Room Design
Living Rooms
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
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Updated on 07/05/23
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Figuring out how to arrange the furniture in your living room can feel like an endless puzzle involving sofas, chairs, coffee tables, side tables, stools, poufs, area rugs, and lighting. The key to a functional living room design is defining what best serves both your space and your lifestyle.Whether you’re designing a convivial spot for entertaining, a comfy, casual hub for family time, a chill out zone centered around a TV, or a stylish seating and relaxation area in an open plan house or city apartment that needs to flow with the rest of your space, these 12 timeless living room layout ideas will help you map out one of the most central rooms in your home.
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Twin Sofas
In this traditional living room layout from Emily Henderson Design, the seating area is not centered around a TV but oriented around a formal fireplace, creating a gathering place that encourages conversation. Matching sofas opposite one another ground the design, an area rug defines the space, and two occasional chairs fill in the open side opposite the fireplace and provide additional seating. An intimate conversation area for two by the bay windows features a pair of upholstered armchairs.
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Oversized Sofa + Credenza
In this rectangular living room designed by Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design, a large, overstuffed couch anchors the blank wall to the right, and a simple midcentury-inspired credenza opposite houses the TV and decorative objects while leaving plenty of open floor space. A round coffee table breaks up all the linear lines of the room while creating flow and reducing the chance of bumped shins while moving around the space.
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Living Room + Home Office
If your home office is in the same space as your living room, you don't have to go to elaborate lengths to hide it. Just be sure to create a zone for relaxing and another for working, and reinforce the separate areas by positioning your couch so that it faces away from your desk, and your desk so that it faces away from the living room to keep you focused.
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Floating Sectional + Armchairs
This living room from John McClain Design has a natural focal point with its fireplace and symmetrical built-ins on either side. But it lacks a solid wall to anchor the furniture, so the designer created a seating island in the center of the room anchored by an area rug. A console placed behind the sofa works as a virtual room divider to further define the space.
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Scattered Seating
In this living room by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design, a main sofa is positioned on the blank wall opposite the windows. An eclectic mix of additional seating options scattered throughout the room include vintage cinema seating along the back wall and an Eames lounger, all loosely assembled around a large central coffee table and anchored by a large patterned area rug. A side table on one end of the sofa is balanced by a standing industrial lamp on the other.
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All Chairs
If you have a front or formal living room that is used primarily for entertaining, this configuration from interior designer Alvin Wayne creates a sophisticated, minimalist conversation area using two pairs of voluptuous matching armchairs facing one another with a long narrow table down the middle.
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Couch + Occasional Chair + Pouf
Interior designer Alvin Wayne chose a main sofa and a round coffee table to preserve the flow in this city apartment. A sculptural 50s-style armchair and a lush knotted velvet pouf add visual interest and offer additional seating for occasional entertaining.
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Off Center
A fireplace mantel is a natural focal point in many living rooms. But in this modern cottage design from Desiree Burns Interiors, the fireplace is located on a side wall in the middle of a deep room broken up with multiple windows and doors. The designer created a comfortable main seating area by placing a large corner sectional at the far end of the living room that faces away from the windows and into the main room. A pair of side-by-side armchairs are placed closer to the fireplace that help define the space while keeping it light and airy.
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TV Zone
Studio KT chose to create an intimate seating area on one end of an open-plan room by positioning a long comfy sofa opposite the fireplace and TV wall. A pair of wooden chairs flanking the hearth add extra seating.
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Away From the Wall
Just because you have a lot of space doesn't mean you have to fill your living room with extra furniture if a large couch, a single end table, and a couple of floating coffee tables is all your family needs. In this spacious living room from Emily Henderson Design, the ample sofa was pulled away from the back wall, which thanks to midcentury-style shelving is a stylish display for books, objects, and art, leaving the rest of the spacious room open and uncluttered.
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Double Duty
In this open plan double living room from Midcity Interiors, the designers created two seating areas. One has a comfy velvet couch with its back to the open plan kitchen, facing the TV, with a plush area rug kept free of extra furniture to provide plenty of floor space for kids to play. A few feet away, a more formal sitting area is anchored by a colorful area rug, with a couch opposite a pair of armchairs and a coffee table in the middle.
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Sofa + Daybed
In this living room, an upholstered daybed is used in place of a second sofa or a pair of armchairs. The sleek low profile of the daybed keeps sight lines clear and adds a place for afternoon naps or morning meditations.
FAQ
What is the focal point of a room?
A focal point could be the fireplace, a sectional couch, a sliding glass door that has an outdoor view, artwork or the tv.
How should you layout your living room?
Look at the amount of space you have in the room, and envision how people will walk through to get to doors and other rooms. You might find it helpful to draw out on paper where you are picturing putting the furniture.
Is a feature wall an accent wall?
A feature wall and an accent wall are the same things. Adding an accent wall to the room showcases that wall by adding a different color, shiplap, wallpaper, paneling or a rug hanging.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I am an expert and enthusiast assistant. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. I can help you with your questions about room design and living rooms.
In this article, "Room Design: Living Rooms" by Kristin Hohenadel, the author discusses different living room layout ideas. The article emphasizes the importance of defining a functional living room design that suits both the space and the lifestyle of the homeowner. The author presents 12 timeless living room layout ideas that can help you map out one of the most central rooms in your home.
Twin Sofas
One layout idea mentioned in the article is the use of twin sofas in a traditional living room. In this layout, the seating area is not centered around a TV but oriented around a formal fireplace, creating a gathering place that encourages conversation. Matching sofas opposite one another ground the design, while an area rug defines the space. Two occasional chairs fill in the open side opposite the fireplace and provide additional seating .
Oversized Sofa + Credenza
Another layout idea is to use an oversized sofa and a midcentury-inspired credenza in a rectangular living room. The large, overstuffed couch anchors one blank wall, while the credenza opposite houses the TV and decorative objects. This layout leaves plenty of open floor space and creates flow in the room. A round coffee table breaks up the linear lines of the space and reduces the chance of bumped shins while moving around.
Living Room + Home Office
If your home office is in the same space as your living room, the article suggests creating separate zones for relaxing and working. Positioning the couch to face away from the desk and vice versa helps reinforce the separation between the two areas and keeps you focused.
Floating Sectional + Armchairs
In a living room with a natural focal point, such as a fireplace, but lacking a solid wall to anchor the furniture, the article suggests creating a seating island in the center of the room. This can be achieved by using a floating sectional anchored by an area rug. Placing a console behind the sofa can further define the space.
Scattered Seating
For a more eclectic and informal living room, the article suggests scattering different seating options throughout the space. This can include a main sofa positioned on a blank wall opposite the windows, vintage cinema seating along the back wall, an Eames lounger, and additional seating around a large central coffee table. The arrangement is anchored by a large patterned area rug.
All Chairs
If you have a front or formal living room primarily used for entertaining, the article suggests creating a sophisticated, minimalist conversation area using two pairs of matching armchairs facing one another with a long narrow table down the middle .
Couch + Occasional Chair + Pouf
In a city apartment, a main sofa and a round coffee table can help preserve the flow of the space. Adding a sculptural armchair and a knotted velvet pouf can provide visual interest and additional seating for occasional entertaining.
Off Center
In a living room with a fireplace located on a side wall, a comfortable main seating area can be created by placing a large corner sectional at the far end of the room, facing away from the windows and into the main room. Side-by-side armchairs can be placed closer to the fireplace to help define the space while keeping it light and airy.
TV Zone
To create an intimate seating area in an open-plan room, a long comfy sofa can be positioned opposite the fireplace and TV wall. Flanking wooden chairs can provide extra seating.
Away From the Wall
In a spacious living room, pulling the ample sofa away from the back wall can create a stylish display for books, objects, and art. This leaves the rest of the room open and uncluttered, with a single end table and a couple of floating coffee tables.
Double Duty
In an open-plan double living room, two seating areas can be created. One area can have a comfy couch facing the TV, while the other area can be anchored by a colorful area rug, with a couch opposite a pair of armchairs and a coffee table in the middle [[11]].
Sofa + Daybed
In a living room, an upholstered daybed can be used in place of a second sofa or a pair of armchairs. The sleek low profile of the daybed keeps sight lines clear and adds a place for relaxation or meditation [[12]].
These are just some of the living room layout ideas discussed in the article. Each layout idea offers a unique approach to designing a functional and visually appealing living room. Remember to consider the size of your space, the flow of movement, and your personal preferences when choosing a layout that best suits your needs.