My Living Room Essentials Checklist (Printable!)
I love a good checklist, and this living room essentials checklist is no different. I made my very first version of this list years ago when my husband and I were furnishing our first Airbnb. I wanted to make sure I bought everything we needed, and I also wanted to be able to budget appropriately for everything we’d have to buy.
However, since that time (which was in 2017), I’ve used this checklist on a number of other occasions, including when we moved from Chicago to Connecticut, when I wanted to plan what we were going to pack and what we’d need to buy, and once again when we bought and furnished our second Airbnb home in Vermont.
I’d also imagine it would be helpful for first-time homebuyers, college students and young adults moving out on their own for the first time, and newlyweds building a wedding registry. (If you’re curious, I also have an entire household items checklist as well as a kitchen and bathroom-specific one!).
To make things more clear, I’ve broke the list up into core categories like seating, lighting, and textiles. Also note that not everything on this list will apply to everyone, and you’ll have to take into account your space, lifestyle, budget, etc.
Whether you’re starting from scratch in a new home or looking to refresh your space, this checklist provides a comprehensive list of essentials for a well-appointed living room.
Want a printable version of this checklist? Scroll to the bottom of the post!
Living Room Essentials Checklist
1. Seating
- Couch or sofa: The main piece of furniture for seating. Options include sectionals, loveseats, or standard 3-seater sofas.
- Accent chairs: One or two additional chairs to complement the sofa and provide extra seating.
- Ottoman or footstool: Useful for additional seating, storage, or resting your feet.
2. Tables
- Coffee table: A central table for setting drinks, books, or decorative items. Here are some kid friendly coffee tables I love.
- Side tables: Small tables beside seating areas, useful for holding lamps, drinks, or decor.
- Sofa table or console table: To place behind sofa or alongside wall to fill empty wall space (optional)
3. Media and Entertainment
- TV: Consider the size of your living room when choosing the screen size.
- TV stand or wall mount: Choose based on your layout and style preferences.
- Audio equipment: Consider a soundbar or a full speaker system for better audio quality.
- Extension cords or power strip
4. Lighting
- Floor lamps: For ambient lighting and to fill darker corners.
- Table lamps: To be placed on side tables for task lighting.
- Overhead lighting: I.e. a ceiling fan with lights or a chandelier (optional)
5. Storage
- Bookshelves or shelving units: For storing books, decor, or media
- Media console: Additional storage for your TV, gaming consoles, etc
6. Decor and Accessories
- Wall art: Paintings, prints, or photographs to decorate the walls. I love free wall art!
- Plants: Real or faux plants to add a touch of greenery.
- Shelf decor: Things like bookends, decorative boxes andbowls, sculptural accents
- Coasters: To protect your tables from water marks.
- Candles and/or diffusers,: To add a signature scent – I love the PURA
- Baskets: For blankets, remote controls, etc.
7. Textiles
- Area rug: To define the space and add color or texture. Check out Loloi for great options
- Curtains and/or blinds: For privacy and light control.
- Throw pillows: For added comfort and style on your seating. Here’s where I like to buy throw pillows.
- Throw blankets: For coziness during colder seasons. My favorite is the Barefoot Dreams blanket!
Note: This checklist serves as a guideline and can be tailored to fit the size of your living room and your personal needs. Feel free to add or remove items as you see fit.
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