Whether your living room is large or small, when arranging furniture, you want to keep in mind 3 things:
1. Function
2. Flow
3. Focal Points
Here are some helpful layout ideas and tips for arranging your living room to meet your needs:
Face the View
If your living room doesn't have a fireplace, orient seating so it takes advantage of whatever view your room has to offer, whether it's a TV or a bank of windows. Create your own focal point by hanging a large piece of art on a wall or create a vignette of favorite objects on a console or bookshelf.
Arrange for Conversation
For face-to-face chats, place seating no more than 8 feet apart. In a large living room, use furniture to create comfortable islands. Face two sofas in the center of a room, and place a group chairs and side tables at one end to create a separate conversation area.
Set Up Traffic Patterns
Allow 30 inches between pieces in places where you need to be able to walk around furniture and 14 to 18 inches between a coffee table and sofa, so drinks are within reaching distance.
Put a Table Within Reach of Each Seat
Use round pedestal tables as side tables between chairs and sofas.The curves of round tables make them easier to navigate around. When space is tight, use nesting tables for flexible use when needed.
Think About Lighting
Install in-floor electrical outlets to service floating furniture arrangements. If you have a small living room, think about wall lamps at either end of the sofa in order to avoid large end tables to accommodate lighting. There are countless lighting options out there - look around the find the best ones for your room.
Difficult Layout Solutions
Problem: Long room, entry at one end.
Solution: There’s no need to crowd; leave room for traffic and an entry drop spot. Cozy key seating pieces up to the fireplace facing each other. Use end tables as landing spaces on both ends of the sofa. Pair chairs to balance the visual weight of the sofa and to maximize seating.
Problem: No free walls, centered fireplace.
Solution: Float seating in the center of a room filled with doors and windows. Face chairs and sofa toward each other to encourage conversation. Anchor the conversation grouping with a rug and large coffee table. Frame the space with additional seating and cabinets for storage, positioned around the perimeter of the room along the walls.
Using these great suggestions, you can have the great living room, with function, flow, and a focal point, that you deserve!
