Are you struggling to maximize your living room space? By focusing on conversational areas, strategically placing furniture, and using multi-functional pieces, you can transform your living room into a welcoming and efficient space.
All living rooms should focus on a conversational area. The seating should encourage conversation. Seating should face each other instead of a wall or only a TV. The focal point of the room could be a television, a fireplace, or a gallery wall. Design the conversational seating area around it.
These setups are ideal for cozy gatherings. Angling all of the seating towards a central point creates a conversational area and anchors the space. Accent pieces like side tables surrounding the chairs give guests a place to rest their glass or put their phone down. Always have spare seating in mind, like an ottoman, ready to pull into the space when you have extra guests.
These arrangements ensure the focal point is the star, that there is a conversational seating area in place, and mirrors and accents play supporting roles.
Furniture Placement Tips
Place the largest piece of furniture on the longest wall of your living room. Space planning involves figuring out the function of the room first and then designing the layout of the furniture to fit squarely in the space. Place the sofa on the longest wall and push the chairs up against the sides or even the corner. This opens up the center of the space.
A wide path can be designed around the coffee tables and in between the seating areas. This leaves a lot of room. Simply flipping the furniture layout around can create an entirely different look.
Open Space Considerations
Consider this layout if you have an open space living room. In this case, your sofa acts as a room divider with its back either against the dining room or a kitchen island. This creates a natural walkway.
The great room may have two large sofas, individual club chairs, and ottomans that you use in place of coffee tables surrounding it. Ensure that each seat still has a convenient surface nearby. Split up the upholstered ottomans into quadrants. They serve double duty as convenient coffee tables. Always think about multiple ways to use the same piece of furniture, whether you have a lot of space or a little space.
Sectionals
Sectionals can anchor the room, usually focusing around a TV or a fireplace. It maximizes every square inch, and every single corner is dressed. The corner of the sectional always becomes everyone’s favorite space to chill out and lounge because you can put your feet up.
Measure the length and width of the living room and see what’s the largest sectional that you can get in.
Key Considerations
Before you embark on any design or space planning, ask: How do you live? How do you want the space to function? What is the focal point of the room? Could you design the space around that? No matter the amount of space in your living room, it all starts with comfortable seating, and the rest will follow.
