Today is the day you’ve decided to organize and plan your drab living room layout. That dusty old couch is not cutting it anymore, and you have reached the point of no return. The time has come to transform your living room to give it some desperately needed new life.
Well, it’s time to come up with a few living room layout ideas, and that’s exactly what this article is set to help you with. It might be a beat-up couch, confusion with your setup, or a complete overhaul that you may having some trouble with working past. No matter what the case may be, we’ll cover some points and ideas to get you going with the transformation of your living room layout.
Clever Small Living Room Layout Ideas
So, you’ve been looking to revamp your small living room for some time now. Living in a small apartment often means making the most of limited space, so your best approach is to exercise clever small living room layout ideas. Worry not if you are unsure on how to go about it. We’ll cover a couple ideas to get you started with your small living room transformation.
An Idea for Symmetry
One super clever idea is using symmetry to your advantage. With this idea, you’ll balance the room of a main wall and build out from that point. You’ll start off by deciding which wall you’ll use as your room anchor. Once you’ve selected a wall, place a compact loveseat against the center of that wall. Next, add an arm chair directly to the opposite side of the loveseat. Go with stylish options for these two pieces to kick off the living room updates.
The next furniture layout ideas for your living room will be the small pieces that you add to the space. Choose one of the unused walls to add a slim lined table for a TV to fill the space and provide an entertainment piece. Bring in a floor lamp to pair next to the loveseat, and add a vertical mirror behind the armchair to bolster the reelection offered by the floor lamp.
Floating a Creative Idea
Another great living room layout idea you can implement for your small space is a floating island concept. You’ll essentially float your living room layout with this approach. As always, you’ll want to start with your sofa selection. With this idea, you’ll want to factor in a curved sofa. It can be a sectional piece, but you’ll also need to be mindful of the size of the sofa. Choose accordingly. Balance the island feel by mounting a TV with a swivel option on the wall directly across from the sofa.
Round out the center of your living room island with a swivel chair slightly to the right of the sofa and small coffee table on the other side. Exercise due care on the placement of these three items. The next items will be on the wall directly behind the sofa. Install a couple of shelves that can be used for the storage small items. Stager them across the wall to allow space from one last item. The shelf space one provides can work as a placeholder for keys or drinks, and the other shelf can be placed higher up to hold plants.
Add the finishing touch to your living room with a nice art piece right behind your sofa between the shelving units. This particular idea that will make good use of your space, and the island structure give you plenty of angles for hosting and relaxing.
Overhaul Your Awkward Living Room with a Sectional
Let us now change the pace. You’ve been dealing with an awkward living room, and you’re looking to cut through the awkwardness. One great option is implementation of a sectional sofa. When it comes to living room layout ideas with sectional, you’ll want to take the right approach from the get go.
You’ll want to start off with finding a sofa that will be the proper fit for your living room. If you have space for an open living room layout, the size options will be much more flexible. On the other hand, you may be pressed on space. The goal of the setup should allow for natural flow to make the room feel open.
To ensure the right fit for your living room layout, take out a pen and paper with some measuring tape. Do a full measure of the entire living room, and gain an estimated measure of the space that the sofa will cover. Now factor in the “walkways” to the area. You’ll want to ensure at least 18 inches of room between the sofa and other pieces. Shop for your sectional once this is done.
The next design element you’ll need to consider is the actual flow of traffic. One common issue a sectional sofa causes is obstruction of doors or paths to enter the room (walkways). The best way to work around this is to select one wall or corner of the room for the sectional’s placement.
The placement of the sectional will set bar for the amount of useful space in the living room, so you’ll want to be very sure of the placement selection. The best approach will be to avoid placing the longer end of the sectional near the walkways where people will need to pass through.
Also be aware of the orientation of the sectional sofa, and this will all depend on, as just mentioned, the longer end of the sectional. You’ll want to place the sectional in the place where seating will be optimal. Do this by physically standing in front of the area where you want the long part of the sectional to go. Be sure to factor in your walkway measurements, and you can effectively place the sectional.
Once you’ve hammered these issues out, you can proceed to cover the aesthetic design elements without compromising the available space.
Some Ideas to Create a Family Style Living Room
Creating a family room out of your living room can be quite a difficult task if it’s your first time. A TV is often the centerpiece of the family room, so it’s important to design the layout with optimal viewing in mind. Also, a fireplace is a common feature for a family room, and this will be an additional consideration in the planning process. Let’s cover them both.
Family Room Based on TV Placement
Start by choosing the right spot for your family room layout ideas with a TV. Any ideas that you draft up should have the TV placed at eye level when seated. Most of your design ideas will achieve this by mounting it on the wall or placing it on a media console. If you are caught on which of these two options to go with, flip a coin on it to make a selection and get going with your design.
Next, arrange your seating so that anyone enjoying the space has a clear view of the TV. As mentioned above, a sectional sofa can be a great choice if space allows, and a loveseat with a chair combination works well in smaller spaces. Remember to factor in the distance between the seating arrangement and the TV. A good rule of thumb will be to station seating about 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal screen size away from the TV.
Designing Your Family Room Around a Fireplace with a TV
Last up are the living room furniture layout ideas with a fireplace. A fireplace can be a charming focal point in a living room, but it can also pose a challenge when you arrange your furniture. To make living room design easier, we’ll stick to two common options.
The most popular solution is to place a TV above the fireplace. If you opt for this placement, the design will allow you to create a cozy seating area that faces both the TV and the fireplace. It works great for relaxing and entertaining, and the added benefit will be making the most of your seating options with a dual focal point anchor.
If mounting the TV above the fireplace doesn’t sit well with you, the incorporation of stand or console next to the fireplace is the next best option. Arrange your seating in an L- or U-shape around the fireplace and TV to create a comfortable and inviting space. Adding a couple of accent chairs can help balance the layout and provide additional seating. Or, you may want to split the room by situating the TV to the wall opposite of the fireplace
Wrapping It All Up
To close out on living room layout ideas, you’ll want to get a good mix of creativity and practicality. Your creative mind will come into play when find how to fit all your desired pieces. The practical mindset will come into play when you realize which pieces you’ll actually need. At that point, you’ll make those hard decisions on which to let go. Take these few tips to build out your family room. The overall goal is to find the right balance of TV to sectional sofa to fireplace (if applicable) so the family room can be the most enjoyable.
Lastly, whether you’re working with a small space, a sectional sofa, or a fireplace, there are plenty of ways to create a beautiful and functional living room. By considering your needs and experimenting with different arrangements, you can find the perfect layout for your home.