Ask an Architect, Custom Residential, Interior Design
Stop Super-Sizing Your Furniture Please
Americans are big people, we all know that. But as big as we are, our furniture is even bigger. I hesitate to call it a national epidemic but it is pretty close. Stop abusing your furniture and put it on a diet! Your home will be more comfortable for it!
May 4, 2011
Americans are big people, we all know that. But as big as we are, our furniture is even bigger. I hesitate to call it a national epidemic but it is pretty close. Consider:
- Have you wondered where urbanites who live in homes smaller than 3,500 square foot suburban homes actually shop for their furniture besides CB2?
- How many times have you been to a house and watched a TV show in a couch so big it could have been standard equipment in a 1970’s Buick? Yet, often, the room it is in is barely bigger than the sofa!
- Heard of friends who had to get rid of furniture because it wouldn’t fit into their house through doors or hallways?
- Seen entire meals left in someone's couch probably because the furniture was just so damn big that they didn't have time to fund an expedition to go find where their dinner went. It is scary.
Our furniture is too big for our homes. And I would add that the homes that ARE big enough for this furniture are feeding the frenzy and actually removing the sense of creativity from design and architecture. Why be creative with space when you can just go bigger? It worries me.
Here are the biggest culprits:
Bedrooms
Now, I get that people want bigger beds. I myself have squeezed a King size bed into a room clearly not meant for one but I’ve still made sure you can get around the bed. What scares me is when clients want huge entertaining spaces in their master bedroom with a full couch, seating area, coffee table, and TV. The look on my clients when I ask them, “How often do you entertain in your bedroom?” is always priceless. Most likely, you already have a living room you don’t use and a family room the size of an aircraft carrier, let’s keep the couch in those rooms, OK? And if you have furniture in any of the colors in the photo below, please get help. Immediately.
Family Rooms
In theory, these rooms should be bigger and therefore could handle bigger furniture. I won’t debate here the benefits of a 17’ long sectional sofa with more buttons, levers, and reclining seats than a luxury car, but I will say, “Do you need all that seating?” Truly. What about two smaller 7’ couches that actually seat people comfortably and look better in the space? Do you often see two people next to each other reclining in a leather monstrosity? No? Maybe it is because it is a little ‘too’ comfortable and gets a bit creepy. We want to sit with our friends and family watching TV not lie next to them in a puddle of diet coke and Dorito crumbs. Trust me. And if you own this sofa, I'm truly sorry.
Guest Rooms in Vacation Homes
Now, this one gets me going. On one hand, I appreciate that so many vacation rentals have nice big bedrooms. BUT I can’t tell you how often the guests would just rather have a bunch of smaller bedrooms (with or without adjoining bathrooms) and a larger living space. If I’m at the beach or up in the mountains I should be spending my time with family and friends in a common space and NOT doing the waltz in my guest room. I’d rather have more people with me and the flexibility that brings with it. And be careful on the bunk room idea: I think it would be far better to provide smaller private spaces than one large common space. People make noises in the night... they usually like to make those noises without Aunt Betty turning her nose at 3am. Summary for guest homes: more smaller bedrooms and bigger living spaces. PLEASE!
The Take Away
I have plenty more (kitchen islands that you can land a plane on, master bathrooms bigger than your living room, foyers sized for the White House, you get my drift), but I think the point is made. There’s a wonderful beauty about appropriately sized furniture in more intimate and comfortable spaces. They make you want to be in them! And if you have a smaller (and, I would say, more interesting) urban or rural home here are some great places to find furniture that you can get in “your size”:
CB2: Crate & Barrel’s modern and cheaper brother.
Crate & Barrel: be careful though, they can fall easily in the huge category.
Room & Board: a little spendy but really wellmade and beautiful furniture for many tastes.
IKEA: yeah, enough said.
Local Furniture Makers: pretty much always more expensive, but always great to support your local community and have great stuff made.
One local option that actually ISN’T more expensive and makes fantastic sofas is Couch Seattle.
