How to Create A Stylish Living Room with Motion Furniture & La-Z-Boy

The living room is where friends and family gather to bond, watch TV and sports, play games, chat and entertain. It is an important room in the home, and one that is associated with sitting back, unwinding and enjoying life.

“This is why motion furniture is becoming an increasingly sought after addition to this room as modern motion furniture, like that from La-Z-Boy for example, not only looks stylish, but it also allows for maximum relaxation and comfort,” explains Claire Gibson from leading furniture manufacture, La-Z-Boy.

She offers the following tips and advice on how to successfully decorate your living room with motion furniture for optimum comfort and good looks:

1.) Function and form

It goes without saying that your living furniture must look good. However, it is arguably just as important that it feels good to sit in as well. Says Claire: “Your living room will be one of the most exposed rooms in your home – visited by friends and family – which is why it needs to be a room that you can show off and be proud of. However, it also needs to be comfortable and inviting.”

She notes that in the past, more often than not, you would need to compromise one for the other: “Gone are the days of ugly, bulky recliners – today’s motion furniture is modern and sleek. Current La-Z-Boy motion furniture for example, is truly able to hold their own in the most stylish of living room décor settings, which is great news for homeowners, as they now can now enjoy the best of both worlds – elegant seating that offers maximum comfort.”

2.) Always choose quality

However, Claire advises that when it comes to purchasing seating, and motion furniture in particular, it is advisable to invest a bit more money from the onset, so that you can rest assured that you have a quality piece that will last. “When it comes to purchasing a motion armchair or sofa, it’s important to buy the best one you can afford at the time. Seating is the main attraction in most living rooms and as such, one should make a considered choice and spend that little extra time and money to ensure you don’t end up having to replace it after a few years.

“Ideally, you should choose a piece that has a timeless aesthetic so that it doesn’t date quickly, and hardwearing upholstery that has a long life cycle. Factors such as these play a major role in the longevity of a piece, but it also goes much deeper than just what meets the eye. A key component of good quality seating is what’s beneath the surface. A strong frame, sturdy springs and quality grade foam all play a role in ensuring La-Z-Boy’s motion seating will withstand day-to-day use, and look good for years to come. Like with a house, superior construction and quality materials form the foundation of a great end product,” points out Claire.

3.) Space and style

The key element when styling a room with motion furniture is focusing on the space at hand. Says Claire: “Motion furniture usually requires a little more space than stationary pieces, so it is important to understand the size of the living room and have a good idea about the placement of the motion furniture. If you have a large living room, then a 3-2-1 motion suite would offer the ideal seating formation. Corner motion suites are especially suited to open-plan or more compact living rooms.

“And if space is a real premium in your living room, then be sure to opt for inclining motion furniture, instead of reclining units. Unlike recliners, where the seat remains stationary and the back reclines, an incliner’s seat moves forward at the same time as its back reclines. This means that they require much less space to accommodate a fully reclined position, and the chair can be placed much closer to a back wall for example,” explains Claire.

She adds that proportion is another key element: “You don’t want to buy a piece (or pieces) of motion furniture that are too big for your room, or too small for that matter. Make sure there is at least 75cm to 95cm of walkway space between pieces of furniture, and about 35cm to 45cm between the seating and coffee table. Alternatively, you can opt for an open-sided serving table to be placed next to the side of the recliner. Also, the arms of any two pieces of seating furniture should not touch at all – in fact, you ought to try to keep around 10cm of space between the various pieces of seating furniture. Lastly – never block entryways or fireplaces.”

4.) Stay grounded

When it comes to flooring, it is always best to opt for flooring without any large scale or busy patterns on it, says Claire: “In the living room, it is best if the seating takes centre stage – flooring with overly busy patterns will only detract and make the space looked visually cluttered. Think neutral tiles, laminates, solid wood floors or screed for maximum longevity, complemented with rugs for some creature comfort underfoot. Organically inspired rugs are currently bang on trend, such as sisal and jute for example. One of the industry tricks is not to place the motion seating on top of the rugs, but rather use them to define the space in front of the seating.”

5.) Colour and texture

Since motion seating is a sizeable investment, Claire recommends that you invest in seating with plain upholstery in neutral tones: “Rather choose upholstery in neutral tones that won’t date, and add pops of colour and texture through scatter pillows, curtains, and artwork. This way you can easily swap out colour palettes by simply changing out the soft furnishings when you get tired of them. Alternatively, you could opt for a neutral corner unit and add colour and texture through the inclusion of a brightly upholstered occasional chair or single recliner.”

Visit La-Z-Boy.