Decoration

[:es]Cómo elegir al rey del salón: el sofá[:]

How to choose the king of the living room: the sofa

If there were to be a king of the living room, that would definitely be the sofa, not only because it is one of the most volume elements in the room, but
also because it is one of the most used. In fact, this piece of furniture ends up becoming the epicenter of the living room, so know how to choose it correctly
contributes to give the room its own personality, while improving our rest.

Precisely for this reason, in addition to a basic data such as the dimensions of the room is very important to take into account its distribution. In addition, another factor to be taken into account and that unfortunately goes unnoticed is to consider who will use the sofa and for what specific uses.

The skeleton, basic

A sofa is not something that we renew too often and, in fact, sometimes we opt for a redone instead of acquiring a new one. So it is very important to ensure that your frame is strong and resistant. They are usually made of solid wood or metal (steel or aluminium, usually) and it is very convenient that the legs are part of this structure. In cases where the legs are screwed, we run the risk of loosening the screws, making it more unsafe.
On the other hand, another essential advice beyond the specific use we are going to give it is to note that the system, whether of straps or zigzag springs, which we hold the cushions we find durable. We must also not fall into the mistake of thinking that the seat and back padding of these cushions should be the same. The most recommended in the case of the seat is the memory foam, which practically does not deform, provides a great feeling of comfort and, moreover, since it is one of the parts that suffer the most, it is very resistant.

The back, on the other hand, has to give another feeling, softer that it fits well to our back, so in these cases the options of feathers -especially goose and duck, although they are more expensive- or HR foam are very common, It is appropriate to replace the latter every five years or so in order not to lose density. These materials have the added advantage of being very breathable, which is another quality to consider when choosing a sofa.

The skin of the sofa

Once we have solved what is not seen but felt, that skeleton which will bear our weight for a good season, it is necessary to look at the external appearance, that is, the upholstery. Although there are those who pay less attention to this aspect because they are more friends with adjustable covers with which the look of the sofa and, therefore, the living room, enjoy the touch and appearance of a good upholstery is unmatched.

Each material has its advantages, cotton being one of the most used for its freshness, its wide range of colors and prints and its elasticity. However, we have many other options, such as the chenille with its shimmering effect; the skin, which requires more maintenance; or the technical upholstery, very fashionable in recent times for its ease of cleaning by incorporating the treatment Aqua Clean.

As for colors or prints, the simplest are neutral colors (white, beige or gray), which fit into almost any decorative style of the room. Thanks to the flexibility that we have when playing with the addition of cushions, we can break this neutrality as often as we like. Prints are always much riskier and, of course, it is better to opt for the more discreet ones.

Natural fibres conquer the interior

The search for increasingly natural, ecological and healthy materials is generating new trends that are worth paying attention to. This is the case with the use of natural fibres, which strike the perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality and sustainability.

Imagination is power: this type of material offers us the opportunity to use it from a more classical perspective or, on the contrary, to take advantage of the exoticism it exudes. Decorating with natural fibres is synonymous with freshness in concept but warmth in reception. It is no longer a thing of the outdoors, now it is also conquering the indoors.

Baskets, rugs, curtains, decorative complements… are all made from natural fibres, which are generally economical and resistant, providing an elegant comfort that, with its natural and rustic appeal, contrasts perfectly with more conventional decoration.

Resilience and versatility

Natural fibres undoubtedly help us to connect with that organic side we crave, lightening spaces where the walls are too dark or where there are already too many heavy materials. In textiles, cotton is probably the most widely used natural fibre, whether in luxury homes or more basic flats, given its extraordinary ease of adapting to any environment and design.

However, there are other materials that are also rising up the list of preferences. This is the case of linen, which is arguably the most underrated natural fibre in the field of interior design, always evoking uses for bedding. However, it offers great versatility, and can be used in blinds, sofa covers, cushions, curtains… It is a very pleasing material to the eye, economical and, moreover, low maintenance.

Also in furniture!

When we think of natural fibres, we think of fabrics or textile elements such as carpets, but they are also used in the manufacture of furniture, something that has become a real trend over the last couple of years. Among their main advantages are their durability and lightness, and they can be easily modified in any room.

Among the star materials for making furniture with natural fibres, the following stand out:

Bamboo and jute: two of the cheapest and most durable materials, which give rooms a warm and discreet appearance for items such as a coffee table. They are also often used for blinds and shades, providing a very pleasant ambient light.

Rattan and wicker: their use extends beyond furniture, with these fibres being used to make baskets, mirrors or picture frames. In the case of furniture, wicker is sometimes combined with wood, being very common in outdoor spaces for terraces and gardens, although some models, such as hanging chairs, are gaining ground indoors.

Sisal: this is a material that comes from the agave, the plant from which tequila is made. It has gained a lot of popularity in interior design, offering high tensile strength, which makes it suitable for hanging decorative items with sisal cords and ropes, as well as for gathering curtains, providing that refined rustic touch.

The number of elements that can be made with this type of natural fibres is endless (all kinds of furniture, pots, vases, shelves, lamps, magazine racks, frames…) but it is also necessary to know how to dose them so that, for example in a living room, they do not exceed 30% of the combination with other materials.

Furthermore, they fit perfectly in any room, although it is true that in spaces such as the kitchen we have to be more careful with certain elements such as blinds, which could accumulate grease.

Decorating with art

Decorating a home is not a trivial matter. Depending on how it is done, we will create a different atmosphere, which can have very beneficial effects on our wellbeing. Decorating with art is possible, and, as we will see today, also with works of art which, as well as giving character to our home, will give it distinction and exclusivity.

Before we dive into today’s topic, it is important to clarify the difference between interior design and decoration. They tend to be confused given their extraordinary complementarity, but while design deals more with spaces and their configuration, decoration seeks to aesthetically transform an already defined space. If, as in the case of Blues Simon Group, design and decoration go hand in hand in fluid communication with the client, the results can be unbeatable.

Expression of our style

Decoration transcends aesthetics, it goes far beyond the mere choice of elements, the combination of colours and textures or the greater or lesser knowledge of trends. A good decoration has to transmit our lifestyle, to be a sort of extension of our way of living day by day.

For the reasons given above, the main ingredient for good decoration is to listen to those who are going to enjoy it, to those who live in the home; otherwise we would obtain spaces without personality, without character, flat. Depending on their needs, tastes, concerns and desires, the result will be different.

It goes without saying, moreover, that decoration is not something static, but absolutely dynamic because, being a reflection of ourselves, it asks to change as we change over time.

Playing with sculptures

Art is a unique element that we can play with when decorating our home. Whether we are talking about sculptures or paintings, the flexibility is absolute: we can make the entire decoration of a room revolve around that work of art, giving it total prominence or, on the contrary, we can make it take on a secondary but no less important role, integrating it with other elements in the room.

In other words, the choice of location of the work of art is important and, if we look at sculptures, for example, we tend to avoid placing more than two in the same room if it is not very large, as they would steal the limelight from each other. All in all, sculptures are very playful and can be a magnificent expression of our refined taste.

Variety to suit all tastes

One of the great advantages of sculpture – as with other art – is that the variety is so great that it covers all tastes. We can resort to a wide range of styles, from the most classical or Renaissance, to contemporary, where the variety of sub-styles and materials is impressive, to abstract, which has gained a lot of weight in recent years due to its impressive expressive capacity. Each style provokes a different emotion and so does each subject, whether it is a human, animal, object or abstract representation.

With all these possibilities, we can use the decorative power of sculptures in all rooms, even in the corridor, where it will acquire an exhibition role, and we can apply directional light on it to enhance it. The meaning in each room will be very different, because while in the dining room or living room it competes in relevance with the rest of the decorative elements -including the furniture-, in the bedroom it acquires its maximum expression and in the hall or entrance it acts as a calling card of the elegance and good taste that will accompany the visitor throughout the rest of the house.