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How do I Choose the Best Living Room Sectional?

Felicia Dye
Felicia Dye

When you purchase a living room sectional, you need to assess your other furniture and decor and choose something with a complementing style. Also, make sure the color coordinates well. Do not forget that price does not determine quality, but quality will determine how soon you have to purchase more furniture, so try to get something that will last.

Unless you are planning to purchase more furniture, you should make sure your living room sectional fits in with the other contents in the room. Fitting in means considering several things. To begin with, the style should accent your other decor. You do not want to spend money for a living room sectional that looks out of place.

Woman holding a book
Woman holding a book

The size of the sectional should be considered. Sometimes these pieces of furniture can be very big. When the larger sectionals are placed in small areas, they often have the opposite effect of the one intended. If you are not careful, you could find that you purchase furniture that makes the surrounding area seem cluttered and the sectional may seem clunky and awkward. Try to avoid choosing one that obstructs your normal pathway.

You need to consider the color of your living room sectional. It should match items such as your other furniture, curtains, and paint. This does not mean that it must be the same color, but you want to make sure whatever you choose does not clash.

Depending on where you plan to put the living room sectional, color may be important for another reason. If you have small children and plan to put it in an area they frequent, you may want to avoid white or light colors. If you do choose colors that are easily soiled, you should consider getting a sectional made of material that is not difficult to clean.

The living room sectional you choose should accommodate everyone in the household. Since it can be a rather expensive purchase, you may want to have everyone try it before you finalize the deal. This is especially true if you have special needs individuals in your home, such as those with back or knee problems, because certain furniture may result in a great deal of discomfort and difficulty for them.

When you purchase a living room sectional, consider value. Assess not only the appearance of the furniture, but also the quality of it. A large price tag does not always guarantee you are getting an item that is worth it.

Discussion Comments

stoneMason

We just bought a living room sectional. It's black leather, it will last us a long time. What I like about it is that it also has a matching table. I was worried about finding a table that would match the sectional, so it's great that this set came with one.

ysmina

@Rundocuri-- I agree with you. A living room sectional is something that you should buy and then just leave for the next ten years. This is precisely why the fabric and colors are important as well. I love white, but I would never buy a white sectional because it will probably look dirty in a few years. I'd go with dark colors like brown or black. And of course, the colors should match the walls and the rugs as well. The walls can be painted to different colors easily, but carpet and furniture are difficult to change.

SteamLouis

Something that hasn't been mentioned about selecting a living room sectional is comfort. The living room sectional needs to be comfortable and multi-purpose as well. There are some new, great styles out there that not only look very stylish but are very functional as well.

For example, one piece of the sectional is long and allows someone to lie down and rest while watching TV or reading. The other parts are meant for sitting down straight. I also like the ones that look like a regular couch but there is a piece that can be extended to make it long for lying down.

Rundocuri

Anyone thinking about buying a sectional should think about the likelihood that he or she will be moving within the next few years. This type of furniture is a hassle to move, so it may not be the best kind for those who do not stay in one home or apartment for very long.

Heavanet

Living room sectionals are typically more expensive than other types of furniture, but are worth the price because they are so attractive and comfortable. Since getting one is an investment in your home's furnishings, it is important that you consider factors that could damage your new sectional and choose one accordingly.

If you have children, you will definitely want to pick a sectional that has fabric that will be easy to clean. Patterns like swirls or florals instead of solid colors may be best, since stains are less obvious on these types of printed fabrics.

Pet owners also need to take these concerns into consideration when buying a piece of furniture like a sectional. The material must be durable, especially if you have cats that like to scratch or dogs that like to chew. Micro suede is the best choice of fabric in busy homes with pets, in my opinion, because it is strong and easy to wipe clean.

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      Woman holding a book