Choosing furniture for your home can be exhilarating.
Whether you’re renovating a specific space or are merely upgrading one or two tired old pieces of furniture, there’s nothing like giving your room a fresh look.
At the same time, choosing furniture can be challenging.
You need to think about:
Modern interior trends mean that specific types of furniture might be suitable for a variety of rooms. However, in this guide, we’ve kept every kind of furniture to their traditional location.
Let’s explore the types of furniture you might decide to put in each room of your property.
Living
Room
Furniture
For most people, the living room is the space in your home where you spend most of your time. Depending on your space and living circumstances, your living room might be a shared space, doubling as a dining room, a home theater, or a play space for your children.
living room might be A
Regardless of how you’ll use the living room, you want furniture that makes this space somewhere you want to spend time. When it’s time to head home from work and relax, your living room should always be the only place you want to go.
What types of furniture might you have in your living room?
Sofas
In most living rooms, a sofa is an essential piece of furniture.
Your sofa is the main place you’ll sit. It will act as your sanctuary when you want to kick back and relax.
However, it can be challenging to buy a sofa because there are so many types and styles you can choose!
You can use our comprehensive sofa buying guide to help you choose the perfect sofa for your home.
Think about the
following if you’re
not yet ready to
read our
full-length guide:
- The space you’ll need for your sofa
- How many people will use your sofa at a time
- How will you use your sofa – is it “just” a sofa or will it double as your home theater seating?
- Whether you need a couch with a specific fabric cover or finish to account for pets or children
- Whether your sofa will be the centerpiece of a room, or if it needs to fit in with your décor
If you opt for a style like a Lawson,
This will fit most room styles and décor schemes and make your search for a sofa easier.
Armchairs
An armchair is a fantastic purchase and can serve several purposes, including:
- Giving you a place to sit that’s “yours.”
- Giving you extra seating space if you don’t have room for a large sofa, or enough of an area to fit two sofas.
- Filling vacant space in your room that you don’t want to leave empty.
Home Theater Seating
Whether your living room doubles as a home theater or you have a dedicated home theater space, opting for home theater seating can add authenticity to the room.
Home theater seating is an especially fantastic buy if you have installed a full set-up inclusive a 72-inch or larger TV screen and surround sound speakers.
Home theater
seating is the best
way to recreate
the experience
of a trip to the
theater.
You can still achieve a similar level of comfort from a sofa if you invest in a recliner with massage and heated seat functions. Remember that many home theater seating options will have these benefits and features, too.
Ottoman
Ottomans are fantastic pieces of living room furniture. Not only do they look great, but they can perform a variety of functions, potentially being:
Ottoman can perform a variety of
functions, potentially being:
A storage space
An extra seat
A footstool
Not every ottoman will feature storage space, so look out specifically for products labeled as storage ottomans if this is your main reason for buying one.
Ottomans usually have a cushioned finish, but you’ll also be able to find tufted and leather upholstered types. When buying a sofa or an armchair, look out for ottomans that are part of the same range so you can get a matching set.
Coffee Table
Coffee tables are fantastic for their versatility.
It’s up to you whether you opt for a statement piece for your coffee table or choose a simple model that pulls the other furniture and your room décor together nicely. Either way, if you have space, consider a coffee table an essential addition to your living room!
END Table
When shopping for living room furniture, you might see an end table labeled as an accent table or a side table.
Most end tables are around the height of sofa seats, as they’re designed to go beside your sofa or other seating. You can use these tables either as somewhere to put your drink and bowl of snacks or to feature a table lamp or another decoration
End tables can be tricky to buy, as
they come in a variety of shapes
Square-top
Square-top end tables
are the most common
Circular-top
If straight lines don’t define
your room, you should choose
something circular
Triangular-top
End tables with triangular tops
that almost look like a guitar
pick look great and fit in with a
variety of décor styles
Console
Table
A console table isn’t an essential piece of living room furniture by any means. However, it can be a great space filler along a wall.
If you plan to have your sofa in the center of the room, placing a console table behind your sofa prevents people from walking directly behind you.
It may also mean you can avoid having end tables if you’d prefer to maintain space at the sides of your seating.
Console tables might solely be a tabletop or come with a selection of storage options.
Entertainment
Center
If you’re creating a home theater in your living room and don’t plan to mount your TV on the wall, you’ll have a couple of options.
The first is an entertainment center. This piece of furniture is designed to be the place all your electronics go. As well as having your TV on your entertainment center, you might have games consoles, set-top boxes, your Blu-Ray player, and your subwoofer for your sound system.
You might also choose an entertainment center with doors so you can close everything away, a great choice if your room doubles up as a home theater and dining room, and you don’t want your giant TV on display at all times.
TV Stand
A TV stand is an alternative to an entertainment center. It might be a better option if you want to keep things simple and draw as much attention to your TV as possible.
You’ll still be able to get other electronics on your TV stand. However, you won’t have the storage or display space for Blu-Ray discs, photos, and whatever else you might put on your entertainment center.
However, if you have a modern, minimalist look in your living room, a TV stand can be a fantastic asset.
As they’re a smaller, less elaborate piece of furniture, you’ll have a wider variety of design options and materials from which to choose, too.
Desks
If your living room doubles as a study or home office to facilitate working from home, it's always better to have a desk.
Sitting on the sofa in front of the TV might be comfortable. At the same time, it’s unlikely to be the most productive means of achieving your goals!
Buying an excellent desk is easy. All you need to do is decide what you want from your desk in terms of storage, and then find one that fits your living room décor and matches the rest of your furniture.
If you want to get even more storage space – and be able to 100% shut your work away – opt for a bureau desk that you can close when you clock off.
Minibars
If you have space in the corner of your living room, a minibar can be a brilliant way to fill it and provide a talking point for when guests come over.
You can add bar stools
We look at these later in dining room furniture – to create an additional seating area in your room.
Another option is to use lighting to make your minibar a focal point of your room.
A minibar can also turn a home theater space into a full-on entertainment facility, ensuring you never need to leave the room while watching TV or gaming.
Storage Benches
Storage benches can be like ottomans in that specific models will serve several purposes.
If you decide to buy a storage bench and use it for an extra function on top of storage, be careful when purchasing.
If you choose a storage bench made from bamboo, for example, you’ll quickly destroy it if you use it as a footstool or seat. Choose a storage bench made from a robust wood and featuring cushioning if you plan to use it for anything other than storage.
A storage bench can be a great alternative to a console table behind a sofa. If you have younger children, you’ll need to think about them climbing on it then jumping over the back of the couch!
BOOKCASES
Whether you’re an avid reader, love collecting old books, or want more space for photographs and decorations, a bookcase can be an excellent addition to any room.
Bookcases always look best when they fit in with the overall style of your room. Ideally, your bookcase will match your entertainment center and desk, if you have them. Most furniture brands create different pieces of furniture in the same style as parts of a collection, so it won’t be tough to buy matching pieces.
The most significant decision for you to make is the type of bookcase you want. Will you opt for tall and slim, or a shorter bookcase that runs along the length of a wall? If you choose for a shorter one, remember you’ll have display or storage space on top, too.
Toy Organizers
Your kids won’t always play alone in their bedroom, especially when they’re younger.
At the same time, you want to be able to clear up toys quickly when it’s time for dinner, or the youngsters have gone to bed, and it’s time for you to kick back and relax. That’s where a toy organizer can come in useful. Great for actual organizing, but also a practical option if you want to clear up and put everything out of sight in the shortest possible time.
By nature, toy organizers are for children’s bedrooms, so you usually won’t easily find one that fits in with the rest of your living room. Still, one piece of mismatching furniture is well worth it for the convenience you’ll enjoy!
Bedroom
Furniture
It should be easy to furnish your bedroom. It’s the place where you sleep and probably where you dress every day. Your bedroom needs to be comfortable, relaxing, yet functional at the same time.
The best way to buy furniture for your bedroom is to keep things simple and only buy what you need.
It’s easy to try and put too much furniture in your bedroom. Suddenly you have a cluttered space that generates feelings exactly opposite to those it should.
What might you put in your bedroom?
BEDS
It’s almost impossible for a bed not to be the centerpiece of a bedroom. Unless your bedroom is enormous, your bed will be the biggest piece of furniture in your room and is unquestionably the most important.
Besides your bed’s obvious function, from a décor and style perspective, you need to decide what you want your bed to say.
Will you opt for a metal or a wooden frame?
Do you prefer your bed to be higher or sit closer to the ground?
These decisions will influence almost every other type of furniture you buy for your bedroom, so choose your bed carefully.
Mattresses
These decisions will influence almost every other type of furniture you buy for your bedroom, so choose your bed carefully.
In general, you’ll have a choice of two mattress types:
Spring mattresses
Spring mattresses are typically at the lower end of what you will pay for a mattress, depending on overall construction and the manufacturer.
Foam mattresses
Foam mattresses tend to be more expensive, particularly if you choose memory foam or a similar variant.
We can’t tell you which mattress is best. Choose the type you love, and that will give you the best sleep experience for years.
Headboards
If you choose a metal or a wooden bed frame, you usually won’t need to decide on a headboard, as you’ll get one with the bed that matches the style of the frame.
If you opt for a divan or a bed base, you will have the option to add a headboard. The most traditional headboards are cushioned or tufted, but you can choose its height and shape.
The ideal way to choose a headboard
The ideal way to choose a headboard is to take the decision out of your hands. Go for a metal or wooden bed frame that matches your bedroom’s style and doesn’t need a traditional headboard!
Dressers
A dresser can serve a variety of purposes.
First, it can store clothes, either alongside or as an alternative to a wardrobe. At the same time, it can be a statement piece and its top somewhere you can place photographs or decorations.
Like a bookcase in the living room, you can choose variety of Dressers!
- Taller
- Thinner
- Shorter and Wider
- Fewer but deeper drawers
Most dressers will be entirely built with wood, although you may also be able to find mirrored front dressers for a modern and glitzy look.
The key to choosing a dresser and the remaining bedroom furniture types we’re about to explore is that they should all match. Consider buying bedroom furniture as a set to ensure you get matching pieces that fit the style and ambiance you want to achieve in your bedroom.
Nightstand
A nightstand, also called a bedside table, is not an essential piece of bedroom furniture, but it can be one of the most useful if you choose to have one.
Nightstands are great for placing a bedside lamp on top and storing things in the drawers.
If you want to keep your bedroom symmetrical, remember to ensure you have space for a nightstand on both sides of your bed. Ensure you get the most out of your nightstand by measuring how high your mattress will sit and go for a nightstand as close as possible to the same height.
CHEST
A chest is essentially a storage bench for the bedroom.
Chests are great for keeping
things in like
extra blankets
spare bedding
clothes that don’t fit
in your wardrobe or dresser
However, they can also be brilliant as a standalone piece of furniture if you don’t like having too much space at the end of your bed. Alternatively, your chest can double up as a bench.
As with storage benches, if you want to sit on your chest or keep things on top of it, make sure you buy a robustly built model!
Traditional Wardrobe
Armoire
Armoire is sometimes used interchangeably with wardrobe, but they’re two separate things. An Armoire is like a wardrobe but might look more like a traditional cabinet, while also being more compact. They’re often a fantastic choice if you don’t have much space around your bedroom.
If you’re moving to a new property, look out for bedrooms with built-in or walk-in closet space. These will negate the need for you to spend on a traditional wardrobe or armoire.
Dining
Room
Furniture
How you choose dining room furniture will
depend on the context of your space.
Do you have a specific, dedicated space for your dining room?
Do you not have a dining room, but a dining area as a shared space with your living room?
Does your living room itself have a dual purpose, such as being a home theater space?
These questions are essential when buying dining room furniture, as you may need to decide
- If dining furniture needs to match the rest of the room
- How much space you need so you can add dining furniture to a shared room
- The primary purpose of a shared space, and how prominent you want dining furniture to be in a space that’s your living room or home theater area
Let’s explore your dining room, or dining furniture, options.
Dining
Table
If you have a dining room, your dining table will be the natural focal point of your space. However, if your dining area is a shared space, you might choose something more understated. This approach would allow your sofa, TV, or home theater area to take precedence.
Dining tables come in all shapes and sizes, so choose yours depending on:
- spaceHow much space you have
- Number of personsHow many people typically sit around it to eat
- NEED extra space?How many people typically sit around it to eat
- What you prefer?What you prefer and what suits your décor and other furniture
Choosing a drop leaf table is a useful idea if you have limitations around space. At the same time, remember always to consider the space you need for your dining chairs.
Dining Chairs
If you’re a “sit around the table” person or family, your dining chairs probably need to be the most durable things in your house. Dining chairs are available in several materials and styles. While it’s natural to want to match your dining chairs to your dining table and the rest of your room, sometimes you need to think practicality first.
If you have small children, are easy to stain and tough to clean chairs with stylish upholstery a good idea?
If you’re in this situation, opt for wooden dining chairs that will look amazing but aren’t a nightmare to clean.
Dining
Sets
The easiest way to ensure your dining table and chairs are a good match is to buy them as a dining set. Remember to think about the space available and the type of chairs that are suitable if you have kids (and pets!).
Buffet
A buffet is a similar height to a console table, but longer and with a whole different purpose.
A buffet is a fantastic addition to your space if you have a small kitchen and need the extra room. However, you must make sure a buffet won’t mess up your dining area space and layout.
Bar Stools
People tend to underappreciate bar stools as a piece of furniture. They’re durable, flexible, and look great wherever you put them. The type of bar stool you buy depends on where you’re going to put it.
if you choose a bar table as your dining room table. Bar stools can be an excellent choice for keeping a space tidy as you can put them under the table when not in use
if you have a minibar
If you have a built-in bar or extended countertops where you sit and eat if you don’t have a dining room
China
Cabinet
China cabinets are a brilliant addition to a dining room, whether you use them for functional storage or to show off an expensive dinner set that you never actually use.
If you don’t have space along a wall, they can be a useful alternative to a buffet. However, you will lose the area on the top for decoration or serving food.
China cabinets can be dominant in a dining space. If you’re furnishing a dining room from scratch, it’s worth buying your cabinet first, even before your dining table.
Outdoor
Furniture
Having an outdoor space where you and your family can spend time is brilliant. In the summer, you might even be able to work or eat outside!
While it’s possible to enjoy your outdoor space with multi-functional furniture, it’s better to have specific outdoor furniture that you can leave in the yard.
If you don’t have a covered area outside, you may need to consider storage for certain furniture types when it rains or during the winter months. If you don’t have such a space, opt for something you can leave outside regardless of the weather.
Yard
Chairs
If you’re going to spend time outdoors, you want to do so in comfort. Buying yard chairs ensures you have somewhere to sit, whether you’re having a BBQ or simply enjoying sitting out in the sun.
Most materials used to make yard chairs are durable enough to stand up to the elements. However, you will need to store furniture made from natural fibers such as wicker and bamboo.
Plastic chairs
Plastic chairs are affordable and easy to keep clean.
aluminum or wooden chairs
Aluminum or wooden chairs look better and are easy to maintain.
If you want to achieve the ultimate in relaxation,
If you want to achieve the ultimate in relaxation, consider a hammock or a yard swing.
Yard
Tables
How do you plan to use your outside space? What yard chairs do you have your eye on? Answering these questions will go a long way to helping you decide the table you need to buy.
There are different types of Yard tables
with different purposes
Yard SET
Like in the dining room, the most sensible approach might be to buy a yard set.
Your chairs and table will match, you can buy all your furniture in the same material, and match styles and colors to the outside of your home or other outdoor features like decking.
Outdoor
Decorations
There is much more to outdoor furniture than tables and chairs.
If you genuinely want to bring your outdoor space to life and make it feel like an extension of your home, you can add decorations to make it feel like its own room.
You might choose anything from outdoor lighting and heating, which are great for combining the functional with the decorative. Alternatively, you might add features such as a sundial, bird table, or potted plants if you have a decking area.
Plan your outdoor space like you would any room in your home, and it’ll look amazing.
Choosing
Furniture
for Your
Home
Whether you have moved to a new property or it’s time to update your current living space, choosing furniture for your home is always exciting.
Even if you’re the type of person who loves spending time outdoors, you’ll always return home. Therefore, you must create spaces that are welcoming and functional, and where you look forward to spending time.
Whichever room you're buying furniture for,
remember always to choose pieces that:
Suit your tastes
Are suitable for your lifestyle needs and living circumstances
Match the décor and style trends you’re looking to achieve
Fit the space you have
Remember that you don’t need every type of furniture to make your space amazing. Work out what will make your rooms come to life and get to work!