Arranging a rectangular living room layout with a TV comes with a challenge. The long and narrow shape often creates a space that feels unbalanced or tricky to furnish and arrange. However, a rectangular living room can still be a very cozy and functional area that looks stylish and feels comfortable.
You may be working with a long rectangular living room layout or a narrower version, and it should be known that there are ways to manipulate the space to make the area work. To help you with the process, this guide will walk you through furniture arrangement ideas for rectangular living rooms, focusing on setups that incorporate a TV and fireplace.
1. Understanding the Challenges of a Long Rectangular Living Room Layout
A common challenge of a long rectangular living room layout is the awkward structure. It poses a situation where you will have to go about an arrangement to make the room feel cohesive while avoiding a hallway feel. Finding the right flow will be tricking. You’ll also have to conquer the two other common challenges of dismal visual interest and possible obstructions to natural light.
A great way to handle these challenges is to break the area into essential functioning zones. This will allow you to establish a versatile space instead of a long and disconnected area. For example, you can have a dedicated TV-watching section and a separate reading nook or conversation area zoned based on where natural light enters the room. Zoning also helps maintain a clear flow throughout the room, and it will help with addressing an awkward layout.
2. Incorporation of a Fireplace and TV into a Rectangular Room Layout
Fitting your rectangular living room layout with a TV and fireplace poses dual challenge, but it’s far from impossible to beat. One approach is to decide which one will be the room’s focal point, and another approach is to have them both share the spotlight.
One option you can go with for sharing the living room focal point spotlight is to situate the TV over the fireplace. This approach works well in rooms with limited space or in narrow rectangular living rooms where placing the TV in any other spot would disrupt the natural flow. By combining the two focal points, you centralize the area where the room naturally gravitates.
However, if you’d prefer to separate the TV and fireplace, you can use different walls to offset the two. With this option, position the couch or main seating furniture to face the TV directly. The fireplace will then become a secondary feature. This particular layout works well in long rectangular living rooms, where one end of the room can be dedicated to the TV and the other to a fireplace. It will work best, from a visual and safety standpoint, if the fireplace is zoned to an isolated section. That is to say, it has open access away from the furniture arrangement in the living room.
3. Figuring the Right Rectangular Living Room Arrangement of Furniture
You’ll need to really examine your space to properly arrange furniture in a rectangular living room. The goal is to create balance and maintain flow. Since the room’s shape often leads to excess space at one end, you can strategically place the furniture to avoid wasting space.
You’ll start by positioning the main seating pieces, such as a couch or loveseat, against one of the longer walls. This will give you the necessary anchor for the room and provide a solid foundation for the rest of the layout. A proper anchor piece, often used, is a sectional sofa. These tend to serve rectangular areas particularly well, and it’ll aid with maximizing seating without overwhelming the space. Round out the room with a coffee table in front of the couch to create a central gathering area. Be sure to find a coffee table shape that complements the couch or sectional structure. If you are unsure, you can go with a smaller option so space isn’t compromised.
Further, you’ll want to maintain visual interest and balance of the room. You can do this by bringing in additional seating, such as a pair of armchairs, strategically located across from or at an angle to the couch. This arrangement helps curb the “bowling alley” effect, where all the furniture is lined up against the walls, or one wall, making the room feel even longer.
4. Layout Tips for a Narrow Rectangular Living Room
Now, let’s ponder some tips for a narrow rectangular living room layout. It’s a must and essential to use furniture that doesn’t overpower the already narrow space. Use of slim-profile sofas and chairs to ensure the room feels open will be your best approach to establishing a functional layout. The furniture options will be slim pickings to a certain extent. You have to avoid bulky furniture that will crowd the room and make it feel even narrower.
One clever tactic for arranging a narrow rectangular living room is to slightly float the furniture away from the walls. This creates an intimate conversation area and helps open up the walking paths along the sides. It is one alternative that will take an exact approach. If done wrong, the space will easily get cramped.
There is another option for mitigating the space limitations. Since floor space is limited, you can use the wall space to place fixtures as a compensation for a coffee table. What’s more, you can incorporate multi-function furniture to utilize the “air space’ of the room. A coffee table with a built-in storage bin or drawers will greatly assist with making the most of the narrow space.
It’s often helpful to break the space into distinct zones, as mentioned above. This can include a TV area, a reading corner, or a casual conversation zone. Breaking up the room into sections helps it feel more like a multi-functional living area.
5. Furniture Arrangement Ideas for a Rectangular Living Room
The need for proper arrangement for any space in a home is paramount. Let’s cover s few additional furniture arrangement ideas for rectangular living rooms before we close out.
– Symmetry is of the utmost importance: In rectangular spaces, you’ll want to deploy s symmetrical furniture arrangement. It can really help balance the room. Try placing two matching chairs or loveseats opposite each other with a small multipurpose table in the middle. This creates a harmonious look that feels both comfortable and stylish.
– Incorporate vertical elements: It was mentioned above, and let’s get a bit more detail on this tactic. Some great options are to use a tall bookshelf, floor lamps, or portrait artwork to draw the eye upward. This helps break up the length of the room giving it a dynamic feel. This will be especially useful for a narrow space.
– Use rugs to define spaces: Rugs may be a touchy subject at times, but area rugs are excellent for grounding furniture and creating visual separation between different areas. In a long rectangular living room, you can use one large rug for the main seating area and smaller rugs in other zones to add warmth and structure.
– Light colors to open up the space: Light and neutral tones help make the room feel open and spacious. If your rectangular living room feels cramped, consider some light color palettes for your walls, furniture, and accessories.
These four elements will be your best resource for planning out your living room arrangement. Be sure to get very creative with your plans.
Final Thoughts for Rectangular Living Rooms
Arranging a rectangular living room may seem challenging at first, but with the right strategy, you can create a functional layout that works for your lifestyle and brings comfort. It may be that you’re working with a narrow rectangular living room layout or incorporating a fireplace and TV. Either way, the key is to focus on balance, zoning, and flow. By incorporating thoughtful design elements, you can transform your rectangular living room into a stylish and inviting space that meets all your needs.