What makes a room? Four walls and a ceiling, some windows and a door? Maybe it’s not really a room until it’s decorated – floor covered, walls painted or papered, and so on…?
But beyond that, you can’t really start to use or enjoy a room until it’s properly furnished; without furniture, it’s just an empty shell.
So it’s important to choose the right furnishings, and make each room the very best that it can be.
1. Somewhere to sit
First up, almost every room can benefit from having somewhere comfortable to sit.
In the lounge this is obvious, and sofas and armchairs are often the focal point of the room, while in a dining room you need enough chairs to seat everybody at the table.
But a chair by the door can give you a comfortable place to take off your shoes in the kitchen; and if you have space in your bathroom and bedrooms, any or all of them can equally benefit from a soft and welcoming seat to relax in.
2. Somewhere to store
Storage is doubly beneficial, as it not only looks good, it also helps you to declutter the rest of the room.
This doesn’t have to mean putting an enormous dresser, cabinet or chest of drawers in your room, although any of those things can look classic and elegant if they are in the right proportion to the rest of the room.
Alternatively, an ottoman with under-seat storage can be a subtle way to increase the space you have available to hide away your clutter, while adding an extra seat to the room at the same time.
3. Somewhere to stand
That is, somewhere for things to stand, as a kind of extension to your hidden-away storage space.
Shelves allow you to display ornaments, books and so on, as well as giving you somewhere for the remote control to live, or for an MP3 speaker dock to sit when not in use.
Coffee tables let you put a cup down without putting your carpet at risk, and there’s a whole plethora of other types of stand, from coat racks to hat and umbrella stands.
4. Somewhere to stare
Finally, although they’re not really furnishings in the strictest sense, give a little thought to the photos, paintings and even mirrors you place on your walls.
They can help to reflect the light, break up an otherwise bland expanse of painted wall, and generally give you something to look at when the TV is switched off.
A good selection of family photos or artworks can bring real life into the room, making it feel loved and lived in – and after all, that’s what most of us want from our homes.
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