7 Things to Think About Before Buying a New Lounge

Buying a new lounge should be exciting. But with so many sizes, styles, fabrics and configurations available, it’s easy to choose one that looks great in the showroom, only to discover it doesn’t quite work once you get it home.

A lounge is usually one of the largest pieces of furniture in the room, so getting the basics right before you buy can make a big difference.

Here are 7 things worth thinking about before choosing your next lounge.

1. Measure Your Room… Not Just the Lounge

Before you start shopping, measure the space where your new lounge will go.

It sounds obvious, but don’t just measure the wall. Think about the entire room.

Allow space for walkways, side tables, a coffee table, floor lamps and any other furniture you plan to keep. Check whether doors, cupboards or drawers need room to open as well.

Remember that furniture can also look smaller in a large showroom than it will in your lounge room.

Quick Tip: Mark the approximate size of the lounge on your floor with masking tape.

It’s a simple way to see how much room it will actually take up.

2. Make Sure You Can Get It Through the Door

You’ve found the perfect lounge. It fits the room beautifully. But will it fit through the front door?

Before ordering larger furniture, check the route from outside your home all the way to its final position.

Measure:

• Front and internal doorways

• Narrow hallways

• Tight corners

• Staircases

• Low ceilings or door frames

• Any particularly narrow access points

Some lounges have removable legs, backs or individual sections, which can make delivery easier. It’s still worth checking beforehand rather than discovering an access problem on delivery day.

3. Choose a Configuration That Suits How You Live

There’s no single lounge configuration that works for every home.

A traditional three-seater and two chairs might work perfectly in one room, while another may be better suited to a corner lounge, chaise or modular design.

Think about how you actually use the space.

Where is the TV? How many people regularly use the lounge? Do you entertain? Does everyone like to sit together, or would separate chairs work better?

Also think about traffic through the room. You don’t want people constantly walking between the lounge and TV simply because that was the only place the furniture would fit.

Choose the configuration for your room and your lifestyle, not just because you like how it looks on display.

4. Think About Fabric, Kids & Pets

That beautiful light-coloured fabric might look fantastic, but is it practical for your household?

If you have children, pets or simply a busy home, durability and ease of cleaning may be just as important as appearance.

Consider the colour, texture and type of fabric, along with its recommended cleaning and care requirements.

Darker colours and textured fabrics can sometimes be more forgiving for everyday family living, while lighter fabrics can create a fresh, open appearance.

There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s about choosing something you’ll be comfortable actually living with, rather than constantly worrying about.

Quick Tip: Ask about the care requirements of the fabric before buying.

Knowing how it should be cleaned can help avoid problems later.

5. Choose a Colour That Works With What You Already Have

Your lounge doesn’t need to perfectly match everything in the room.

In fact, sometimes a little contrast is exactly what the space needs.

But because a lounge is such a large piece of furniture, its colour can have a big impact on the overall look of the room.

Take into account your:

• Flooring

• Wall colour

• Curtains or blinds

• Floor rugs

• Existing furniture

• Timber tones

• Cushions and décor

If you have warm timber-look flooring, for example, some lounge colours may work differently than they would against a cool grey floor.

If you’re unsure, take photos of your room when you go furniture shopping. Flooring samples, paint swatches or even a photo taken in good natural light can also make comparing colours much easier.

6. Decide Whether Recliners Are Right for You

Recliners can be incredibly comfortable, but they need a little more planning.

A reclining lounge generally requires more space than its upright dimensions suggest. Check how far the recliner extends when fully open and whether it will interfere with walls, tables or walkways.

For powered recliners, you’ll also need to consider where your power points are located and how the power cable will reach them.

Then there’s the choice between manual and electric operation.

Think about who will be using the lounge, how often the recliner will be used and which option is most practical for your household.

Quick Tip:When measuring for a recliner, always consider its fully open position, not just how much room it takes up when closed.

7. Look at the Whole Room, Not Just the Lounge

Before making your final decision, picture the lounge as part of the whole room.

Will your existing coffee table still work?

Is your floor rug going to be large enough?

Do you still need the two occasional chairs?

Will the new lounge make the room feel comfortable or overcrowded?

And importantly, how will it work with your existing flooring?

A new lounge can completely change the balance of a room. Sometimes moving a few pieces, changing the rug or simplifying the furniture around it can make the entire space feel new again.

If you’re planning new flooring as well, it’s worth considering both purchases together. Flooring covers the largest surface area in the room, while the lounge is often the largest piece of furniture sitting on it, so the two can have a big influence on how the finished room looks.

Take Your Time Before You Choose

A lounge isn’t something most of us replace every year, so it’s worth spending a little time getting the decision right.

Measure your space, think about how your household uses the room and consider how your new lounge will work with the furniture and flooring you already have.

Most importantly, choose something that feels comfortable and practical for your home, not just something that looks good on the showroom floor.

Planning a new lounge or thinking about updating the room?

Visit Ron Mahers Flooring & Furniture and explore our furniture and flooring ranges in store.