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Awkward living room layout solutions


8 Ways to Arrange Furniture in an Awkward Living Room

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/31/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Sometimes, interesting architecture makes for awkward living spaces, whether it’s a historic home full of quirky angles or a new build with unconventional proportions. Figuring out how to space, plan, and decorate an awkward living room can be a challenge for even the most seasoned interior designers.

But because not everyone lives in a blank box, experienced interior design pros have developed an arsenal of tips and tricks to cheat the eye and smooth out the rough edges of even the oddest of spaces. Here they share some expert advice on how to arrange furniture and decorate your very own awkward living space, helping you to take the focus off its flaws and turn it into the comfortable, functional, and beautiful room it was meant to be. 

Meet the Expert

Start Big

When designing an awkward living room, it’s important to build your foundation before focusing on decorative elements and finishes.

“When planning out your living space, identifying the largest wall and placing your biggest piece of furniture in that area will free up other spots to help determine where your remaining components can go,” interior designer John McClain of John McClain Design says. “It is easier to arrange your furniture around statement elements rather than accent pieces. ”

Stephen Allen / John McClain Design

Zone It Out

“Think about the different functions that take place in the room,” says interior designer Jessica Risko Smith of JRS ID. “Creating two to three zones in a room can make an odd-shaped space more usable. Creating a cozy reading zone separate from a larger conversation area or TV viewing space can make use of odd corners or minimize disruption caused by circulation through a space. Swivel chairs work magic in situations like these!”

John McClain Design

Float the Furniture

“Don't be afraid to pull things away from the walls,” says Risko Smith. “Sometimes odd-shaped rooms (especially large ones) benefit most from having furniture pulled in toward the center, creating a new shape within.”

McClain suggests using an open shelving unit as a room divider “while incorporating curated pieces of décor, books and even storage boxes,” he suggests. “Place a console table and chair behind your sofa for a convenient workstation. ”

Define Space With Area Rugs

"A great way to delineate zones within your living space is to utilize area rugs,” McClain says. “Selecting different colors, shapes and textures is a great way to separate your TV/hang out and dining spaces without physically putting something in between them.”

John McClain Design

Play Around With Shapes 

“Furniture and décor with round edges or curved silhouettes can soften the rigidness of a space,” McClain says. “It will also create movement that is more pleasing to the eye. Incorporating organic shapes like plants (live or faux), branches, crystals and woven baskets are great ways to incorporate different shapes as well!"

Utilize Vertical Space

“Don’t be afraid of maximizing your wall space at various heights,” McClain says. "Keeping the same sight line can increase the awkwardness of a space by calling out the areas not utilized. Hang wall décor in collages by mixing in photographs, art, and mirrors. Use taller casement pieces or install wall-mounted shelving in areas in need of functional storage options while maintaining your design aesthetic. It’s okay to hang something higher than you may think as long as it is large enough (like an oversized art piece) and makes sense within the space.”

John McClain Design

Use Clever Lighting

“Lighting can be used to enhance the feel of a space by highlighting vignettes or defining seating areas,” McClain says. “Hue lighting can be used to set the mood while entertaining or watching TV. Wall sconces (whether hard wired or plug in) can be used to add light without taking up real estate on a table or floor.”

Exploit Every Nook and Cranny

“Use nooks and niches to your advantage,” McClain says. “Have an open area underneath your stairs or a weird closet that you don’t know what to do with? Create an intimate reading corner with a cozy chair, side table and lamp for when you want to get away from the TV. Remove closet doors and swap out shelving for a practical office set up. Add a small sideboard and install open shelves into a recess in the wall for a dry bar set up or coffee station.”

How to Fake Separate Rooms in an Open Floor Plan

16 Solutions to an Awkward Living Room Layout

16 Solutions to an Awkward Living Room Layout
  1. Angi
  2. Solution Center
  3. Remodeling

Photo: Goodboy Picture Company / E+ / Getty Images

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A living room is the heart of the home. It’s where you relax and unwind after a long day, spend quality time with the family, entertain guests, and so much more. So when facing an awkward living room layout in your new home, what should you do? 

Sometimes houses have architectural quirks, such as narrow floor plans and oddly shaped nooks, that can make it challenging to arrange furniture the way you want. Fortunately, no matter the peculiar layout of the space, there’s always a creative design solution for it. 

The trick to arranging furniture in an awkward living room is to embrace those structural deviations and allow them to inspire unique style and decor options. Read on to explore various scenarios of unconventional layouts along with our top tips and ideas to work with them.

1. L-Shaped Living/Dining Room

Photo: KatarzynBialasiewicz / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

The L shape is a fairly common room configuration in many homes, but it can still be a challenge figuring out the furniture placement. Depending on the areas’ sizes, you may be confused as to which portion is for the living room and which is the dining room. 

Solution: Use the Wider Area for Living Space

Usually the portion of the L shape closest to the kitchen is designated for the dining room. However, sometimes the kitchen entrance may open to both. In this scenario, you’ll want to use space with more width as your living room area, which provides more room for furniture arrangement.

As for furniture options, an L-shaped sectional is ideal for this type of layout. It can help fill the space and create a barrier between the living and dining space, like in the example below.

2. Studio Apartment Living Room

Photo: urbazon / E+ / Getty Images

As one large room without interior walls, studio apartments have no distinct areas that designate sleeping from living and dining. Despite the shortage of square feet, you can work with what you have. The upside of a studio layout is that you’ll see every corner of the apartment and can map out ideas.

Solution: Use a Partition

Photo: KatarzynBialasiewicz / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

If you tend to have guests over, a partition can create privacy in a small space and help define a new area. You can take the DIY approach by hanging curtains, adding a portable folding screen, or using a standalone bookshelf to double as a room divider and storage solution.

3. Angled Fireplace

Photo: Tom Merton / OJO Images / Getty Images

Though an increasingly popular fireplace idea, the angled design can sometimes look awkward, depending on the size of a living room. Since angled fireplaces often have odd adjacent walls, you may struggle with arranging furniture around it.

Solution: Create a Separate Focal Point

The corner fireplace doesn’t have to serve as the main focal point, opening up the room for endless options of different layouts. Instead, you can place the television on an adjacent wall as the second focal point, arranging the furniture toward both to create a cozy seating area.

4. Living Room With No Entryway

While some homes open to a foyer or narrow entryway before entering the living room, others do not. Instead, they may immediately open to the common area. This can make it difficult to streamline your entry and exit routine, including placement for coats and keys.  

Solution: Use Furniture to Define an Entryway

Photo: FollowTheFlow / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Furniture pieces, such as a slender console table along the back of a sofa, can create an entry passageway and provide some storage space. The console table can be designated for placing small items—keys, wallet, cell phone, etc.— and the empty space beneath for a shoe rack or decorative storage basket.

5. Under-Stair Space in Living Room

Photo: PC Photography / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Does your home have empty space beneath the staircase? Instead of neglecting the area, you can transform this triangular crawl space into something more exciting than a typical storage closet.  

Solution: Create a Cozy Nook

If it’s wide enough, you may be able to convert the space for a comfy daybed. Install a wall lamp and a few storage shelves, and you’ll have a cozy reading nook to relax and kick back with your favorite book.

6. Open Concept Layout

Photo: ExperienceInteriors / E+ / Getty Images

An open concept plan is where the living room space melts into the next, making it hard to pick and place furniture just right. Sectioned-off rooms have walls to help define where furniture goes, but not this layout. The benefit, however, is that you can see the entire home and it looks more spacious.

Solution: Define the Zones

Photo: xavierarnau / E+ / Getty Images

Zones will establish the function of the space and help with choosing furniture and decor. Would you like a small play corner for the kids? Do you have a piano? Using these ideas as indicators, you’ll want to use furniture to establish those zones and traffic flow. You can also angle the seating and use area rugs as visual markers of each zone. 

7. Split-Level Living Space

Photo: rudigobbo / E+ / Getty Images

A split-level home has staggered floor levels between different areas, such as the living room being a step or two lower than the dining room. Uniquely maintaining the open plan concept, it creates separate functional areas with visual appeal. 

The split-level design also helps conceal geometric flaws of rooms. On the contrary, a split-level living and dining space can look unusual. They’re not two-story or single-story, but in between, and can look cluttered if not properly styled.

Solution: Design a Cohesive Look

Photo: FollowTheFlow / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

With a cohesive design, you can clearly define the functional areas: one for entertainment and lounging, and the other for undisturbed meals. To achieve this, choose a focal point for each area and build from there. A local interior decorator can help, such as with choosing the best backsplash or statement piece.

8. Round-Shaped Living Room

With such a unique shape, a round room can be a bit complex to design. Unlike general flat walls, round-shaped living rooms have no angles, and the curved walls can make it almost impossible to place furniture against them. 

Solution: Use Curved Furniture and Accents

A round rug or table can serve as the centerpieces of your seating area, allowing you to arrange couches and armchairs around it. Also, consider floating the furniture toward the middle of the room. This will create a walkway along the curved walls and give the appearance of more space, such as in the example below.

9. Living Room Columns

Photo: alvarez / E+ / Getty Images

If your living room has load-bearing columns, also known as pillars, they’re most likely there for structural support and can’t be removed. Columns can add dramatic appeal and create an instant statement for your living area. While some are built in a convenient location, others may be a nuisance in the middle of the room since they block space.

Solution: Make the Columns Functional

Fortunately, columns can serve as visual dividers for a space. They can separate the entryway from the living room or indicate room transitions in an open concept living space. You can even decorate the columns to enhance their aesthetic appeal, such as with plants and wall art.

10. Recessed Wall in Living Room

More often than not, you’ll find a recessed wall in the living room that is designated for mounting a television or placing an entertainment center. This can pose a problem if the wall recess isn’t large enough for what you have or is in a random spot of the room that doesn’t work well with a seating arrangement.

Solution: Custom Storage Area

Photo: Aleksandra Zlatkovic / E+ / Getty Images

Instead of a TV, use that niche or alcove as a custom storage space. You can hire a local contractor to install wall shelves and use them for placing photos, books, baskets, and more.

11. Slanted Walls

Photo: Wicki58 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Unlike flat ceilings, A-framed homes and those with vaulted ceilings have slopes, often resulting in slanted walls in the living room.

Solution: Work

With the Slope

Since one portion of the wall is low, low-seated sofas and chairs along it will ensure no one hits their head. To create visual balance of the wall space, you can install custom storage solutions, like bookshelves along the slanted walls and even add a desk for a dedicated workspace. 

Using a room corner for your home office? Stay motivated and productive with these fun workstation printables:

Download Home Office Printables Here

12.

Awkward Corners

Photo: FilippoBacci / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Do you have odd corners and edges in the living room that are aesthetically unpleasing? Sometimes uneven wall lengths create these, making it hard to fit anything in or around them.  

Solution: Conceal Corners With Decor

Photo: djedzura / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Instead of neglecting the odd corner, soften the look with a tall, refreshing houseplant. Plants help fill empty spaces and revitalize the room, especially if you’re a fan of maximalist decor.

13. Vaulted Ceilings

Photo: djedzura / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Since vaulted ceilings extend into the roof space, they can make a room appear more grand and spacious. The advantages of vaulted ceilings are that their height allows for more natural light, and they typically have exposed beams that add rustic style. The downside is that higher ceilings can also work against you, since the extra vertical space can throw off the look of a room.

Solution: Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Complement the height by placing artwork above eye level and installing larger, longer light fixtures. You can also find a skylight installer near you to add embedded windows as a luxurious aesthetic touch. 

14. Tiny Living Room Space

Photo: in4mal / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Unless you live alone and rarely have guests over, a small living room usually doesn’t have enough wall space or room to comfortably sit and walk around.

Solution: Downsize the Furniture

Photo: in4mal / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Using tiny house inspiration, you can embrace the small space by downsizing. Since large, bulky furniture in a small space can look overcrowded, opt for loveseats, chairs, and smaller sofas. Low-height loveseats and other furniture with thin legs also help the room appear more spacious. 

Remember, there are no rules that enforce a designated area as your living room. Maybe you’ve recently converted your garage into a living space. You can reserve that for your living room and repurpose the smaller room into a den or multipurpose area.

15. Living Room With Multiple Entryways

Photo: HRAUN / E+ / Getty Images

A living room with two or more entryways may constrain the wall area typically used for placing furniture. In this case, you’ll have to be careful not to obstruct the entrances with seating positions. 

Solution: Float the Furniture to the Center

Photo: lechatnoir / E+ / Getty Images

Since you can’t place furniture along the walls, centering them will create space around it and help determine the flow of traffic. You can also define the space with area rugs to physically form walkways and make the seating areas appear more intimate.

16. Rectangle Living Room Layout

While long and narrow spaces are common, the layout can be challenging to arrange furniture around. Even with an elongated seating area, a rectangular living room, also known as a great room, can still have a lot of leftover space.

Solution: Arrange Separate Seating Areas

The upside to having extended floor space is extra room for an additional seating area. For example, you can designate one side of the living room for the main lounging and TV area using a couch and loveseat, while the other side serves as a decorative area with two accent chairs and a small side table. 

When creating separate seating areas, give each one a focal wall to define the zone. For example, you can have the decorative seating area facing the fireplace or a statement artwork.

Awkward living room layouts can be tricky, but with careful thought and planning, you’ll discover the best arrangement for your space. Thankfully, you can also find an interior designer near you to help analyze and develop solutions for you.

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So, you bought a new building in concrete: they chose an apartment with a round or polygonal living room, with an unusual window, etc. And they decided that this would be a "trick" of your interior. And now you can’t find suitable furniture - whatever one may say, it still doesn’t turn out very well.

Mainly because the irregular shape is due to the configuration of the bay window or the bevel of one of the corners of the load-bearing wall. The question arises: how to live in it?

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What is wrong with the irregular shape
1. It is always a loss of precious meters. It seems that you paid for them, but you can’t really use them.

2. An asymmetrical room means difficulties in finding furniture. Arranging standard furniture in such a room is problematic. If the room is irregular in shape and not very large (within 20 sq.m), any voluminous object with right angles will emphasize its irregular configuration.

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3. The design of an irregularly shaped room is always a choice of “the lesser evils”. If there are almost no right angles in the room, then the overall furniture can only be placed in the center along one of the walls (for example, a bed in the bedroom or a sofa in the living room). This greatly limits the choice of ergonomic planning solutions.

4. You will have to order furniture of individual parameters, but it costs at least 30 percent more than the standard one.

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5. It is a difficult task to come up with an ergonomic layout in a complex-shaped apartment on your own. It is reasonable to entrust it to the designer and order a professional project. Consider this expense item if you are only considering buying an irregularly shaped apartment.

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Fact : some irregularities are not a shortcoming, but, on the contrary, a finding of the premises. Agree, you could fall in love with an apartment and buy it, for example, because of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the bay window area. When irregularity is desirable and you know how to work with it (you have a couple of planning decisions in your head for such a situation), there are no problems. In this article, we will deal more with unwanted irregularities and fix them.

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“Exampered” the layout before the purchase of the apartment
if you are visiting a future apartment carefully study its layout. At first glance, it may seem that there is no problem at all. On the plan, the details are usually not visible to a non-specialist. But then the discomfort in the new bedroom with rounded walls, in the living room with oblique corners and in the small kitchen, half of which is occupied by a ventilation shaft, will become acutely noticeable only after buying an apartment, repairing and moving.

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Study the layout on the developer's website in terms of practicality.

What to check: rounded walls, obtuse and sharp corners, niches and ledges, non-standard openings, room configuration that differs from the usual rectangle.

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Pay attention to the "whiskers"
"Ushenkas" are additional protruding corners (straight lines), which have turned out due to pylons or ventilation ducts.

Mustaches, as a rule, break the symmetry of the room. They will have to be beaten, which will greatly complicate the search for the right planning solution. If they are not used in any way, they will certainly create a feeling of discomfort. In addition, the joints of materials on the cuts often turn out to be sloppy, and the wear of materials is greater than on even planes or on internal corners.

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In the photo: pay attention - the protruding pylon with a technical hatch and the outlets above the line of the kitchen set were hidden with the help of color. All eyes on him

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Don't give in to the developer's persuasion
It's one thing when you come up with an unexpected layout, and the design of an irregularly shaped trapezoid room is a conscious step (as in the example in the photo). And completely different - the assurances of the developer that "the asymmetric composition of the room is a feature. " And apartments with bevelled corners are not at all cheaper than the same ones, but with straight ones. Do not confuse architectural flaws, which will then have to be corrected for a long time and costly, with the advantages of an unusual apartment.

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Important: We studied the layouts - ask for details. How are the communications going? Where are the technical nodes located? Anything that changes the standard dimensions or configuration of the premises will necessarily lead to more complex architectural solutions and higher repair costs. Think especially well about how you see the future design of an irregularly shaped room.

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1. Reshape the space
It's better to have a crooked corridor than to try to arrange the furniture in the bedroom "with a twist." You can reshape the interior space by moving, mounting / dismantling, and even building walls.

Irregularities are rectified due to transition zones: the rooms become more regular, and the corridor, hall or dressing room take on an uncomfortable shape (as in the previous photo).

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In the photo: kitchen design of an irregular shape. The kitchen was combined with the living room, and the broken configuration of the space works for the visual extension
2. Combine rooms
Another constructive way is to combine rooms. The larger the room in the end, the less obvious will be the imperfection of its shape. Uneven walls in a spacious room attract attention differently than in a small one. It is better to think over space zoning in such a way as to “tear off” the furniture from the walls and group it according to functional areas.

iPozdnyakov Studio

3. Where possible, try to smooth corners
Mustaches can be smoothed out using chamfers or furniture fillets. “Extra” walls and irregular shapes, of course, will remain, but a neat decor will reduce the degree of tension, the aggressiveness of the inner corner will go away.

Oleg Klodt Architecture & Design

4. Create an island of symmetry
If there is no way to “move” the walls, the strategic placement of furniture can hide the problem. For example, how to equip an irregularly shaped bedroom? Create an "island of symmetry" around the main piece of furniture. At the same time, it is desirable to make other objects in pairs, as in the example in the photo: you hardly noticed the bevel near the door.

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5. Switch your attention
The main point of attraction can be both the largest object and the most interesting one. It may not be furniture at all, but an object of art, a musical instrument or an architectural element, such as a window or a niche. An unusual stained-glass window in the project in the photo draws attention to itself.

6. Organize built-in storage
This tip applies especially to irregularly shaped bathrooms. It will be correct to fit a built-in wardrobe or a washing machine into a niche. The organization of a built-in storage system or a "technical corner" is another way to visually level the space.

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The design of round rooms is especially difficult in terms of configuration. Standard furniture will not fit into a radius or triangular room along the walls: most often you will have to make furniture to order.

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In the photo: the design of the room with a round wall - the countertop in the nursery is made to order

room sizes. Have you taken into account the thickness of the walls, the rise of the floor and the height of the room after finishing? If not, the item ordered “to measure” may simply not be included.

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8. Create additional axes of symmetry
Beveling one corner creates additional dynamics. Some items need to be oriented towards it. This technique works well with a sufficient length of the beveled wall.

9. Make it even more complicated
Not everyone likes strict and prim symmetry in the interior. Irregularities can become a reason for the game and for a more frivolous, "spontaneous" attitude to space. It will help to create additional axes with the help of the correct placement of furniture and decor, visual lowering of the ceiling or raising the floor.

10. Create optical illusions
Color and geometric pattern will help to make the shape of the room more harmonious. Close shades will smooth corners, visually remove shadows; bright ornaments will divert attention from problem areas and focus it on decorative elements. A great example in the photo: an irregularly shaped entrance hall in a St. Petersburg apartment.

ANNAmorphs.

11. Break the mold
It is easy to distort what is already distorted. Use lines that go from one surface to another. Or arrange the mirrors so that the illusion of a continuation of the space is created.

Korneev Design Workshop

12. Paint the walls and ceiling in the same tone
The uneven wall in the attic cannot be corrected constructively. In this case, the best strategy is to combine surfaces that form an unpleasant angle with the help of color or ornament.

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13. Wrap up the room with textiles
Asymmetric walls with windows are the easiest to fix. Run curtains all over the wall, as you did in this irregularly shaped living room.

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There are enough solutions to fix a bad layout. The interior of irregularly shaped rooms can be made very interesting. But still the main thing is your personal perception of space. Make a conscious choice for or against the wrong form. Weigh the pros and cons - both aesthetically and financially. And only then look for planning solutions that are right for you.

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The living room in the home is where, as the name suggests, guests are received. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.

If your family consists of several people, it is important to consider the interests of everyone. It is quite possible that for one of the family members, when designing the interior of a living room in an apartment, you will have to give space for working at a computer, doing creative work, even sports. All these points must be planned at the stage of designing the premises.

Determine the center of the living room

Living room design is inseparable from a competent layout. After looking at examples of photos of the living room in the apartment, you can see various space planning options. Of course, the choice depends on your preferences, as well as on the size and functionality of the room.

Under no circumstances should sofas and armchairs be placed around the perimeter of the room. Firstly, this is the last century, and the modern design of the living room categorically does not accept such a layout. In addition, you will clutter up the space with only recreational items, leaving no free space for other functional areas.

The best option for the interior of the living room is to highlight the central group around which the rest of the furniture will be grouped. As a rule, a recreation area with a TV and a sofa is chosen as the center of the composition.

A fireplace can also be a central element, next to which chairs, rocking chairs or even luxurious skins for relaxation will comfortably fit.

Standard set of furniture for designing a living room in an apartment:

  • sofa;
  • several chairs;
  • coffee or coffee table;
  • shelving for decorative items and/or books.

If the room is large, or it has to take on a diverse functional load, of course, you should not limit yourself to this. The living room may well have a desktop for a computer, chests of drawers and cabinets, a bar counter.

In order not to clutter up a cramped room too much, give preference to the transformer models that are popular today. Such furniture is very functional and allows you to perfectly save scarce space.

Choice of colors

If your living room is on the sunny side, then you are practically unlimited in the choice of colors for its decoration and furnishing. The contrasting interior design of the living room will look very interesting. For example, walls and floors can be decorated in cold colors, while furniture, in contrast, in warm colors.

Many modern interior styles welcome the clean slate living room design. This technique involves decorating the walls and ceiling with plain white plaster or paint. And furniture and decor elements can be selected in a variety of colors: bright or rich dark - to create a spectacular and stylish interior, delicate and pastel - for a light, cozy and elegant design.

For north-facing living rooms with little to no daylight, choose warm-coloured finishes. Such an interior design of the living room compensates for the lack of sun, makes the room cozy and conducive to relaxation no matter what.

And, of course, if the room is a bit dark, you should take care of good artificial lighting. Well-placed spotlights are best suited to illuminate every corner of your living room.

Of course, the choice of colors for decorating a room should also depend on what visual and emotional effect you want to achieve.

If the living room is intended for stormy parties and active pastime, then it makes sense to decorate it in bright, saturated colors.

If the owners want to indulge in a calm and relaxing holiday, then the interior of the living room should be to match. In this case, you should give preference to soft light tones or, conversely, deep and calm, but in no case flashy.

Finishing materials

The choice of finishing materials should largely depend on the style in which you would like to maintain the design of the living room in the apartment. So, paper wallpapers with romantic flowers are definitely not suitable for laconic hi-tech or minimalism. And Provence or country-style interiors will not be combined with bright carpets with psychedelic prints and ultra-modern wall coverings with fur or leather texture.

In addition, the shape and size of the room is of great importance. Properly selected finishes will perfectly smooth out the flaws of the room and focus on its merits. While a thoughtlessly chosen design can spoil even a spacious and bright room.

Walls

The classic rule is that for small rooms it is better to choose light shades. It always works flawlessly. However, if this solution seems too boring for you, you can try all sorts of interesting wall designs. Spectacular examples of wall design in the living room, photos of which are presented in our article, will help you navigate and choose the most attractive options for yourself.

For example, even smooth, light-colored walls can be made a spectacular interior detail by adding bright or simply contrasting color accents to them. See such unusual living room interior ideas in the photo below.

All kinds of plasterboard niches look very stylish. They not only diversify the interior, but also become its very functional detail. After all, they can accommodate both decorative elements and items needed in the household. And if such a niche is beautifully illuminated from the inside, this will create an interesting effect of depth.

The traditional option for decorating living room walls is wallpaper. Fortunately, today there is a great variety of them: both classic paper, and modern non-woven, and washable, and glass, and even innovative liquid wallpaper. If you are a lover of change, then you can pay attention to the wallpaper for painting. With such a finish, you can easily change the look of the room, at least several times a year. However, please note that, as a rule, such wallpapers are designed for a limited number of repaints.

Smoothly plastered or painted walls look great in modern interiors. At the same time, if you are a fan of the original design, you can pick up plaster with all sorts of beautiful and unusual textures. With its help, you can add a twist to your design and create a truly beautiful living room interior.

One of the fashion trends in modern design is the combination of materials. It is very important to use combinations of several finishes in one room: different types and shades of plaster, paint plus wallpaper, or even a combination of two types of wallpaper with different patterns and textures. See examples of such a living room design in the photo below.

Using this technique, you will not only be able to make your interior bright, stylish and original, but also successfully cope with the zoning of the room. As you know, for proper zoning, it is not enough to collect several diverse groups of furniture in one room. So that all this does not look like a "hodgepodge", it is necessary to highlight each of the functional areas with its own design elements. And here, the design of wall sections in different colors and even different textures is the best fit.

Ceiling

When choosing the design of the ceiling in the living room, first of all, start from the size of the room. No matter how much you like spectacular multi-tiered structures, in a small room, packed full of necessary furniture, they will look simply ridiculous. In no case do not overload the design of the room.

If the room is small, then the best option is a simple ceiling in light colors with built-in ceiling lights. A good design move would be a small cornice around the perimeter, it will add a sense of depth.

Another interesting solution for visually increasing the space is the so-called "floating" suspended ceilings. This is a two-tier structure with a small height difference and built-in lights mounted inside the "upper" tier in such a way that they themselves are not visible. This technique creates soft diffused light and an interesting depth effect. As a result, the room seems visually higher and more spacious.

However, remember that the design tricks you have listed are inappropriate for small rooms with high ceilings. If in such a room you try to “distance” the ceiling even more due to visual techniques, then you will feel in it like at the bottom of a bottomless well.

In narrow rooms with high ceilings, it makes sense, on the contrary, to reduce the height - through visual means or with the help of suspended structures. Then the living room will immediately seem more comfortable and suitable for a comfortable stay.

If you are lucky and your living room is spacious and has high enough ceilings, then feel free to experiment with their design.

Here, multi-level suspended structures, both laconic and intricate forms, stucco, columns, scallops, and complex lighting systems can be used.

The main thing is not to overdo it and stick to the intended design of the room. If the room is decorated in a ceremonial classical style, in the spirit of Baroque or Empire, then without a doubt, both bas-reliefs and columns will be appropriate. But for more concise modern styles, you should choose a simpler and more rigorous ceiling design.

If your living room will have several functional areas, then the zoning can be "supported" with the help of an appropriately designed ceiling.

For example, a central seating area with a sofa group and a TV set can be highlighted with a second tier of false ceiling. Depending on the general style of the room, both strict rectangular shapes and soft rounded lines may be appropriate.

The ceiling does not have to be white. Delicate, warm pastel shades will look perfect in almost any room.

Fans of more extravagant options can experiment with bright shades. It is not necessary to decorate the entire ceiling in saturated colors. However, if you highlight only part of it or one of the tiers with a spectacular shade, you will get a chic look.

As far as materials are concerned, it is best to avoid whitewashing and painting. After all, this will take a long time and carefully level the surface. An excellent modern solution is plasterboard suspended ceilings or stylish stretch models. They are quick to install, provide perfectly flat surfaces, and in addition, allow you to create a wide variety of design options.

Lighting

Just a few years ago, when choosing lighting, the issue was always decided in favor of a large ceiling chandelier. Of course, today there are many lovers of such lighting fixtures, including those decorated with numerous "crystal" pendants. However, you should not get hung up on this option, because modern manufacturers offer many interesting, stylish and comfortable options.

If you - due to adherence to traditions or in order to create a certain style of interior - have opted for a massive chandelier, you do not need to limit yourself to this. In any living room, additional sources of lighting will be appropriate: wall sconces, floor lamps and portable standing lamps.

Additional lighting sources perform several functions at once:

  • They allow you to well illuminate all corners of the room, leaving no terra incognita areas in it, where it is dark in the evening, even if you gouge out your eye.
  • Create separate lighting and comfort in each functional area. Thanks to a well-placed floor lamp or sconce, one of the family members with all the conveniences can read or work at a computer in the corner of the hall, while others have a “movie show” or an evening rest in the twilight on the sofa.
  • Can create decorative lighting in a niche, near art objects, etc.
  • They are additional decorative elements.

If you are a supporter of laconic design, then recessed ceiling lights are the best fit. They also allow you to create separate lighting in different functional areas of the living room. And besides, with their help you can always adjust the brightness and level of illumination of the room. And with all this, they remain almost invisible, do not overload the design and fit almost all interior styles.

It's safe to say that recessed ceiling lights are the best choice for a small room with low ceilings. But, at the same time, they will also be appropriate in a spacious hall.

Style Selection

Choose a style based on the tastes of the whole family. Look at photo examples of living room designs in a magazine, on the Internet, explore the various styles that are in abundance today.

Of course, the dimensions of the room must also be taken into account. In a small room in Khrushchev, a lush baroque or any other “palace” interior will look out of place. For small living rooms, it is best to choose a laconic design in the Scandinavian style, elegant classics or strict hi-tech or minimalism. Country and Provence are perfect, as these styles suggest comfort and emphatically home furnishings.

If your living room is large, then there is room to roam. In principle, a spacious room can be decorated in almost any style that you and your family like.

When choosing the style of the living room, be sure to take into account the features of the interior of the other rooms. Maintain style and harmony.

Classic

The classic style of the interior involves the use of the most natural materials. The whole environment should breathe quality and good taste. As part of this style, traditional furniture made of solid wood or at least high-quality MDF will be appropriate.

Classic interior colors are soft, calm, usually light. But in principle, within the framework of this style, almost any shades (except bright and flashy) will be appropriate if they are correctly beaten.

Elegant wallpaper, paintings, vases, traditional chandeliers, beautiful curtains - all this will be an excellent frame for an interior in a classic style.

Despite certain design rules, there are different directions for decorating a living room in the spirit of the classics. Within the framework of the classical style, several variations can exist at once:

  • refined and rich "palace", in which discreet gilding and more elaborate forms will be appropriate;
  • solid and reliable English style, suggesting solid furniture of simple shapes and unpretentious decor;
  • neoclassical, meaning lighter and simpler forms, expensive elegance without ostentatious luxury.

Minimalism and high-tech

High-tech and constructivism can also be combined under this general direction. All these styles imply laconic finishes, emphatically simple and modern furniture models, built-in lighting, and an abundance of technology.

Minimalism is characterized by soft colors, calm combinations, stylish and simple shapes.

For hi-tech, with all their similarities, saturated tones, metallic luster and a lot of glass are more characteristic. High-tech furniture or decor can have very unusual, but at the same time laconic and streamlined shapes.

Minimalistic interior of the living room is best suited for young and energetic people who keep up with the times, who do not attach much importance to luxurious surroundings, preferring simplicity and elegance of lines.

However, one should not think that a high-tech or minimalist interior is something from the category of “cheap and cheerful”. Such a design may well turn out to be much more expensive than some magnificent Empire style.

Country and Provence

These styles are perfect for lovers of home comfort, antiquity and rustic simplicity. If you want to enjoy peace as much as possible, relax and forget about the bustle of the city, then these are excellent options for the living room.

At the same time, country is deliberately rough, emphatically rural, with simple, almost unfinished furniture and themed textiles. It is characterized by natural, natural shades: soft light and dark green tones, the whole range of brown, light yellow, ocher. Of the prints, a large cage, as well as various variations of floral patterns, will be especially harmonious.

The Provence style, as it should be for a true Frenchman, is more refined, distinguished by a special chic and charm. It is characterized by lighter shades of furniture and finishes: white, cream, pale blue, turquoise, beige. Decor and textiles can be very flirtatious: with ruffles, scallops, flounces, etc.

Today, these design trends are very popular not only in the design of country cottages, but also in the decoration of city apartments. Therefore, in stores you can easily find furniture, decor and finishing materials that perfectly match these styles.

Scandinavian

This style is incredibly popular right now. The secret of its success is in the harmonious combination of minimalism, comfort and homeliness. It involves a simple and concise finish, convenient and comfortable furniture of simple shapes, stylish, but at the same time soft and not defiant decor.

The Scandinavian style is characterized by calm shades: white, beige, light gray, gray-green, pale blue, dark blue. Often in the colors of such an interior, a certain marine theme can be traced.

Living room interior in Scandinavian style is the perfect balance of functionality, convenience, modernity and home comfort. Stylish and modern upholstered furniture for the living room is perfect here, a photo of which you can see below.

Choosing furniture

Before you start choosing furniture for your living room, carefully consider what functional areas will be allocated in the room. Beautiful furniture for the living room, the photo of which can be seen below, is not all. It is important to correctly arrange it so that all the inhabitants and guests of the apartment feel cozy and comfortable.

If it is intended exclusively for families, then a comfortable sofa, armchairs, a TV stand and a couple of shelving will be enough. If space allows, you can add a coffee table, as well as small cabinets where you can place various decor items.

If you often arrange parties, like to receive and treat guests, then you will need a bar counter. It looks stylish, modern, spectacular, can serve as a place to store all kinds of items and will allow you to organize the serving of drinks and treats for guests in a very small area. In addition, the bar counter can be an excellent dividing element if you need to zone the living room.

Choose the dimensions of the sofa and the number of chairs depending on the number of family members and the possible number of guests. It makes no sense to choose an airfield sofa and three armchairs if you live alone and rarely receive guests. In this case, it is worth limiting yourself to more compact options and leaving more free space in the room - to create a feeling of spaciousness or to accommodate other functional elements.

If you expect your guests to occasionally stay overnight, then the choice of sofa should be approached especially carefully. Choose folding models, on which, if necessary, you can fully sleep. If there can be several overnight guests, then it makes sense to consider options for transforming chairs that can fold out and turn into a bed.

Modern design solutions, as a rule, do not involve the placement of solid cabinets in the hall. It is assumed that this tradition should remain in the Soviet past. However, if you don't have a walk-in closet and don't have enough space to place storage items in other rooms, no one can force you to give up a spacious closet in the living room.

In a classic interior, it can even be a solid wall. However, if you prefer more modern design trends, then it is better to pay attention to stylish wardrobes. For a small room, models with mirrored doors are perfect, they allow you to visually expand the space, and will not weigh down the interior as much as their counterparts with solid doors.

A small room should not be cluttered with a large number of pieces of furniture. Such an "abundant" environment will overwhelm, distract, and simply interfere with free movement around the room. If you don’t have a lot of things, then you definitely shouldn’t put a massive closet in the living room, limit yourself to a light and elegant rack. If you want to create a truly light and stylish design, pay special attention to the modern style living room furniture, the photo of which can be seen below.

If you do not plan to receive guests often, it makes no sense to purchase a grand dining table in the hall. In order to drink coffee or have a snack in front of the TV, an elegant coffee table will be quite enough. To save space, you can choose a functional transforming table, which will serve as both a stand and a storage for books and magazines, and, if necessary, can be expanded into a fairly full-fledged springboard for home meals.

Fireplace in the living room interior

If you want your living room to breathe genuine comfort and hospitality, consider purchasing a fireplace. Naturally, it is almost impossible to establish a real hearth in a city apartment. But today there are a lot of magnificent imitations on sale that will emphasize the elegance of the interior, create an atmosphere of comfort in the room and even be able to heat it.

An electric fireplace is perfect for an apartment. Do not think that this is a more beautiful analogue of the heater. In fact, modern manufacturers produce incredibly realistic models that amazingly imitate real flames. There are even models with sound and aroma accompaniment. That is, in front of you there will be not only the illusion of an open fire, but also real crackles, as well as the smells of burning logs.

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