5 Living Room Essentials for Any Space

After a hard day’s work, many of us retire to the comfort and serenity of our living rooms. Aside from being a popular family gathering spot, they are also a hub for parties and get-togethers, meaning that the design of your space has many different people to please. But how can you accomplish that?

There is plenty of research that shows just how quickly we form our first impressions of others. For instance, it shows that we base our initial sense of other people’s trustworthiness and power on their physical appearance. Likewise, interior design can play just as big a role in the judgements our guests make about us. To help you make a great first impression, we’re revealing the five crowd-pleasing living room essentials all great family spaces should have.

Coffee Tables: A Living Room Must-Do

A solid coffee table (like the one shown below) is a must-have in any living room. Most often, they’re placed within reaching distance of a couch or set of chairs, allowing users to set drinks, phones, books, and other belongings on top. Many coffee tables also come equipped with interior storage for holding DVDs, magazines, books, and other items that complete your space. For example, the coffee table at the start of this blog features drawers for storage space that holds remotes, coasters, or anything that needs to slide off the tabletop for a quick straightening.

Depending on your lifestyle, you may even use your coffee table as a makeshift desk or eating surface. Lift-top pieces are perfect for these applications, allowing you to access it while sitting comfortably on your sofa, loveseat, or chair.

Comfortable Seating for Your Living Room

The next must-have component in your living room is comfortable seating. With so many options to choose from, it’s up to you to find the right configuration for your space. If you have a larger, more open concept, placing an L-shaped sectional can help give it shape and dimension. Alternatively, if you have a smaller space, try a love seat or chaise lounge and offset it with a few armchairs for good measure. No matter which route you take, be sure your furniture is comfy – the cozier your cushions are, the longer your guests will stick around.

TV Stands that Add Style

Few modern living rooms are complete without a TV. In fact, for sports and movie nights alike, these screens are the main event. As a result, your TV stand should be just as impressive and pleasing to your guests’ eyes as the events unfolding on-screen.

For those whose living rooms have a midcentury modern style, consider a TV stand with open-front shelves like the one shown below. With angled legs and geometric shelves, it will complement your space while holding your TV up to 65 inches.

If you’re really looking to wow guests, go for a unique combo: a TV stand with an electric fireplace like the one shown below. A piece like this will enhance your space with worry-free warmth during the colder months. Plus, its flickering flames will cast a gorgeous amber glow on your living room as you watch the latest show with family and friends.

Cabinets that Add Function

No living room is truly complete without storage items, and at Twin Star Home®, we believe that all cabinets should be as stylish as they are functional. On the latter end of the spectrum, your living room cabinet should keep your remotes, media, throw pillows, and scented candles secure. It should also add aesthetic value to your room, whether it is the central focus, or it is transforming a previously unused corner to add a little more zen to your home.

An ideal choice for any modern homeowner, the modern farmhouse sideboard shown above comes complete with two sliding barn doors, one center drawer for small item storage, and room to store up to eight wine bottles. Similarly, the traditional sideboard shown below features frosted cabinet doors with graceful designs, plus two upper storage drawers inside two double door cabinets with ample space to store china or blankets and board games. And it can hold a flat screen TV up to 60”, so it easily serves whatever purpose you need.

Decorative Accessories in Your Living Room

Finally, to top off your artful configuration of the previous four essentials, be sure to place plenty of the fifth and final type: accessories. These can be anything from table lamps to house plants to throw rugs. Depending on the items, colors, and textures you choose, you can transform your living room into a true reflection of your personal style.

Perfect Your Living Room Today

The design of your living room can go a long way towards enhancing your guests’ comfort and communicating your personality. By including these five essentials in your configuration, you can make sure that your space meets and even exceeds guests’ expectations. For more interior design ideas and inspiration, be sure to sign up for the Twin Star Home® email newsletter.