Living rooms are a hub for relaxing, socialising, entertaining, and sometimes even enjoying meals. As one of the most important rooms of a home, they deserve extra attention and planning when it comes to the crucial aspects of interior design, such as deciding on an ideal layout and arranging furniture accordingly.
So to help you out, we’ve compiled the top 5 ways to arrange and position living room furniture to optimise space, with consideration to both function and aesthetics — read to learn more!
Choose Popular Furniture Layouts
Credit: Webb & Brown-Neaves
Choosing from popular layouts suggested by experts and tried and tested by homeowners will eliminate most of your stress and confusion.
Below is a list of some common options to consider.
Symmetrical Layout - This is a typical layout that works for all rooms. One sofa faces another, with a table separating the two. Flanking one of the sofas with a matching armchair adds to the symmetry.
Credit: Home Design Lover
L-shaped Layout - An L-shaped living room has two walls for TV and furniture placement. The longer wall will be used for the sofa, and the wall directly in front of the sofa will be reserved for the TV.
Credit: Linette Dai Design
Floating Layout - For rooms with more windows and lesser walls, opting for a floating layout with the furniture positioned a few inches away from the wall to create an island in the centre works best.
Credit: Houzz
Other layouts include furniture positioning for rooms with a narrow or irregular shape. For narrow rooms, the layout is simple: placing a sofa against one wall and a TV on the other. In the case of irregular rooms, the room might have fireplaces and awkward corners, so ideas like creating zones with rugs makes the task much easier.
Include a Focal Point
Credit: Tailored Space Interiors
Focal points are incredible features that guide the eye, highlight key features, and create balance in an interior. But how exactly do you create a focal point in your living room? While they sometimes appear naturally in the form of an attractive fireplace or a sizeable window, creative ideas like going big with an elegant mirror, adding a huge houseplant, creating an interesting gallery wall, or installing fancy lighting can spruce up the interior.
Whichever option you choose, try arranging the furniture around it as much as possible. For example, start by placing the largest furniture piece (probably the sofa) facing the prominent point and position the smaller seats, such as a stool or armchair, adjacent to or beside the sofa. Finish off with coffee tables and lamps.
Create a Smooth Traffic Flow
With the busy activities of a living room, it is important to consider and implement ideas for smooth traffic flow throughout the space to allow people to move around without tripping over furniture. A few basic guidelines to follow include:
Avoid crowding the entryway with furniture.
Set the coffee table around 18 to 20 inches (45 to 51 cm) from the sofa for adequate leg room.
Pull the furniture at least 12 inches (30 cm) away from the walls.
“Arrange furniture so you can’t walk from one side of the room to the other in a straight line. This is to activate your peripheral vision,” says Abigail Ahern.
Figure Out the TV Placement
Credit: Wheeler Kearns Architects
TVs are an important part of every living room. From hosting movie nights to keeping your toddler busy with their favourite cartoons, television placement is a priority when deciding how to arrange furniture in your lounge.
Start by choosing a position that faces directly towards the sofa or couch. Avoid areas exposed to excessive sunlight and look for a spot out of the high-traffic places — because you obviously don’t want too much reflection or too many people obstructing the view. You can also mount your TV over the fireplace. This decision will have its pros and cons, but when done correctly, it can free up considerable square footage.
Anchor the Space with Rugs
Whether adding colour, introducing texture, or softening the floor, choosing the right rugs for your living room can do wonders. These budget-friendly pieces can tie the space together and create a cosy vibe. You can even use them to create zones for different areas — especially if you have an open-plan layout or a great room.
Pro Tip: Make sure to pick a rug size that allows all the seating furniture (or at least the front legs of each piece) to rest on it.
Conclusion
Designing a practical and comfortable living room layout with the best possible furniture arrangement is somewhat tricky. But with the right tips and tricks — as discussed above — you can definitely put together a living room that is beautiful, inviting, and functional, all at the same time!
Need help with layout your living room? Chat with one of our Interior Design Gurus! They will view your space over a video call and give you personalised and professional tips and guidance!