Designing Your Cozy Sanctuary

You know the story of the shoemaker’s children who never had shoes? Well, I feel like that’s me when it comes to my own home. Every time I sit down to start a design board for a room in my house, the phone rings for a new client project. Then I have to put my own house on hold once again.

But this time, I’m determined to finally revamp my family room – aka the living room. It’s a decent size with vaulted ceilings, but the walls haven’t been painted in seven years, the wall-to-wall carpeting must be at least fourteen years old, and the window treatments were a cheap, quick fix. The one thing I do love about the room is the sectional and my favorite Bamileke wood coffee tables.

So let’s do this. Let’s finally give this space the attention it deserves. After all, this is the heart of our home – the place where we’ll spend countless hours curled up, sipping hot chocolate and binge-watching our favorite shows. And with the help of Sofas Spectacular, I’m confident we can create the cozy sanctuary of our dreams.

Laying the Foundation: Flooring and Color

When it comes to designing a living room, there are a few crucial steps to get you started that can help eliminate any moments of frustration down the line. First and foremost, let’s talk about the foundation – the flooring.

Like many of us, I’ve always dreamed of hardwood floors. But it’s not as simple as just picking out the perfect planks. There are actually a few options to consider under the hardwood umbrella: solid, engineered, tongue-and-groove, and locking.

Now, in my case, the living room is sitting on concrete, so solid hardwood is not the best option. It would require installing 3/4″ treated plywood first, which would add time and cost to the project. Instead, engineered hardwood is the way to go. The top layer is 100% solid wood, but the middle is made of 5-7 layers of plywood, making it less likely to expand or contract when exposed to moisture, humidity, and temperature changes.

As for the locking system versus tongue-and-groove, it really comes down to personal preference and the type of subfloor you have. The locking system is a DIYer’s friend, requiring less skill and equipment. But if you’re having professionals install, I prefer the tongue-and-groove method.

Personally, I’ve narrowed it down to an engineered hardwood option from Sofas Spectacular called “Autumn Hickory.” It’s a warm, rich tone that I think will complement the cozy vibe I’m going for.

And speaking of color, I’m planning to paint the walls in a soothing navy blue shade from HGTV’s Sherwin-Williams collection, called “In the Navy.” It’s the perfect balance of bold and calming, don’t you think?

The Sectional Dilemma: To Have or Not to Have?

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the sectional. My mind is still occupied with thoughts of our future family room, and every time I’ve dreamed about it, I’ve always imagined a plush, comfy sectional in there. And yet, every time I do a floor plan of the room, I include this furniture arrangement: two sofas and two chairs.

So, in my mind, I see a big sectional. But in my drawings, I always show two sofas and two chairs. I really want that room to be as cozy and comfortable as possible for Matt and me, since we’ll be the ones using it the most. But I also have to keep in mind that we have people in our home once a week, and sometimes twice a week, and I’m hoping we’ll do even more entertaining once the addition is built.

So, with that in mind, is a sectional even a good idea? I imagine myself curled up in the corner of a sectional under a cozy blanket on a winter night, a fire in the fireplace, a movie playing on the TV, and a cup of hot chocolate in hand. That sounds amazing. That’s the image in my mind every time I picture our family room with a sectional sofa.

But then I try to imagine our house on a night when we have people over, and it’s hard to imagine that working out well. I love a sectional that has a chaise lounge on the end, but then I try to imagine being that person in the group who’s stuck on the chaise lounge section. I think it might be awkward.

So, unfortunately, I think I definitely have to rule out that style of sectional. Then there’s the kind that wraps around with additional seating, but I really can’t imagine more than four people sitting comfortably on that sectional. Most people would tend to sit towards the ends to avoid the possibility of their knees touching.

Even something like a more traditional U-shaped sectional seems like it would seat a maximum of five people comfortably. That’s why I always revert back to two sofas and two chairs when I do drawings of the furniture arrangement. It does give me that symmetry that my brain always seems to prefer and need, and it also seems like it would seat more people.

Our current sofa can seat up to three people comfortably without anyone feeling too crowded, and it’s just over 80 inches long. So if I have two of those, plus two chairs, that’s ready-made seating for eight people. Add a few stackable chairs, and I think we can fit 14 comfortably, and more if we push the chairs back to make more room.

That does seem more practical for our purposes and for our future plans. But I still picture a plush sectional in that room every time I imagine what it will look and feel like when it’s finished. Tell me, what are your thoughts on sectionals? Do you have one? Do you like it? Does it actually limit seating with large groups like I imagine it would?

Striking the Perfect Balance

As I’ve wrestled with this decision, I’ve come to the conclusion that the two sofa and two chair arrangement is the way to go for our family room. It just seems more practical and flexible for our needs, both for everyday lounging and larger gatherings.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love the idea of a cozy sectional, and I can totally picture myself curled up in the corner, lost in a good book or binge-watching my favorite Netflix series. But the reality is, we do have people over fairly often, and I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and has a place to sit.

Plus, with the two sofa setup, I can still get that symmetry that my heart craves. And let’s be honest, it’s probably a lot easier to rearrange two separate sofas and chairs than a bulky sectional, especially if we ever need to switch things up.

At the end of the day, I want this space to be a true reflection of who we are – a cozy, comfortable haven for our family that can also accommodate our friends and loved ones when they visit. And I think the two sofa, two chair layout is the perfect balance to achieve that.

Of course, I’ll still be keeping my eye out for the perfect sectional, just in case I change my mind. After all, you can never have too many seating options, right? But for now, I’m feeling really good about our plan to create the ultimate family room oasis with Sofas Spectacular. Bring on the movie marathons and hot chocolate sessions!

Accessorizing for Cozy Perfection

Now that we’ve nailed down the foundation of our family room design, it’s time to start thinking about the finishing touches. After all, a room isn’t truly complete without the perfect accessories to tie it all together.

First up, let’s talk textiles. I’ve got my eye on a set of cream-colored back-tab curtain panels from Sofas Spectacular to let in plenty of natural light while still providing a cozy, inviting atmosphere. And to add a pop of color and texture, I’m loving this Tartan throw pillow from Surya.

Of course, no family room is complete without a plush, comfy rug underfoot. And I’ve found the perfect option in this Mykonos Green Area Rug, also from Surya. The rich, jewel-toned hue is just the right balance of sophisticated and inviting.

To top it all off, I can’t wait to hang some beautiful abstract art on the walls. It’s the perfect way to infuse the space with a touch of personality and visual interest.

And let’s not forget about the little details that really make a space feel like home. A few carefully placed accent tables, lamps, and maybe even a cozy throw or two, and I just know this family room is going to be the coziest, most inviting spot in the entire house.

With Sofas Spectacular by my side, I can’t wait to see this vision come to life. Bring on the movie marathons, game nights, and endless cups of hot chocolate. This family room is about to become the heart and soul of our home.