Living rooms serve different purposes for various people. In some homes they function as the primary gathering area for family, while in others they're more like a show room, used only when company comes over. In any event ., there are certain problems that always appear when attemping to arrange living room furniture. Take a look at these guidelines for placing furniture in your living room.
Living Room Basics
There are several considerations to bear in mind when arranging living room furniture.
Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around it. In many rooms the focus will be an existing feature for instance a fireplace or window, and in some it will be something you bring in to the room perhaps a television.Make use of the furniture to produce conversation areas. People must be able to comfortably talk to one another without straining their necks or shouting. If the room is particularly large you may need to develop a few different conversation areas.Bear in mind about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to walk around furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room to another.
Pull furniture away from the walls. Having all the furniture backs touching the walls is just about the biggest mistakes people make in the living room. If the pieces are closer together it will create a more intimate setting. So long as the backs of the pieces are finished, there's no reason not to show them off.
Furniture Sizes and Placement
When considering living room furniture, size matters.
Sofa and Chairs - These are usually the big-ticket items so it's important that they suit the space. The most important thing to do is measure the space prior to purchasing any of these pieces. You wouldn't want them to be too big or too small, so it's best if you write up a floor plan ahead of time. Sketch out the room on a piece of graph paper using all the appropriate measurements. Try putting the sofa and chairs in a few different spots and see the things that work best visually and in terms of leaving space to allow for traffic flow.
Rug - Using area rugs is an excellent technique to define seating areas, but the primary mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that's too small. Keep in mind that all of the furniture should be able to sit confortably on the carpet. If space doesn't allow it, be sure that at the very least the front legs of any large upholstered pieces are on the rug. (Small pieces like side chairs and tables must always have four legs on the rug.)
Coffee Table - Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center of conversation areas. If you choose to use one do not forget that the height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don't want to use a coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to achieve the same look. Just be certain they're not too small. People sitting around them must be able to lean over to put down or pick up a drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches should do the trick.
Side Tables - Side tables tend to be an afterthought but they're actually important. The total amount you need will depend on how much seating you have. Everyone should be able to comfortably set down a drink without having to get up and walk over to a table. Try to have one on either side of the sofa (unless there isn't enough space - in this case people can use the coffee table), and between pairs of chairs. The key is to have enough surface space without overcrowding the room. The tables should be approximately the same height as the arm of the chair or sofa they're alongside.
Living Room Basics
There are several considerations to bear in mind when arranging living room furniture.
Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around it. In many rooms the focus will be an existing feature for instance a fireplace or window, and in some it will be something you bring in to the room perhaps a television.Make use of the furniture to produce conversation areas. People must be able to comfortably talk to one another without straining their necks or shouting. If the room is particularly large you may need to develop a few different conversation areas.Bear in mind about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to walk around furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room to another.
Pull furniture away from the walls. Having all the furniture backs touching the walls is just about the biggest mistakes people make in the living room. If the pieces are closer together it will create a more intimate setting. So long as the backs of the pieces are finished, there's no reason not to show them off.
Furniture Sizes and Placement
When considering living room furniture, size matters.
Sofa and Chairs - These are usually the big-ticket items so it's important that they suit the space. The most important thing to do is measure the space prior to purchasing any of these pieces. You wouldn't want them to be too big or too small, so it's best if you write up a floor plan ahead of time. Sketch out the room on a piece of graph paper using all the appropriate measurements. Try putting the sofa and chairs in a few different spots and see the things that work best visually and in terms of leaving space to allow for traffic flow.
Rug - Using area rugs is an excellent technique to define seating areas, but the primary mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that's too small. Keep in mind that all of the furniture should be able to sit confortably on the carpet. If space doesn't allow it, be sure that at the very least the front legs of any large upholstered pieces are on the rug. (Small pieces like side chairs and tables must always have four legs on the rug.)
Coffee Table - Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center of conversation areas. If you choose to use one do not forget that the height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don't want to use a coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to achieve the same look. Just be certain they're not too small. People sitting around them must be able to lean over to put down or pick up a drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches should do the trick.
Side Tables - Side tables tend to be an afterthought but they're actually important. The total amount you need will depend on how much seating you have. Everyone should be able to comfortably set down a drink without having to get up and walk over to a table. Try to have one on either side of the sofa (unless there isn't enough space - in this case people can use the coffee table), and between pairs of chairs. The key is to have enough surface space without overcrowding the room. The tables should be approximately the same height as the arm of the chair or sofa they're alongside.
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