How To Choose A Living Room Set

There are three things you would need to do first when you choose a living room set:

1. Always take measurements. Measure the length and width of the room and consider the dimensions of any alcoves or other recessed spaces.

2. You should sketch a floor plan. It does not need to be perfect, just good enough to determine how much space you can spare. Try a few different compositions and think of adding a meter of free space in between pieces so you will not have to squeeze in.

3. Check your doorways. The worst thing would be experiencing delivery mishaps.

4. Decide how you are going to use the space:

   •   For an informal entertainment space, functionality and comfort are key. Within your living room set you will need to have two or three occasional tables and plenty of seats to accommodate family and friends on games' or TV marathon nights.

   •   A child-friendly family space begs for durability and ease to clean. Avoid fragile and precious things. Also, choose accessories that will not only brighten up your day but your little one's too.

   •   A formal gathering area suggests that it will not to be used as much as casual spaces. You can take this as an opportunity to design it with high-end pieces of furniture.

After you have gone through the initial planning, you need to select the best materials to fit the plan

Fabric

• If you are looking for a pet- and kid-friendly furniture, a smooth cotton fabric is the right material for you because it will be easier to clean. It will be even more beneficial if the cushions have zippers because fabric can be machine washed. Other durable fabrics are corduroys and microfibre blends. If you suffer from allergies, smooth and synthetic blends will be a better choice, such as faux suede.

• You can splash on luxury if the set will be used rarely. A high-thread-count cotton or a velvet fabric scream elegance and sophistication. The higher thread count, the better.

Also, fabrics come in a variety of colors to match any interior. 

• Light colors are prone to getting marks more quickly so if you have fallen in love with a pale-colored couch set, remember to look for removable, washable covers or at least make sure the upholstery is pre-treated to repel stains.

• A gray or taupe colored set is your safe option since it is easy to work with any color scheme and they are dark enough to not show marks or stains. You can always add bright touches such as vibrant throw pillows or choose a textured fabric blend. Try and not expose the set to direct sunlight since it can experience fading in color.

• As for patterns, design experts recommend that a larger couch looks good in plain and textured fabrics and that smaller ones beg for patterned fabric.

When thinking of easy to clean fabric, opt for cotton because any natural blends such as cotton-wool mix or cotton-linen will have to be cleaned professionally. Complex fabric blends tend to shrink in the wash, but you can always spot clean with upholstery detergent.

Leather

Leather couches bring a touch of luxe to your living room. If cared properly, they can last you as long as a fabric couch. It is a suitable option for homes with adult guests since there is minimal chance of spilling and stains. However, you need to consider that if leather is exposed to direct sunlight, it can result in a quicker aging process. There are four types of leather, which are considered top quality -- full grain, semi-aniline, top grain and nubuck.

• Known as premium leather, full grain leather is the most expensive on the market because of it is rarity. This type of leather does not undergo any corrections when made to keep its natural look and feel. It is extremely durable and is truly the one that gets better with age because of its highlighted folds and imprints.

• Semi-aniline is like full grain, but it offers micro-pigment coloring and a protective topcoat. This coat ensures that liquid puddles so you can wipe it off. It is still considered premium quality and has the same durability as full grain.

• Top grain leather is the one most people will be familiar with. It is usually firmer to the touch and very durable. This is a good choice for high-traffic furniture because it is covered in protective coat, which makes it easier to clean and is more resistant to staining that full grain leather. However, because of the corrections made such as buffing, sanding and coloring, the leather is robbed of its natural marking and texture.

• A decorative leather such as nubuck is soft, water resistant and more durable than suede. The process of producing nubuck is sanding and buffing the top surface to create naps, which aligned vertically gives nubuck its velvety touch.

• Contemporary Style: Contemporary styled living spaces are designed with elements of neutral, clean, smooth and subtle reign supreme. The material of the set can be either fabric or leather and the colors should not be more than two. Look for ergonomic features in the couch set.

• Cottage Décor: Cottage inspired interiors aim to provide coziness and charm to a living space. Think simpler designs of couch sets. This décor begs for cotton in pastel and neutral colors.

• Eclectic Design: Eclectic décor embraces freedom of expression and begs for mixing and matching. Couches sets made from nubuck or velvet in purple or blue.

• French Country Style: Elegant yet simple, French country style is all about rustic finishes and refined details. Pick a set made from fabric in rich colors such as red and green in simple patters with gold or wooden framing.

• Traditional Design: Traditional décor is quite minimalistic and does not like bright colors. You should opt for a set of a three-seater couch and loveseat made from a high-gloss polyester fabric in gray or beige.

• Vintage Décor: Vintage décor screams for floral patterns and fabrics in pastel colors. A classic choice would be a cotton upholstery set in white with added padding.

• Moroccan Style: Moroccan style is rich in history, color and texture. It embraces bright colors such as yellow, blue and pink. For this style of home décor, a sectional upholster set with a mix of patters would be ideal.