Custom Living Room Design: Function, Form, and Your Custom Made Sofa

When you’re formulating your custom living room design, you will need to pay special attention to two key considerations: function and form.  That is, what purpose will each element of your living room serve, and how do you want each element to look and feel?  No living room would be complete without a sofa, which makes planning a custom sofa a great way to illustrate how a clear understanding of function and form will help you create the best possible expression of what you want and need from your custom living room

Questions of Function

What space will your sofa need to fit?  What are the dimensions of this space, how is it shaped, and how much free space like legroom and walking room should remain around the sofa? What is the right height for the sofa so you can sit comfortably?  When you are having any piece of furniture custom made, don’t make any assumptions about the dimensions, size, and shape of your piece.  Careful consideration and measurement will ensure your custom sofa perfectly suits your needs.  CustomMade artisans like Brian Brace Fine Furniture Maker can take this mahogany prairie settle design, for example, and custom build it as a single chair, love seat, or full size sofa.

Mahogany Prairie Settle by Brian Brace Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

Keep in mind your household’s lifestyles and routines when you design your custom sofa.  How many people are going to sit on that sofa at the same time?  Do you need to have a sleeper sofa for your guests?  If you have children prone to spills and making messes, your sofa may need a stain resistant fabric.

Questions of Form

Color, texture, and contour are among the key qualities of form to consider when you design a custom sofa.  You can choose a color that blends in with the surrounding décor or one that stands out to create an accent piece.  Texture is a combination of appearance and sensation. What fabrics will you find pleasing to your eye and your touch?  Texture isn’t limited to the fabric of the sofa itself.  Cushions can add another dimension of texture. How do you want them to feel when you sit or lie down on them? Do you want to be embraced by plush cushions, or do you want firm support when you’re sitting for long periods?

Custom Couch by Best Custom Furniture and Millwork at CustomMade.com

Contour is the creative element of dimension. Once you know the size of the space you need to fill and the shape of the couch you want built, you can start designing the sweep of that shape, like drawing flesh on the bones of the frame.  The contours of these two leather sofas create very different looks.  The custom couch by Best Custom Furniture and Millwork is smooth, angular, and seems to combine comfort with cool solidity.  This asymmetrical, soft Nimbus Settee by Hatch Studio seems to dance and float.

Nimbus Settee by Hatch Studio at CustomMade.com

Your living room should be an extension of you.  It should fit you, your family, and your guests like a glove.  Take a moment to consider the function and form of every piece in your dream custom living room and you will be very pleased with the results.