seating and accent tables

An organized living room begins with the major furnishings—seating, tables, lighting—and is enhanced by well-chosen accessories. Odds are, you can rethink and reposition a lot of what you have, but a few upgrades might ease the way.

scale it right

Getting a right-sized sofa is critical for comfort. First things first—measure, twice.

• In general, aim to have 14 to 18 inches of wall space on either side of a sofa, whether or not side tables will be going there. The exception is for sectionals, which often snuggle up against adjacent walls.
• Too-big furniture can overwhelm a room and block traffic. Too-little pieces can be just as problematic—and you’ll end up with lots of awkward, open floor space.
• Settees and sofettes and “apartment” models look smart without eating up a lot of square footage. Those with lots of air underneath also keep the room light on its feet.
• Avoid overloading the sofa with throw pillows; two to five is a good range, mixing as desired.
• In especially tight areas, forgo a sofa and group four chairs around a coffee table instead (again using a rug to pull them together).
• Poufs and ottomans offer seating and surface—and even storage—in one stylish package (see page 131 for one idea).
• Floor pillows are nice to have for casual group hangouts, and they stack neatly when not in use.

clear the decks

Resist the urge to let stuff pile up on every surface.

• Spend a few minutes at the beginning or end of each day clearing away what doesn’t belong from coffee and end tables.
• A coffee table with a lower ledge doubles the surface area; same for two-tiered end tables—or use nesting tables for as-you-need-it convenience.
• No ledge? Stow handsome baskets or bins underneath tables for housing items you don’t want on display (e.g., remote controls).
• A vintage chest is a good coffee table option for stashing a collection of games or extra throws.
• To give accent tables a unified look, set out attractive trays to hold smaller trinkets and vessels.
• Coffee table books are meant for these surfaces; just be sure to stack them neatly and not too high.
• Keep a catchall basket for all the ephemera that accumulates in this shared space—and put away the items once a week.

SOFA SMARTS

This piece alone can make a room; here’s how to ensure yours is up to the task.

• When buying a new model, look for the best-quality one within your budget; major discounts usually kick in over President’s Day and summer holidays.
• Try to actually sit on a sofa before buying, to find out if it’s comfortable for you.
• Think about your lifestyle: If you have kids and pets, you may not want a light-colored sofa or one made of hard-to-clean fabric.
• Sleek, single-seat cushions (aka bench seats) can sink in the middle over time; choose one that flips and anchors to the sides with hooks.

Martha Must

I make a point of measuring all my rooms, noting the door and window placements. Then I print out each room on card stock, laminate the cards, and punch a hole in the top for stringing on a key ring to use in future decorating jobs.