Living Room & Entry Refresh 3/3
Thinking about furniture
Once I am crystal clear, on function I start thinking about specific furniture pieces. If I start browsing furniture first, I tend to put on my rosy-colored idealism glasses, envisioning my space as larger, more open, or less open— whatever it needs to be to fit a piece I’m in love with. But the affection is fleeting when the piece doesn’t quite work. Why do you think there is an upright piano in these images?
We knew the sectional wasn't a fit for this area; initially purchased for our basement, it swiftly found its way back down there. Its fabric and modular design weren't ideal for this high-traffic spot, even though it offered a nice separation between living and entry space. We opted for an ottoman and a cozier sofa from trusty Ikea, chosen for its washability and replaceable parts—I can even replace the cover it I can’t wash it! I did spruce it up a bit by adding new legs to replace the stock plastic ones.
Another piece of furniture we were in the market for was storage. Initially hoping for something beautiful and vintage, practicality won over. We needed storage that the children could easily access without worrying about a few dings here and there. It had to store entryway essentials while seamlessly blending in as living room furniture. Affordability was a factor, but I had high expectations for its aesthetic. I took a chance on this one with terrible reviews regarding it’s assembly… and all is well!
Shop your home. We kept this storage chest in our basement for sentimental reasons – originally purchased for our first son's bedroom. As I was about to shop for something new, I remembered it was tucked away down there holding blankets. It fits perfectly between the sofa and the wall, spacious enough to store backpacks and kids' coats. We opted against wall hooks to avoid the entry way vibe encroaching on our living space. I appreciate that its width aligns with the sofa's depth, ensuring it doesn't disrupt sightlines from the dining room.
Lastly, let's talk about the rugs—this became a bit of a debacle that I'm not sure I can fully describe. I even came out of my little hole to share about it on my insta stories. The key lesson learned: when creating dual spaces, measure each area as if it were an individual room. With these measurements, our living room is actually a square! Once I grasped this concept, rug selection became a breeze. Oh, and don't forget to take note of your floor air registers.
