If you’ve just bought a new home, you probably don’t want your old, worn-out living room furniture in there. Just like you, your living room needs a fresh start.

Most homeowners worry that buying new furniture for the living room might be an investment they cannot afford in the wake of buying a new home.

However, living room furniture is more affordable than ever and by choosing the right pieces you can make the move all the more exciting with a fashionable, inspiring living room.

But before you start furniture shopping online or visiting local showrooms, you need to know how to choose the right furniture for your new living room. In this article, we’ll give you a few tips and tricks.

Plan the Available Space

Your living room furniture shopping and setup will depend on the size of your living room. Too much furniture might make your room appear even smaller than it is and restrict your movement. That’s why it’s essential to find furniture pieces that fit the room.

The best way to do this is to measure your room then translate that on a graphing paper. Make sure to follow the scale and give each scale a certain measurement value. So if your room is 12 by 15 feet, one square on the paper can mark an inch. Once you put the measurements to paper, you can determine the furniture pieces you need, their size and layout.

When it comes to living rooms, it’s always best to determine a central point and plan around it. The central point can be entertainment units like your TV or your fireplace. Once you do, draw the pieces you’d like and how you’d like them set up. This will be a great starting point for choosing your living room furniture without having to guess or worry something may not fit.

Start With the Basic Furniture Pieces

What are the elements every living room needs to have? Seating elements are the primary focus of every living room, so you should start there. If your space is limited, consider sectional sofas as they can fit into angles and against the wall or can be put in the middle of the room. But if they are too large for your room, consider a traditional sofa with additional chairs.

When choosing the fabric for the furniture, make sure to get something that requires less maintenance. Go for neutral colors as they work well with any style you choose. You can easily breathe in some life using accessories like pillows or lamps. Take a few pictures of the floor and wall in your living room to compare them to the furniture you’re considering when visiting a local showroom.

Don’t Neglect Storage

If you don’t want your living room to be a constant mess that demands cleaning, you have to consider the storage space. The easiest way to do this is to choose living room furniture that doubles as a storage space, like sofas or coffee tables with a storage compartment underneath. Add to that a few shelves to showcase your books, vases, and décor and you’re good to go.

Go for Multi-Functional Pieces

The beauty of multi-functional furniture is that you can make your living room adaptable. A pull-out sofa bed can easily transform your living room into a guest room if you’re short on space. Folding tables can be useful to make more room for a party but come in handy for a TV dinner. Moveable living room furniture will also make it easy to plan the space, especially if you’re having someone over.