New In: The Season's Most Wanted

A living space comes together in layers: a main seat, an armchair that echoes it, chairs around the table, then a touch of greenery for height. This selection brings together straight and corner sofas, armchairs, dining chairs and artificial orchid arrangements.

The sofa sets the tone

Start with the longest seat, because it sets the dominant color of the room. A straight sofa sits against a wall, while a corner sofa fills a corner and shapes the walkway around it. Measure both walls involved, then, since a corner sofa takes up length along each of them.

The armchair as a counterpoint

An armchair in the exact fabric of the sofa flattens the room instead of bringing it to life. Choose a similar material in a lighter or deeper shade, and the difference shows without clashing. A swivel armchair comes in handy in an open-plan living room, where you look sometimes toward the table, sometimes toward the window.

Around the table

Allow about sixty centimeters of tabletop per guest and check the seat height against the table. A small dining armchair, with its armrests, needs more width than a simple chair: keep it for the ends of the table. The armrests must slide under the tabletop, otherwise the chair stays set back.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a corner sofa is left- or right-hand?

The side is determined when facing the sofa, not as seen from the wall. The same model almost always comes in both versions, and the product name specifies which.

How tall should an arrangement be on a piece of furniture?

A ninety-centimeter arrangement sits well on a sideboard. Go a little over one meter when the wall above remains bare.

How do you care for an artificial arrangement?

Dust the petals with a dry cloth, from the center outward. Keep the arrangement away from direct sunlight, which eventually dulls the colors.