A complete guide to decorating a room for living alone: ​​How to choose furniture - The latest 2024 edition!

Decorating a room for one person is an exciting way to start a new life. However, even when it comes to choosing furniture, the importance and wide range of choices can make it difficult to decide. In particular, if you want to pursue your own style while packing the necessary functions into a limited space, the choices become even more complicated. In this article, we will introduce some tips for choosing furniture to successfully decorate a room for one person.

1. First, make a list of the furniture and appliances you need.

First, make a list of the furniture and appliances you need to live alone. Basically, you will need a bed, table, chairs, storage furniture, sofa, curtains, and lighting. In addition, appliances such as a refrigerator, washing machine, microwave, and television are also essential. By making a list of these items, you will be able to clearly see what you need and how much space you need.

2. Consider the layout of the room.

Think about the layout of your room while imagining the furniture and appliances you listed in step 1. Imagine where you will place each piece of furniture. It will be more useful if you have a blueprint. Before purchasing furniture, it is important to accurately measure the dimensions of your room and make sure that the furniture you plan to purchase will fit into the space.

3. Decide on your preferred interior style.

Once you've thought about the layout, it's time to actually buy the furniture. This is where people often make mistakes, so be careful! Instead of immediately visiting online shops or furniture stores, decide on the interior style you like. If you're not sure what to choose, try searching for keywords like "stylish interior studio" on social media or Pinterest.

What are your interior tastes?

• Hotel-like: An elegant and simple interior style that gives you the extraordinary feeling of being in a hotel.
• Japanese modern: an interior style that combines traditional Japanese elements with modern style.
• Midcentury: Literally meaning "middle of the century." This refers to the interior design of furniture and architecture that became popular in America in the mid-20th century, from the 1940s to the 1960s.
• Scandinavian and Korean interiors: Simple and minimalist design, with many natural materials such as wood and fabric. An interior style that combines green with not too strong colors such as beige and pastel.
• Industrial interior: An image of exposed building materials such as steel and concrete that evokes the image of a factory town.
• American Vintage: A retro feel with a sophisticated coolness reminiscent of the 19th century Wild West era.

*What if you want to match it to the furniture you already have?! Choose furniture that matches the tone of the furniture you already have! For example, if you have dark brown furniture, choose furniture that is also dark in color. If you want to change the tone itself, you can use adhesive sheets to remodel your furniture.

4. Choose furniture while keeping in mind the interior taste and size.

Now that you've come this far, all that's left is to choose your furniture! Let's take a look at what kind of furniture you should choose for each room.

(1) Bed

• Size: It is generally said that the shoulder width when lying down is 60cm for men and 50cm for women. To turn over, you need 20cm of space on each side. Therefore, men need 100cm of space and women need 90cm, so a single bed (about 100cm) is the perfect size. If you want to sleep comfortably and relaxed, you should choose a semi-double bed (about 120cm).

• Type: If you don't have enough storage space, choose a bed with built-in storage. If you don't need that much storage, we recommend a low-type bed frame. A low-type bed frame will not make the room feel cramped and will create a comfortable space. If you only use a mattress, there is a risk of mold growing, so if possible, prepare a slatted bed base.

(2) Table

• Type: Choose a table based on its purpose. If you plan to use it for a variety of purposes, such as eating, studying, and working, a small dining table is convenient. If you want to separate your meals and work, we recommend a combination of a small desk and a low table. If you don't have enough space, choose a foldable low table.

• Design: Choose a compact and simple design in a color that matches the tone you decided on in step 1. Make a simple table and arrange it with objects, candles, flowers, etc.

(3) Chair

Table and chair + stool combination

You don't necessarily have to buy a set of table and chairs. Choose chairs that match the color of the table. For example, if you have a white table, you can create a trendy look by matching a light-toned rattan chair or a transparent acrylic chair rather than a white chair. If you live alone, one chair is fine. Instead, get a stool. You can use it to hold plants and buckets of small items, and use it as a chair when guests come over. By using a stool, you only need one table and chair, so you can use a small space wisely.

(4) Sofa

• Type: If you don't have much space, choose a single-seater sofa. If you have plenty of space, we recommend a two-seater. A larger sofa is more comfortable and convenient when you have friends, family, or other guests over.

• Design: Choose a sofa that is simple and timeless. A sofa is a large piece of furniture that you spend a lot of time on, so it's one you definitely don't want to make a mistake with. It's the focal piece of furniture, so you want it to have a stylish and lovely design! You might think that, but sofas are expensive and will be used for a long time, so start with something simple. If you feel like it's lacking something, we recommend arranging it with cushions and blankets that match the season and your own taste.

(5) Lighting

• Ceiling lights are not essential. Consider using multiple lights .

• Match the bulb colour.

There are two types of light bulbs: white fluorescent light and warm orange light. If you use multiple lights, use the same light color. If you want to create a stylish and warm room, choose a soft orange light instead of a white fluorescent light.

(6) Curtains

Size: Prepare curtains that are just the right size. If you are lucky enough to find ready-made curtains that are just the right size, there is no problem with using ready-made curtains, but if possible, have them custom-made to the exact size. We recommend curtains that are just the right size from a functional and aesthetic standpoint. If the curtains are too short, light will enter the room, and if they are too long, they will not look beautiful.

Type: You can't go wrong with natural materials like linen or cotton. If possible, choose a plain, simple design. This will allow the soft light to shine into the room.

It is important to block out light at night and create a good sleeping environment, so we recommend putting on an extra layer of blackout curtains.

5. Online shops where you can purchase stylish furniture

You may have imagined your ideal room by referring to social media and Pinterest, but when you actually go to a furniture store, you may find it difficult to find the furniture you had in mind. In that case, we recommend searching online shops. Here are some online shops that sell stylish furniture and interior items.

LOWYA

https://www.low-ya.com/

An online shop selling Scandinavian and Korean style interior goods and furniture. A wide variety of items at reasonable prices.

Greeniche

https://greeniche.jp/

A shop selling Scandinavian-style interior furniture and miscellaneous goods. They have a showroom in Daikanyama so you can see the actual products.

SOMIBEYA

https://somibeya.com/

This online shop sells the stylish Korean-style furniture and interior goods you often see on Instagram, and offers a wide variety at reasonable prices.