Buying Guide: Occasional Furniture
Occasional furniture refers to smaller furniture items, such as
end tables, cocktail tables, curios and accent furniture.
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OCCASIONAL FURNITURE SHOPPING CHECKLIST
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Room Dimensions
_____ Feet & _____inches by
_____ Feet & _____inches
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Anchor Piece Dimensions:
- Sofa______________
- Loveseat__________
- Chair_____________
- Other_____________
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Room Activities
- Entertaining
- Watching TV
- Play
- Reclining
- Reading
- Eating
- Laptop
- Showplace
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The right occasional furniture can make or break a room's design. Like a great
pair of shoes that completes an outfit, finding just the right combination
of style and function is a challenge. Occasional furniture is not optional
furniture; occasional furniture is an important functional component of a
room that should be chosen with care and consideration of many different factors.
Scale
Scale is always important when selecting furniture. Not only should you measure
the room before you start looking for occasional furniture, but you should
note the dimensions of the primary furnishings in the room. (Use our
online
room planner to get an idea of the scale of the room and the pieces in
it before you set out.) Here are a couple rules of thumb to consider when
selecting occasional furniture:
- An end table should not be taller than the arm of the sofa or chair
that it sits beside. The table top should be within eight inches of the
top of the arm for the easy reach of items on the table.
- There should be a minimum of 18 inches of space between a sofa and a
cocktail table. Items on the table will be within reach, while allowing
easy access to seating.
Construction
The standards of construction apply to the selection of occasional furniture
as well. These include dovetail joints, corner blocks, levelers, dust panels,
back panels, and sturdy drawer glides. (Please see our
Wood
furniture buying guide and our
Dining room
furniture buying guide for more buying ideas.)
Planning Your Room
Think of how you use the room before you go shopping. You will not find a
single piece of furniture that solves every problem on your list; however,
if you inventory your greatest needs, you should be able to make your room
more functional and livable. Don't forget to take along a copy of your floor
plan when you go shopping.
Entertaining - Do you occasionally need extra seating?
You might look for a multifunction ottoman that can be used as; a cocktail
table when a tray is place on top, extra seating for party guests or a traditional
ottoman to put your feet up on while relaxing. Another option is a cocktail
table that comes with ottomans that tuck underneath it or nest when they are
not needed.
Watching TV - If you watch TV in the room there
are some miscellaneous items that doubtlessly accompany it: DVDs or videos,
remotes, video games and TV guides. You might want to look for occasional
pieces with drawers or cabinets to stow away these viewing accouterments to
keep your room from looking cluttered.
Child's Play - Do your kids play in the room? You
may want to consider occasional furniture that incorporates storage for the
quick cleanup of toys and games. If your children are very small, you may
want to avoid tables with sharp corners that could injure a learning-to-walk
toddler.
Reclining - Reclining or motion furniture often
puts restrictions and requirements on your occasional furniture. Cocktail
tables on casters are a great solution for changing the distance between the
sofa and table as the foot rest is extended or retracted.
Reading - For those who like to curl up with a good
book, good lighting is essential. When shopping for an end table to sit beside
a reading chair, keep in mind that the lower edge of the lampshade sitting
on the table should not be higher than the eye level of a person sitting in
the chair. You want the light cast onto the page, not into the eye of the
reader.
Eating - For many people the living room serves
as an occasional dining room. Your choice of occasional furniture can minimize
the inevitable spills. Some cocktail tables are designed with tops that can
be adjusted to dining table level, making it easier to eat. Nesting tables
are a great option for an extra place to put your plate. Some manufacturers
make end tables that double as storage for tray tables.
Working on Your Laptop - With the growth of wireless
computer networks, now any room in the home can serve as the home office.
Some manufacturers accommodate the migration of the laptop into the living
room with occasional furniture built for office functions. Adjustable height
cocktail tables take the laptop off your lap to make typing more efficient.
End tables can double as easily-accessed printer storage.
Showplace - Collectibles are a great way to add
character to a room. Many collectibles are investments worthy of protection.
A curio cabinet can highlight your treasures and protect them at the same
time. Most modern curios have mirrored backs, glass shelves and interior lights
to show off the contents. Look for a curio that is easy to get into with easy
access to the light switch. The size of the curio should fit the scale of
the room as well as the breadth of your collection. Consider setting all of
the collection out on a table and inspecting them before you go shopping to
get a sense of how much space you will need. Don't feel obliged to stuff everything
into one cabinet; consider rotating your collection, highlighting a few pieces
at time. After all, that's what most major museums do!
