Part 4 - Choosing Furniture

1. The most basic of all good styling is of course to cater for sufficient shelves and storage to keep away the mess. If you have plenty of collectibles, cater display shelves to display them in the most organized and gracious manner.
2. For fabric sofas or seat covers, it is always safer to opt for the plains with textures. Stripes are pretty formal while floras may appear old-fashioned and too dominating when applied in quantity.
3. Use related colors, similar wood or fabric tones, etc. to blend the different element (i. e. flooring, furniture, upholsteries, etc.) together in a room.
4. Avoid too much contrast in colors and tones between the furniture and the floor and the walls especially if there is a space constraint. They should ideally blend subtly for a sense of sparsity.
5. Do not put too many timbers of different hues together. Do not mix dark wood tones like Wenge with birch or light oak, or golden-toned maple with red timbers or brownish woods. This applies to timber flooring, too.
6. A three-seater sofa rarely accommodates three people comfortably; a two-and-a-half seater will make a more practical choice or try ordering a three-seater but have it made-up with two-seat cushions.
7. Consider access to the house when ordering furniture. Bulky pieces that cannot be knocked down should be delivered in advance prior to the installation of dividers at the entrances to avoid removal and reinstallation headaches!
8. Sofas covered in faux suede (a stain-resistant fabric) material is itself an indication of modern age whereas leather and fabrics are easy matches with the latter preferred for classical settings.
9. ‘’ Free wheelies ‘’ – side-tables, chairs, mini consoles and other furniture with wheels win versatility in appearances for contemporary settings.
10. Silky fabrics and carved teak furniture in brownish hues are perfect indications of Balinese styling and a twist for reddish to black wood hues will present a Chinese antique setting.
11. Search second-hand stores for some inspiring finds at very reasonable prices if you are trying to enact a scene of a particular age or looking for pieces to enhance a global style or shabby chic interior.
12. Kitchen wall units that extend all the way up to the ceiling will eliminate an obvious dust trap with extra long-term storage.