Design your dream space with these living room essentials
We talk a lot about mattresses and beds here at Koala, but we figured it was time to spill the tea on our other favourite room in the house — the living room.
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the living room is the bustling soul. It’s the space where you binge-watch your favourite shows, host rowdy game nights and dump all your laundry for god knows how long.
For all the love and attention it gets, it’s also subjected to a lot of wear and tear. So if you need the goss on living room armchairs, couches and sofa beds, as well as some juicy intel on coffee tables and bookshelves, we’ve got all the beans to spill.
Living room furniture essentials
First things first. Let’s talk about the big-ticket items that can make or break your living room’s vibe. We’re talking living room sofas and sofa beds, coffee tables, armchairs and storage.
A comfy couch or snuggly sofa bed
Regardless of what you call it, a sofa or living room couch is the one thing you can’t do without in the good room. So when it comes to choosing the cush behind your tush, go for gold.
“A sofa is a big investment, so choose wisely,” says Bella Vie Interiors’ principal interior designer Lisa Alward. “Look for something that’s well-made and comfortable and that fits your style.”
An armchair for your reading nook
A great armchair works its charm in any corner of a room, so it’s a must-have for all your sedentary perks and pleasures (reading pleasures, that is).
Lisa recommends choosing an armchair that complements your sofa but doesn’t match it exactly, adding that you want to create a cohesive look rather than a matchy-matchy one.
Some savvy storage
While bookshelves eventually become the burial grounds for all our worldly knick-knacks, they still have the potential to put on quite the show. When done right, they can double as killer statement pieces everyone will want in the back of their Zoom calls. Yes, please.
Lisa’s top tips are to look for shelves and cabinets that aren’t too bulky and that fit to scale in your living room. Short and wide, tall or narrow, we’ve got a bookshelf that will fit just right.
A coffee table centrepiece
Whether round or rectangular, it’s easy to go gaga over a good coffee table. They might not always be the centrepiece of a space, but they sure know how to set the mood.
“Look for something with a unique shape or material to add interest to the room,” says Lisa. “The height of the table should reach the cushions of your sofa or be a few inches lower. This will ensure the table is at a comfortable height for resting your feet or setting down your drink.”
Lisa also says it’s important to consider the size of your space. “If you have a smaller living room, a round or oval-shaped coffee table can help to create more space and improve flow. If you have a larger space, a square or rectangular-shaped coffee table can help to anchor the room and make it feel more substantial.”
Improved flow and more substance? We’ll take both.
Tips and advice on buying living room furniture
Now that you know how to pick the essentials, it’s time to do a bit of house prep. Here are our top four considerations when bringing home the koala-ty goods:
☺️ Measure the room. Measure your space before you start shopping. You don’t want to fall in love with a piece of furniture only to realise it doesn’t fit. Talk about a mood killer!
☺️ Think it over. Just because something looks good in someone else’s living room doesn’t mean it’ll work in yours. Consider the colours and styles already in your home before making new purchases.
☺️ Choose your materials carefully. Darker sofas and armchairs are less likely to start looking grubby, so they’re always a clever pick. And if you’re living with a rabble of kids and pets, pick durable, long-lasting fabrics that won’t betray the immediate wear and tear.
☺️ Consider your space. For a large room, opt for a generous rug to anchor the space and a sectional sofa to provide ample seating. For a smaller den, go for minimalism to prevent clutter. And if you’re after a space-saving hack, choose multifunctional pieces like storage ottomans. They’ll always do the trick.
But what about homewares?
Just like a killer pair of heels can take an outfit from blah to ‘bloody hell!’, homewares can transform your living room into a space that’ll blow everyone’s socks off.
We’re talking rugs, cushions, lamps and stylish throws. And we’re also talking about mixing and matching different textures, colours and styles to create a look that reflects your personality. If you’re a style icon when it comes to your outfits, don’t be afraid to go full Architectural Digest when it comes to your homewares.
The Koala living room range
Did you think we were only about beds and mattresses here at Koala? Nah, think again. When it comes to our award-winning furniture and homewares range, we’ve covered all the bases.
Our Australian-designed armchairs and living room couches are guaranteed to give you the greatest afternoon kips you’ve had in a long, long while. Our coffee tables and bookshelves are built to satisfy even the toughest of eco-minded design gurus. And our sofa beds and throws will take care of all your mates and dates that drop by and decide to spend the night. (Lucky you.)
If you take home one of our goodies and decide it’s not for you, no dramas — you’ll have 120 nights to give it a test run. And if you still fall out of love with it within that time, reach out to us, and we’ll take care of the return. Care and koala-ty is everything to us, so our customers always come first.
Time to get styling
Your living room is the hub of all things homely, so love it the way it loves you by giving it a fresh new look. Whether you’re going for a wall-to-wall revamp or just the addition of a few new pieces, head over to Koala for all your home- and design-related inspo. We’ll know what to do.
