| Before you start planning your decoration and new | | | | the same time be easily converted back into a restful |
| furniture you need to think about who is going to be | | | | place for the adults in the evening. Furniture needs to |
| using your living room. Thinking about who is going to | | | | be durable and hard wearing and be flexible in its use. |
| use it and when they are going to use it will help you | | | | Solid oak and pine furniture is a good choice here as |
| to make the best use of the space and allow you to | | | | you can easily remove scratches and marks from the |
| plan your budget accordingly. The majority of people | | | | surface of the wood by some careful sanding and |
| will fall into one of the following categories: | | | | waxing. A large oak or pine sideboard will give you |
| You may be a single person. These days there are | | | | the opportunity to tidy away clutter quickly while still |
| more people than ever living alone. One consequence | | | | adding style to your room. |
| of this is that the living space is often more limited so | | | | You may have a grown-up family. Teenagers really |
| you have to be a little more imaginative in making the | | | | do need their own space and you will need to plan |
| best use of it. You can furnish it to suit yourself as | | | | how to give them provision for TVs, computers and |
| there is no-one else to please, but you may find that | | | | consoles as well as giving them a quiet area to work |
| you are doubling up on some areas. For instance, in a | | | | and study. Oak TV cabinets and console tables will |
| single room flat you may find the kitchen and | | | | not only give a lot of character to the room, they will |
| bedroom areas encroaching into the main living space. | | | | also be durable and hard-wearing. Plenty of flexible |
| A solid oak chest of drawers may also double up as | | | | and comfy seating is a good idea for when they |
| a temporary desk or occasional table. | | | | invite their friends around. |
| You may live as a couple. Perhaps you have just | | | | You may share accommodation. Getting a |
| started living together or maybe your children have | | | | harmonious communal living area together can be |
| left home and you are living as a couple for the first | | | | very difficult especially if you are not living with family |
| time in many years. Whichever of these applies, you | | | | or friends. The living space needs to be simply |
| will both have to make efforts to discover a | | | | arranged with little fuss so that it is easy to keep |
| harmonious middle ground. You can not just think of | | | | clean. Avoid disputes by planning ahead and having |
| your own tastes but must also take into account the | | | | space set aside for everyone. |
| needs and preferences of others. It is a good idea to | | | | By thinking ahead and working out who is going to |
| divide the space a little to offer both partners the | | | | use the living room you will be able to get more |
| opportunity to do things separately as well as | | | | effective use out of your living space and have a |
| together. | | | | much better idea of the sort of furniture you need |
| You may be bringing up a young family. You will have | | | | to buy. Natural wood is always a good choice as it |
| to use some imagination here as you will need to | | | | helps to keep the room feel light and spacious and |
| provide a safe and secure environment for the | | | | also has that unique feel you can only get with |
| young ones. It needs to be cheerful and fun but at | | | | handcrafted solid wood furniture. |