How to Pick out Living Room Furniture with your Family

Talk about ideas

Get everyone together for their wish list. Now, granted – smaller family members may not have a lot of specific input on their furniture styles, but you can still talk about what the pieces of furniture are called, and ask them for their ideas. (Don’t be surprised if you get suggestions for a couch with a cave underneath, or tepee – both real-life suggestions from our last family meeting.)

Older kids can definitely weigh in with opinions on color schemes or things they would like. The important thing is to make everyone feel like they’re being heard.

Let everyone choose from a list

Once you’ve gotten input from everyone, you can do your research. Start online, and research what’s out there. Even if you’re not selecting the exact piece of furniture, you can definitely get close enough to present an idea of the shape, color, and overall look of a piece.

Try to keep the choices down to a few – 3 is a good number to work with. If you can get a consensus – congratulations! If you can only get it down to a couple of choices, you can either use your parental rights to make a final decision, or wait for the visit to the furniture store to decide there.

Try things out in person

It’s extremely important to take the time to see your potential new decor in person and get ideas for your new living room furniture. There are a couple of reasons you should always do this:

• It allows you to see if the furniture is truly suited for your needs. A piece may seem like a great idea on paper or screen, but it may be uncomfortable, have scratchy fabric, be hard to clean, or have a finish that collects fingerprints. Don’t be afraid to sit on chairs, pile onto sofas, or pull up an ottoman to see if it’s a good height.

• You can evaluate the safety of a piece. Homes with children should always keep in mind that life can get a little boisterous and that some furniture features are more important. Look for quality -good furniture shouldn’t wobble, tip, or chip easily. Make sure that the paint is non-toxic, that the edges aren’t sharp, and that the appropriate safety features are in place, such as tipping restraints and drawer stops.

Once you’ve made your final choices on your new furniture, your whole family should feel like they’ve been a part of the project. You can enjoy the fact that the actual trip to the furniture showroom was much shorter and easier than you feared it could be. And, your living room will be as comfy, safe, and attractive as it could possibly be! Enjoy the process, and enjoy your new living space!

Author Bio

Ken has a huge passion for writing and living a comfortable life. He’s a big fan of DIY and figuring out ways to make his home as organized as possible. He is also the enthusiastic content strategist for Vancouver Woodworks Furniture, maker of beds, cabinets, and other solid wood furniture.