A Snow Day and a Sectional Sofa

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I really, really wanted to finish the wicker table to share and began working on it yesterday. Unfortunately, I ran out of paint after the first coat.  My plan was to pick up more General Finishes milk paint at my local Woodworker’s Club first thing this morning.  However, we woke up to a beautiful snow day in Maryland and the kids are home.  Hence, it’s all put on hold!

Instead, I will quickly share what I’m thinking for my family room.  We currently have a three-seater sofa and a lounge chair.  My oldest kids are now teenagers and my little one turned ten.  We have outgrown our current seating and when we gather to watch tv, etc. we just don’t fit anymore!  I keep telling them to please stop growing and yet they continue to get bigger and bigger 😉

Here is what the room looks like now.fall13

I’m thinking of selling my current sofa on Craigslist and taking the plunge and buying a new sectional sofa from Macys.  It’s big and roomy and comfy but it is a little pricey for me.  Well, I am used to thrift store prices so this is quite the investment.  Here is the pic from their online site.sofaI think that getting rid of the chairs will make the room feel bigger and give it a cleaner look.  Plus, we can all fit while watching Survivor 🙂  It is pretty dark but I think the room can handle it.

Now, the snowball effect begins.  Should I change the wall color to a warmer hue?  The current cream is a little too yellow for my taste.  Or, should I stick to a different cream/white as the sofa is dark?  This leads to the rug – stay or go?  I also like the look of bamboo shades and may add those to the window and french doors.  Yes, the snowball effect has taken hold!

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  3. Suzanne, I think I told you this before but we have the same Natuzzi sofa in the same color and ironically we just ordered a replacement the other day too. We watch tv in that room so we replaced it with one that reclined. I like the sectional you choose, similar in style but looks way more comfy for watching tv. I hear ya about it being an investment $$$ As far as wall color, rug, etc. hard to tell from the photo, I think once the new sofa is in the room you’ll know exactly what direction you need to go.

    • Yes, I agree on holding off on the wall color. I’m just not sure on the big brown sectional and think it may be too dark. I need to think this through more. I do love my sofa now but we just don’t fit and maybe I need to really shop around. Thanks so much for your advise!

  4. Hi Suzanne – the best advice I ever got about buying furniture was “Try it on for size first”. I would take the whole family to Sears and make sure that everyone can be comfortable at the same time while watching movies at home. I do think the darker color would look really good in your room – good luck to you!

  5. Just for something to think about I will give you my negative feedback.. I am a person who likes to rearrange quite a bit and it seems you are too. I had one sectional in the past and I HATED it. It was so inflexible and large, it only fit in the room one way. My kids were teens too and after they went to college I was cursing it. And they also always fought over the one spot that you can put your legs on. So then we bought and ottoman and everyone was just laying about. Mine was also a darker color and seemed to take over the room, even though it was a big room. It was also pricey and I was stuck with it. Two couches or loveseats are more flexible and can be moved around or even one moved to another room.

    • Gloria, thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it! You expressed all of my hesitations. Decisions, decisions! I just dislike making large purchases because I tend to get tired of rooms and (like you said) I like to rearrange constantly. I really need to think this one through!

  6. I like the sofa but would definitely go with an updated, fresh color. How about a beautiful navy blue to go with your window treatments?

  7. Happy New Year Suzanne. The sectional does look super comfy, but I think you’ll be really limited in your furniture placement. Have you thought about getting a custom slipcover for your current one. It appears to have good bones. Either way, I look forward to seeing what you do.

    • Hi Carol, well the problem is not enough space and so that is why I am thinking a sectional vs. the one we have. It totally will limit my furniture placement and I do tend to move pieces around every two seconds so that is definitely something to consider!

  8. OK, here’s my 2 cents worth that turns into $1.50… Are you sure your best deal is at Macy’s? Usually furniture stores can beat the price of a department store and they will give you 0% interest for a long time. We thought of getting a sectional in 2014 and ended up getting leather — a sofa and a loveseat, both of which have two reclining seats, and then a smaller side chair. You could put a full sized sofa between the two rooms (as a divider) facing the fireplace and easily fit the 2nd sofa against the wall. Our leather is holding up great even with 3 dogs. I also found the chaise end of the sectional we were looking at to be very uncomfortable. An ottoman or recliner is much better. OK, maybe $2.50 this time. LOL

    • Thanks, Linda! I do appreciate your advise and am taking it to heart. I’m going to space plan the room and figure the seating out. It is a big expense and I need to be certain. I agree on shopping around (it’s just I have a Macy’s card and they always have sales lol). Cheers!

  9. I think you should buy two armchairs in the same fabric and style as your sofa but maybe another shade, from Macy’s, and keep the lovely sofa. Maybe one of the armchairs could have a matching ottoman. The room will look wall to wall sofa with the sectional. Also you will have the kids laying all over it and it will drive you nuts. And remember (not to make you depressed ) in two years Matthew will be in college and you won’t need it. Just my two cents worth. Your mother xxxxxxxx

  10. I had a very similar sectional sofa — also from Macy’s. It held up well, but I had to sell it after we moved as it didn’t fit into the layout of our new home. The sofa was wonderful for family movie time. It also had a sleep sofa so it was great for the kids when they had a sleepover. The only drawback with the sectional is that it intially sat on hardwood floors and the sections would slide whenever anyone plopped down (frequently). A larger area rug solved the problem.

  11. It’s big and dark and visually and physically heavy, so I don’t think it would work in the room as it is. I would go with another chair, or two.

  12. I was just in our local Macy’s and I think I sat on the same sectional. I need something smaller, but they explained the different configurations you can create and you just buy the pieces you need. I think they stock it in 3 colors (I was looking at a tan version), and there are many more custom colors. They also told me that it will be discounted further starting next Thursday. Good luck with your decision. I need a new family room sofa, and love the idea of the sectional, but am afraid I’ll tire of it, too.

    • Thanks for the tip, Caroline! I need to go in and really figure it out. It is really big but maybe a lighter color will work. I’m just hesitant to spend a lot on a piece that I may tire of and yet the thought of the comfort it will bring is tempting. Thanks again!

  13. Here’s yet another tip: I LOVE my sectional. You get the most bang (seating) for your buck. Look at Ikea’s sectionals. I’ve had 2 (Ecktorp model) and they are incredibly durable and comfortable. They’re slipcovered, so you can just throw them in the wash when they get dirty, or buy another slipcover! They come in many colors. Mine have withstood 3 dogs, many children and 2 adults who love to lounge around on them.