9 Easy Steps to Finding the Perfect Living Room Furniture Arrangement
Whatever size or shape of living room you have, this guide will help you position your furniture in the most pleasing and welcoming way
Eva Byrne
6 September 2016
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations to maximise Space, Light and Storage in your home. Whether you are planning a Renovation, Extension or New Build project, I aim to help you get your project off to the best possible start and to make best use of your cents and centimetres.
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations... More
Our living rooms come in many shapes and sizes, and we all yearn for a welcoming, social space where we can unwind alone or gather with friends and family. Creating that sense of warmth and welcome, however, can sometimes elude us. The living room can even be the ‘problem’ room: the one that’s rarely used for reasons on which nobody can quite put their finger…
Furniture position plays an important part in the feel of a living room, so check out these ways to get the right arrangement for you.
Furniture position plays an important part in the feel of a living room, so check out these ways to get the right arrangement for you.
Use existing elements as a guide
Think in terms of placing, rather than putting, the furniture in the room. This means taking time to think about where exactly each piece should go and how it relates to the other elements in the space.
Using existing features, such as a fireplace or window, as organising tools or starting points will create a sense of order and calm. At a window, for instance, two chairs will block the light less than a sofa. A large rug and sofa placed symmetrically in front of a fireplace, meanwhile, will create a strong and inviting focal point.
Think in terms of placing, rather than putting, the furniture in the room. This means taking time to think about where exactly each piece should go and how it relates to the other elements in the space.
Using existing features, such as a fireplace or window, as organising tools or starting points will create a sense of order and calm. At a window, for instance, two chairs will block the light less than a sofa. A large rug and sofa placed symmetrically in front of a fireplace, meanwhile, will create a strong and inviting focal point.
Create conversation
Place the furniture in such a way that the pieces appear to ‘talk’ to one another, as seen in this arrangement of chairs and sofa, which point towards each other. In this way, they will invite you to join in the conversation.
Place the furniture in such a way that the pieces appear to ‘talk’ to one another, as seen in this arrangement of chairs and sofa, which point towards each other. In this way, they will invite you to join in the conversation.
Find a room’s ‘centre of gravity’
Think of the centre of gravity in a room as the place where the largest item of furniture wants to be. In the case of a living room, this piece will usually be the main sofa. Frequently, this will be happiest opposite or adjacent to a fireplace or stove, if there is one, or perhaps the window if not.
Working with this centre of gravity will bring balance and a sense of harmony to the space; the furniture will act as an anchor and provide a strong starting point for organising the rest of the room.
Think of the centre of gravity in a room as the place where the largest item of furniture wants to be. In the case of a living room, this piece will usually be the main sofa. Frequently, this will be happiest opposite or adjacent to a fireplace or stove, if there is one, or perhaps the window if not.
Working with this centre of gravity will bring balance and a sense of harmony to the space; the furniture will act as an anchor and provide a strong starting point for organising the rest of the room.
Pull furniture away from the walls
Avoid the temptation to push furniture against the walls. While pulling it away may seem counterintuitive, especially in smaller rooms, it will, in fact, improve the flow of both light and space. Just a few centimetres will suffice.
In a large space, think of the room as having different parts, like little moments of calm. For example, a long room could include both a cosy seating arrangement around the fireplace, and a low table for plants or a chair for reading at the window.
Avoid the temptation to push furniture against the walls. While pulling it away may seem counterintuitive, especially in smaller rooms, it will, in fact, improve the flow of both light and space. Just a few centimetres will suffice.
In a large space, think of the room as having different parts, like little moments of calm. For example, a long room could include both a cosy seating arrangement around the fireplace, and a low table for plants or a chair for reading at the window.
Resolve the fight between the TV and fireplace
Fireplaces often form a natural focal point for a living room, but nowadays increasingly large screens vie for attention as the central feature. One solution is to place them side by side, perhaps by extending the chimney breast to create an alcove for the screen, as in this space, or by placing the TV on a low unit.
Another solution is to sit the TV on a mobile unit – on wheels – beside the fireplace. This means the TV can be wheeled in or out of the conversation, as required. Or place it on a wall perpendicular to the fireplace.
Fireplaces often form a natural focal point for a living room, but nowadays increasingly large screens vie for attention as the central feature. One solution is to place them side by side, perhaps by extending the chimney breast to create an alcove for the screen, as in this space, or by placing the TV on a low unit.
Another solution is to sit the TV on a mobile unit – on wheels – beside the fireplace. This means the TV can be wheeled in or out of the conversation, as required. Or place it on a wall perpendicular to the fireplace.
Introduce sculptural lighting
Our furnishings and rooms tend to have corners, or be square-ish in shape, so consider the opportunity to introduce a sculptural element in the form of a light fitting to soften the lines. This could be a floor lamp or a wall-hung fitting.
An oversized lamp can bring drama to a small room and scale to a larger space. It also acts as a natural starting point for furniture arrangement, so if you feel your room is lacking a pleasing layout, try starting with a statement light.
Browse contemporary living room design ideas
Our furnishings and rooms tend to have corners, or be square-ish in shape, so consider the opportunity to introduce a sculptural element in the form of a light fitting to soften the lines. This could be a floor lamp or a wall-hung fitting.
An oversized lamp can bring drama to a small room and scale to a larger space. It also acts as a natural starting point for furniture arrangement, so if you feel your room is lacking a pleasing layout, try starting with a statement light.
Browse contemporary living room design ideas
Employ a coffee table as an anchor
A low table placed in the middle of a seating space will both define the conversation area and provide a useful surface for books and nibbles.
A height of 35-40cm is perfect: any higher and it can become too dominant. In terms of size, err on the larger side; just like a small rug, a small table will be lost and contribute nothing to the arrangement.
Check out stylish storage solutions for living rooms
A low table placed in the middle of a seating space will both define the conversation area and provide a useful surface for books and nibbles.
A height of 35-40cm is perfect: any higher and it can become too dominant. In terms of size, err on the larger side; just like a small rug, a small table will be lost and contribute nothing to the arrangement.
Check out stylish storage solutions for living rooms
Place art strategically
Art can give scale and intimacy to a space, and can provide a striking focal point in a room that would otherwise lack one. If you’re struggling with how to place your furniture, try hanging a striking piece of art on the wall and using it as a guide for your furniture.
What you hang can be less important than how you hang it. Using a height of 150cm as a centre point for most pieces will give a pleasing result – engaging to both the eye and the room.
Art can give scale and intimacy to a space, and can provide a striking focal point in a room that would otherwise lack one. If you’re struggling with how to place your furniture, try hanging a striking piece of art on the wall and using it as a guide for your furniture.
What you hang can be less important than how you hang it. Using a height of 150cm as a centre point for most pieces will give a pleasing result – engaging to both the eye and the room.
Unleash the power of the rug
A large rug will further anchor the main seating area, and also provide the opportunity to introduce texture and colour into the room. It works best to place the furniture either fully or partially on the rug rather than around it.
Consider also the shape of rug you choose. A rectangular one can have a huge impact on how you perceive the room, depending on which direction you lay it.
How have you positioned the furniture in your living room? Are you happy with the arrangement? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
A large rug will further anchor the main seating area, and also provide the opportunity to introduce texture and colour into the room. It works best to place the furniture either fully or partially on the rug rather than around it.
Consider also the shape of rug you choose. A rectangular one can have a huge impact on how you perceive the room, depending on which direction you lay it.
How have you positioned the furniture in your living room? Are you happy with the arrangement? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Looks like you've found yourself a lovely tranquil place Barb. There's nothing quite like water to do that!