize the more traditional pieces. A room will have a longer life if your initial concept embraces change.
Furnishing a living room
When selecting main furniture pieces (sofas, chairs, armoires, side and coffee tables), classics are always the best. Start with a large proportioned sofa. Add comfortable armchair. Once you have easy-to-live-with foundation pieces, you can begin to dress up your room with details that add personality and interest.
Choose pieces that you can arrange to take advantage of your room assets. How would you like the space to flow. Is there a fireplace you'd like to be near while nestled on the sofa, or a window with a great view that you want to call attention to?
When choosing furniture, keep the proportions of your space in mind. Oversized furniture in a small room can be overpowering and could compromise traffic flow, while pieces that are too small produce an environment where the space, rather than the people in it, dominates. Create a sense of balance by choosing furniture that is the right size, shape, and scale for the room.
Dissimilar pieces can be visually linked by grouping them closely together, or by relating them to a common line, such as along a wall or the edge of a rug.
Arrange furniture in relation to a backdrop, a large painting or an archway or other architectural element.
Think of groupings of furniture as islands you can occupy for different purposes: socializing, watching TV, playing with children, or writing letters.
Shapely basics that adapt easily are the best building blocks to accomplish this.
To achieve flexibility in your room, it's best to have pieces that easily adapt to different orientations. Look for multi-use furniture like a large ottoman or bench that can also serve as a coffee table. Changing slipcovers on sofas and armchairs, rearranging furniture, and using new accent pieces are all quick ways to adapt your rooms to changing functions and seasons
Changing a sofa's soft accessories is a quick and easy way to change the whole atmosphere of a living room. Use throws and pillows in different textures and colors to transform your sofa. Warm up the room for winter with heavier textures and deeper hues; lighten it for spring with crisp linens and refreshing blend of brightly colors can work year-round. Fabrics in neutral colors can work year-round; whites and creams can be dressed up or down in almost any
surrounding
