Determine your new living room layout with these three examples.
The living room is one of the most frequently used rooms in your home; it is the gathering spot for conversations, entertainment, and more. To make it comfortable and inviting, we’ll help you determine the best layout for your space with these living room layouts to try.
What to Consider
Living Room Layouts
Layout 1
Layout 2
Layout 3
Small Living Room Layout Solutions
Finishing Touches
What to Consider
Traffic Flow: Know how you want people to move around the room. If possible, avoid creating walkways in front of the focal point in the space. Additionally, leave at least three feet of space in high-traffic areas, so that people do not bump into furniture.
Focal Point: You should have one main focal point in your living room that immediately draws the eyes. Some examples of focal points include wall art, a window, a fireplace, or a TV. Create a focal point if your living room is lacking one, but don’t try to compete with existing features! Then, arrange your furniture in a U-shape around the focal point to draw attention to it.
Conversation Areas: The way you position your furniture will determine how people will interact with each other and use your living room space. Place chairs in groups of two, at minimum, or set an accent chair next to a sofa or sectional for an inviting and friendly seating area. You want it to be easy for your guests to have conversations with each other or watch a movie together.
Layout 1:
In the first living room layout, the sofa faces the focal point, which in this example is a built-in entertainment center. Two accent chairs are paired with two end tables, and a coffee table rests in the middle of the grouping to create a U-shaped conversation area. Placing two table lamps on each end table provides ample lighting for the furniture layout.
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Tip!
If you have doorways on opposite ends of the room, then simply move the sofa back against the wall and push the chairs and coffee table back to meet it. This will allow for a walkway between the coffee table and focal point.
Layout 2:
This floor plan is ideal for a large living area or one that requires lots of seating, since it features two sofas. The sofas face each other with a coffee table in the middle. A pair of accent chairs completes the U-shaped layout. The chairs are facing the focal point, a wall that holds both a TV and a fireplace. Two floor lamps are placed next to the chairs to help provide light to the space.
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Layout 3:
This room layout differs from the first two because it features a sectional sofa. Sectional sofas provide lots of seating and are popular for family rooms. Here, the chaise portion of the sectional and an accent chair round out the U-shaped conversation area. Remember, an accent rug can always be used beneath furniture to unite a seating arrangement, as shown in this example.
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Small Living Room Layout Solutions
If you have a small living room, try some of our favorite tips and tricks to maximize the area.
- Consider the scale of your furniture. A smaller piece, like a loveseat instead of a sofa, will fit the room better and, in turn, make the space feel larger.
- Don’t feel obligated to push all your furniture against the walls. Change up your furniture placement: position your seating and coffee table in the center of the room and tie them together with a rug, creating a close-knit conversation area.
- Embrace a small living room’s natural focal points to avoid overcrowding the space. Accentuate a window with eye catching curtains or place your furniture around a beautiful fireplace.
- Try double-duty pieces like storage benches that will hide clutter, which makes a room seem smaller, and act as additional seating when entertaining.
- Embrace your small space! Make it cozy with rich colors and layered drapery to create a comfortable retreat from the everyday.
Finishing Touches
No living room is complete without the addition of well-placed, unique items that reflect your personality and pull the look together.
Area Rugs: Area rugs connect and ground a room layout. Be sure to select a size that is big enough to go under the front feet of the surrounding furniture pieces. For more tips on this, take a look at our How to Choose the Right Rug Sizes guide.
Accent Pillows: Accent or decorative pillows pull together your selected color scheme. Try finding a pattern with the colors of your sofa, area rug, and curtains in addition to one other pop of color. This will add vibrancy and interest to the room.
Drapery: Curtains, drapes, and blinds not only provide privacy, but also create a sense of warmth in a living room. Read Window Treatments 101: Drapes vs. Curtains to find your perfect fit.
Tip!
Once you figure out your living room layout, you’re going to want to decorate! Check out our guide Living Room Decor Ideas for inspiration.
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