Actually, if you’re a visitor, that could be a wee bit difficult, though we give our guests the armchairs and we sit on the footstools.
Yes, since getting rid of the sofa bed, seating in our lounge is minimalistic and we are pretty empty in here!
Photo: sofa bed Oct 2017 when we’d replaced the sagging cushions.
Photo: October 2017, the two armchairs we have now
We had a tentative look at alternatives a little while ago, but couldn’t agree on what to have as regards style, layout, two seater, three seater, suite or separates, so agreed to differ and have both been pondering quietly to ourselves ever since. The tape measure has been sizzling.
Out shopping yesterday, Hubby came back with two tins of white gloss (as they were cheaper than buying one big one) and has now painted the skirting boards. Although the house had been decorated throughout and looked clean and presentable when we bought it, we had already ascertained that cheap paint was used as not only did it come off the wall when wiping away an annoying mark (hence decorating the bedroom) but nicotine stains on the skirting boards were more apparent.
Like the boat, our plan was to make do for a year, making a list of what we did and didn’t like before forking out for changes or furniture that we may grow to regret.
This happened in the bungalow in Poole (1998 – 2007) when we started on the kitchen with gusto only to discover after one day of our labours that our design and plan was not going to work, so we stopped.
The result was my ‘kitchen’, all but the cooker, was the dining end of our lounge for a couple of weeks. When we’d finished, it looked terrific, with the minimum of outlay as we’d kept the wall cupboards and tongue and grooved the walls using linseed oil rather than varnish. It still looked good when we left.
Today we are out browsing for lounge furniture.
Bearing in mind we have a lounge diner, which is not exactly huge but plenty big enough for us, we have a dining table
Photos: Before and after Hubby’s restoration
and piano
Photo: in spare bedroom shortly after purchase, but now in the lounge
to fit in.
Our hope is to buy a settee that will fit in the recess where the piano is now and either another settee or an armchair to place opposite. We’re not worried if they don’t match as long as they are the same colour. As always, we are on a budget and want to get the best for our money.
The chairs will be donated to charity as we have our clumpy dining chairs having recently purchased 4 folding ones, two of which are in the roof in case we have visitors and one in each bedroom.
The piano can go along the opposite wall, and so can the table if there’s room. If not, the table will fit nicely in the bay window.
Photos will follow in due course, but may be a while!
pensitivity101 
Ah refurnishing can be exciting but also expensive and stressful! We are also looking for a new lounge suite after 25 years. (cheaper to buy new than refurbish)
I laughed at your sizzling tape measure! Understood! 😀
It’s been an interesting morning!
My perspective on furnishing is simply to get what you need to be happy and comfortable … and “make do” when you have visitors. I’ve sat on the floor a few times to have a conversation as we offered our guests the sofa. I can never understand why people spend so much money on furnishings for “when we have visitors”!
Our philosophy is similar Colin as we don’t have visitors often and family are unlikely to come here. However, we do have some friends who we would love to visit and stay over. New post coming!!!!