After you are done with the living room in fresh wallpaper and paint, and are also through with the flooring and upholstery, how do you go ahead with buying the right furniture that goes with the color and theme? Is this a common picture you often encounter? First of all, relax. You will most certainly come across a range of contemporary living room furniture that compliments your overall dÃ'©cor and styling. But before you go out and shop for modern sofas, recliners and trendy entertainment units as everything else, here are a couple of things you might want to consider.

The Living room area

Ideally, the size of your furniture must be in proportion to the size of your living room. You don�t want petite furniture for bigger spaces or something too bulky that occupies all the space. Work out on your personal taste and fit it with practical details like the room size and styling.

For smaller living rooms, opt for modular and functional furniture and keep in mind that heavy upholstery can make it look all crammed. You also get furniture that can function as day sofa and be transformed into a full-fledged bed. Do not forget to fashion the space in a manner that allows open room to move comfortably. For instance, a hi-tech spread out sofa would suit larger room settings. So, measure the area and try to buy furniture with size and details in mind.

Also pay attention to where exactly in the living room you want the furniture to be placed. Once you have decided, measure the area and then keep the dimensions in mind (or jot it down on paper) and keep it in mind while your selection. It is also important to take into account the space required between the wall and the furniture while measuring.

Styling and Upholstery

Depending on your taste and the furniture style, co-ordinate rest of the dÃ'©cor in line with the furniture. Cushions, upholstery and curtains can be complimented in neutral, complimenting and contrasting tones. If you already have cushions and curtains that do well with the theme, use them and also add something new that provides a resting space to the whole theme. A contrasting bowl, vase and even antique items in neutral shades do well to add a personal touch to your living space.

Sofas

The mantra is to explore. There are a broad variety of sofa styles to boggle the mind, but once you discover your particular style, it will be easier. Your choice of sofa seating will depend not on your taste, but also on the number of people in the family and the available amount of space (the measurements).A long sofa accompanied by one or two armchairs maybe all you need, and you will find many futon beds and modular sofa models that fill in the space with grace. The material should be chosen as per convenience and the time you can spend in cleaning.

Recliners and Rocking Chairs

Reclining armchair or sofas make great luxurious furniture. With a built-in footrest, recliners provide superior comfort. A rocking chair can be added for a personal touch of class to any living room. While recliners are mostly done in lush leather, you could add a contrasting wicker or wood rocker chair to add a more or unconventional feel.

Entertainment units/TV unit

Modern day entertainment units combine features and functionality to offer great looking furniture units to stack, store and display. Low-slung units as also regular units both look great. Depending upon the space, you can have a unit that compliments the theme and fits the space.

Coffee Tables

The coffee table makes a focal point for family and friends. A good coffee table should also offer convenient storage space to help reduce living room clutter. There are different styles and shapes that come with a choice of color and finish. You can also add a contrasting coffee table to create a great corner for relaxation and play time.

Accent Pieces

In contrast to other rooms in a home, living room helps with the first impressions. You can fashion up a theme and add art pieces that reflect a part of your personality. There are great standing mirrors that allow you to add a different dimension to a living area. Then there are variety of accent tables, stylish armoires, side tables that can add to the theme with style.