How to arrange living room furniture

From family game nights to book club gatherings,
the living room is a social hub. The proper
placement of the room's furniture goes a long way
toward making the space feel welcoming. Nothing
is worse than a living room -- no matter how
attractive -- where people have to perch against the
walls, as if stuck there by magnetic force. Rather,
push seating together so everyone can sit close and
converse comfortably.
Where to position this grouping depends on the
natural focal point of the space. In some rooms, this
is architectural, such as a fireplace or a set of
windows. In other living rooms, the focal point is a
television. Once you determine this feature, orient
the seating toward it. This feature now has the
attracting qualities the walls used to -- let the
furniture gravitate there.
Flexibility
How to arrange the living room furniture is up to
you and your particular pieces. Most of us have a
sofa and another chair or two, which we can
position and reposition as often as we like. When
trying out each new arrangement, make sure to
allow enough space between furniture corners so
people can swish past in search of a comfy spot.
And give everyone a reachable drink rest, even if
it's just a stack of books on the ottoman.
Straight On
The most basic and functional furniture
arrangement is to place the sofa across from the
focal point with all other pieces angled to face the
same direction. This allows everyone a good look at
the television or crackling fire. When entertaining,
round the grouping into a conversational circle by
adding ottomans or pillow poufs that face back at
the sofa.
Passing Through
For spaces with multiple doorways, draw an
imaginary line that angles through the room from
opening to opening, creating a straight trail between
furniture pieces. This dynamic arrangement of
furniture keeps the focal point in mind but also
directs people through the space. Blocking the
corners of the room like this can be helpful when
you have children's toys or hobby supplies you'd
like to hide.
Around the Corner
When a sectional sofa is your primary seating, you
might be tempted to push it into the corner of the
room and call it a day. But this can feel
claustrophobic, especially to those people seated on
the deepest cushions. Pull it away from the wall to
let light and air flow around it. Place a brightening
lamp or slender console table at the back, and put
any other seating in position to see people seated
at both ends of the L.
Classic Symmetry
A traditional and popular furniture arrangement is
the face-to-face stance. Two sofas (or a sofa and a
pair of chairs) sit directly across from one another,
with the focal point at one end. Positioning the
seating this way facilitates conversation because no
one has a direct view of the focal point. It's useful
when activities such as reading, working on a
laptop, or listening to music are just as important as
watching television.
Get a perfect furniture arrangement before even
moving a single piece with our online Arrange-a-
Room tool.
Arrange-a-Room
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