How to plan a living room layout

How To Plan A Living Room Layout

What's the secret to planning the perfect living room layout? As the main communal space in the house, living rooms are the settings for so much of family life – socialising, chilling, greeting guests – so whether the room is small, long and thin, dark or flooded with light, following these rules will help you get it right the first time.

What's my dream room?

According to TV presenter and House Beautiful’s sustainable design expert Oliver Heath, 'Creating the room of your dreams will inevitably come from doing your research and working out exactly what it is that makes you go "wow!"'.

Consider what you want your living room to be and then work out what you want to include in it. If you want it to be a social space for chatting with family or entertaining friends, then you may want to have your sofas or chairs facing each other. But if the space is more for family to relax and chill in, then you might go for a single corner sofa facing a large TV and maybe some cuddler chairs.

Decide now, too, about coffee and side tables, floor lamps, footstools and any extra seating. And don't forget to include storage for all those things a living room might have to house from books and magazines to DVDs, CDs, gaming consoles and children's toys. Choose your storage based on whether you want these on display or behind closed doors.

CreativaStudioGetty Images

Create a moodboard

Oliver Heath recommends collecting images and samples to create a moodboard. 'Include flooring, furniture, focal points, wall coverings, fabrics, textures, lighting and plants,' he says. 'You’ll want to edit this of course but it will help to identify the room of your dreams. If you can access this moodboard through an app on your phone it can really help you to make the right stylistic choices when you’re out shopping.'

A spreadsheet outlining the items that you need, your specific choices and your intended budget is also essential. 'This will help you keep track of your priorities, key dimensions, where to buy it and importantly, what you’re spending,' says Oliver.

Layouts for your living room shape

Small: A room is considered small if any dimension is less then 3m, says DIY guru Jo Behari. 'To create an airy feeling, you need to use the space you have efficiently, and definitely go for lighter colours,' she advises. 'Natural daylight makes a room feel bigger so don’t crowd the windows with bulky fabrics and window coverings. A few eye-catching items in the corner of the rooms can elongate the room making it feel larger.'

Make paper templates of the pieces of furniture you want to include and arrange them in situ, leaving enough space between each item so that you can walk comfortably around the furniture. If you struggle to fit everything into a smaller room, look for steamlined furniture such as a nest of tables in place of a bulky coffee table, a smaller two-seater sofa, or slimline vertical storage that uses height rather than floor space.

Wall lights and spots fixed to a track on the ceiling take away the need for table lamps as both can be directed towards certain areas to provide task lighting. And finally, include mirrors or other reflective surfaces as these will help bounce light around the room and create a feeling of openness.

Carolyn Barber

Long thin rooms, where one length is more than 3m, need clever lighting and benefit from zoning into different areas such as sitting areas, reading spots and a home office. 'To plan the room effectively you need to detach yourself from it and its current function. List all the functions you need it to achieve, be it lounging, entertaining, office space, kids den, adult living area, reading nook or spot for listening to music – literally anything that you want it to be,' says Jo. 'Oversized items can absorb the space, and keeping the main walkway to one side will help the room flow.'

Open storage or shelving units work well in a long thin room as they make good space dividers, helping to create different zones or a visual break for the eye.

Large rooms, where one dimension is larger than 9m, may feel like a blessing but items can often feel lost. This is where a mixture of open and closed door storage units can help, as they can not only zone large spaces, but also provide surfaces to display flowers, picture frames and other accessories which lend personality to the room.

'Large plants help to create a cosy feeling while two tone wall colours break up the room and again zones can help the room provide multiple functions,' says Jo. 'Statement pieces work well in large rooms so look out for items that might be a talking point and give your room a focus.'

Robert Sanderson

Adding the wow factor!

Once the basics are in place, you can get on with adding the wow factor, and you can do that in a number of ways, says Oliver Heath. For instance via window dressings – full-length curtains are ideal for adding texture, pattern or a cosy feel, while blinds and shutters give a more pared-back, streamlined look – and then cushions, throws and rugs, and artworks or framed family photos can be hang on the walls.

'You can add the wow factor in one or a number of different ways,' says Oliver. 'It could be an elaborate feature wall created from a paint colour, wallpaper or cladding, or it could be in the coordination of colours, patterns and textures. But a carefully considered and sparkling lighting plan will always win my vote!'

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12 Living Room Layout Ideas That Are Timeless

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 06/11/22

Christy Q. Photo / Cathie Hong Interiors

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.

01 of 12
Twin Sofas

Tessa Neustadt / Emily Henderson Design

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.
02 of 12
Oversized Sofa + Credenza

Ajai Guyot / Emily Henderson Design

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.
03 of 12
Living Room + Home Office

Morsa Images / Getty Images

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.
04 of 12
Floating Sectional + Armchairs

John McClain Design

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.
05 of 12
Scattered Seating

Sara Ligorria-Tramp / Emily Henderson Design

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.
06 of 12
All Chairs

Alvin Wayne

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.
07 of 12
Couch + Occasional Chair + Pouf

Alvin Wayne

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.
08 of 12
Off Center

DBurns Interiors

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.
09 of 12
TV Zone

Studio KT

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.
10 of 12
Away From the Wall

Sara Ligorria-Tramp / Emily Henderson Design

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.
11 of 12
Double Duty

Midcity Interiors

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.
12 of 12
Sofa + Daybed

ShutterWorx / Getty Images

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.

Living room layout: tips for creating a modern and comfortable space

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

The layout depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, the size of the windows, the availability of adjacent rooms, the needs and taste of the owner of the house, as well as the budget. Before buying furniture or tearing down interior floors, ask yourself a few questions.

What will you do in the living room: watch TV with your family, host guests, have parties every Friday, work at the computer, read, meditate, do yoga? Will friends or relatives stay in this room for the night? nine0003

When you understand the purpose of a room, you don't make fatal mistakes. The secret to successful planning is to build on functionality rather than chasing fashion trends.

Photo: Instagram myinterior

Living room planning tips

Determine the lightest and darkest areas in the room to correctly distribute the functional areas and understand where you need to increase lighting.

Design a "meaning center" based on your needs. It can be a hammock for relaxation or a home theater. Further arrangement of furniture and other interior items will "dance" from this center. nine0003

Photo: pixabay. com

Photo: Instagram myinterior

Start planning with the arrangement of large furniture: sofa, armchairs, wardrobe.

Try to keep a balance between occupied and free space (at least 1:1). The more free space, the more comfortable your stay in the room will be.

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

It is also important to leave a passage between the furniture: residents and guests must move freely and not touch the corners.

Think in advance where and how the equipment will be located (TV, speakers, music center, computer). Do you have enough outlets or do you need more? It is important to maintain a safe distance from the screen and speakers to the viewer.

Photo: Instagram living room grib_asya

Doors and windows, of course, are needed in the room, but they “eat up” the usable area. Keep in mind that they should open and close freely, and provide a place for this. nine0003

Think about how to create a bright accent that will attract attention. It can be a picture, a panel, photographs, an unusual floor lamp or colored pillows on the sofa.

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Upholstered furniture can be arranged in different ways: parallel or opposite each other.

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

And here are examples of corner placement:

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

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letter "P" or around the coffee table:

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Think about your "semantic" center: TV, painting, fireplace. Focusing on it, arrange sofas and armchairs.

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

If you live in a one-room apartment or the apartment has too small footage, most likely the living room will play several more related roles. For example, it will become a place to sleep or eat. In this case, it is important to correctly distribute the functional areas. nine0003

Here are a few ways:

Build a partition wall or neat column.
Keep part of the main wall after redevelopment.
Highlight areas with light.
Use finishing materials of different texture and color.
Delimit the area with furniture.
Zoning the space with textiles: curtains, curtains, carpet.

The most important thing in zoning is to stick to a single style, otherwise a sharp difference (color or stylistic) will create visual dissonance. nine0003

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Small living room

On this square, you need to fit a corner for watching TV, relaxing, receiving guests, a bed, and, possibly, a table for festive dinners.

Photo: Instagram dizain_interioriera_1

Experts have tricks for arranging tiny spaces:

Use light colors on walls and floors to visually expand the space.
Do not overload the room with unnecessary things.
Clear the window for more light.
Must-have - transforming furniture: sofa bed, chairs, table.

A compact room is not a reason to refuse a corner sofa. On the contrary: sometimes it is better to use one large sofa than many small items.

Photo: pixabay.com myinterior

Kitchen-living room

The combination of living room and kitchen is a controversial issue that has many pros and cons.

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

On the one hand, if the kitchen is very small, and a refrigerator and a table for five people do not fit on it, then the decision to combine is reasonable. On the other hand, even the most competent zoning will not save you from the smells of fried chicken and will not let you doze off in front of the TV if someone rattles dishes in the kitchen. nine0003

Still, many Russians like the uniqueness and modernity that such a combination gives, despite its disadvantages.

The resulting large room can be clearly divided into functions.

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But in a tiny space, there is little room for maneuver, so feel free to mix zones. nine0003

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Different floor coverings will help to mark the boundaries. A subtle moment is the docking of coatings, think it over in advance so as not to stumble later.

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Photo: Instagram kristina_arteb

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Sharing functional areas with furniture is a grateful thing. A sofa, a kitchen island, a dining table, a bar counter, an unusual countertop or any other idea of yours will come to the rescue. Furniture is good because it divides the space into independent parts and at the same time retains "air". nine0003

Photo: Instagram deborah_cortelazzi

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Photo: Instagram solo_design_studio

So, the solution to put the sofa close to the dining table is optimal for small spaces where you need to combine the kitchen, dining room and living room.

Photo: Instagram romkor

You can combine functional spaces with a TV, built-in wardrobe, color. And to make kitchen appliances less noticeable, put column cabinets. They can remove the oven, microwave, coffee machine, washing machine or refrigerator. This solution will help balance the interior so that the kitchen does not draw attention to itself. nine0003

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Living-dining room

If the living room has a large enough area, you can select a dining area. This is at least elegant and unusual for a typical apartment. A beautiful dining table will add coziness and comfort to family holidays.

nine0002 Photo: Instagram u.

kvartira

Photo: Instagram u.kvartira

A place for eating can be placed behind the sofa, or it can be fenced off with columns or racks. Often it is not hidden, but rather highlighted with the help of lighting. For a stylistic combination of two sections in the decoration, the same or harmonizing colors are used.

eight

photo nine0002 Photo: Instagram interiorhints

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Living room-bedroom

Combining two seemingly incompatible areas - public and private - is a forced decision in a one-room apartment. The most important task in this case is to distinguish them as much as possible.

First, decide where the bed or sofa for sleeping will be. The place should not be passable. The space near the window, which is often located on the opposite side of the door, is well suited.

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Photo: Instagram atriumgroup

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You can separate the bed from the guest area using textiles. All sorts of curtains do an excellent job with this task: dense, light from bamboo or beads. The advantage of such curtains is that they can be folded or removed during the day.

nine0002 Photo: Instagram interiero

Photo: Instagram topinterdesign

Living room in a private house

Living room in country houses, as a rule, is located on the ground floor and is the largest, central room. Sometimes it is combined with a kitchen and a dining room to unite all public spaces on the ground floor.

Photo: Instagram myinterior

Photo: pixabay.com

But you can go against the rules and place the living room in the attic! nine0003

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

In addition, in houses built according to individual projects, there are often bay windows, and they can be used to advantage, because then the living room from a boring quadrangular room will turn into an unusual space for relaxation. The main thing is that the bay window and the living room should be decorated in the same style.

Photo: Instagram heftiba

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Photo: Instagram myinterior

When the room area is not too large, and the ceiling height is less than 3 m, large windows help out, and even better - panoramic glazing. nine0003

Photo: Instagram myinterior

Photo: Instagram chastityco

If the living room is spacious and the family is large, choose a roomy sofa so that everyone, including pets, can sit on it.

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900 a private corner with a small sofa or armchairs where two or three people can talk away from everyone else.

Photo: Instagram interiorhints

What to avoid when planning

Furniture, standing around the perimeter along the walls and in the corners, is a familiar option, loved by many since Soviet times, but a little old-fashioned.

Dare to step back from the baseboards and center your sofa, armchairs or bookcase! This can be done in almost any room, with the exception of a narrow rectangular one. But even in this case, you should not be afraid to put a small table or chair in the center.

Photo: Instagram planirovochka_ru

Do not hang the TV on the opposite wall from the window, otherwise you will be plagued by glare on the screen. nine0003

A single chandelier in the center of the living room is a typical lighting system in most Russian apartments and houses. But such light is uncomfortable and casts harsh shadows. Combine other light sources with the ceiling - wall sconces, floor lamps, lamps. Together, they create soft lighting that can be adjusted and add to the coziness.

Photo: Instagram planirovochka_ru

The abundance of plasterboard, arches or columns, even if they are made with impeccable taste, can look cumbersome in small apartments. As well as multi-level ceilings, which have recently lost their relevance. nine0003

In addition, it is better to do without decorative accents at the joints of the floor coverings: try to keep them as neutral and inconspicuous as possible.

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how much clutter.

Think twice before making walls or floors too bright. Even if a photo wallpaper with a huge peony or a burgundy accent wall looks really beautiful and you really like it, it is possible that over time they will begin to strain and oppress. nine0003

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Bright accents that can be easily replaced in objects: textiles (curtains, pillowcases, carpet) removable paintings, photographs and so on.

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Photo: Instagram interiorhints

For the designer's opinion on what other trends in housing design have lost their relevance, see the video:

? – tips and tricks for furnishing

What to consider when planning?

Before proceeding with the design of the main room, it is necessary to determine the starting point. You will need the following input data:

Size. It is logical to assume that the layout of a large living room will differ from a small one: the amount of furniture, its dimensions for spacious, compact rooms also differ. In the layout of the hall, the width of the walls, the height of the ceilings are important.
Form. The space can be regular (square, rectangle) or irregular (pentagon, l-shaped, with a bay window) shape.
Windows, doors. More precisely - their number, size, location. Often it is the openings that dictate the arrangement of furniture on the plan. nine0094
Functional. It happens "imposed" - for example, in studios where the halls are combined with kitchens. Or supposed - in the case when the owner or designer decides to combine the living room with the dining room, office, bedroom.
Peculiarities. In apartments, living rooms are often made walk-through, which affects interior design. In houses, the location of objects can be influenced by elements such as a fireplace, stairs, mansard roof, access to the yard.

Features in size and shape of the living room

They are distinguished by area

Large

The average values of a spacious living room start from 20 m2: enough to divide the space into functional areas, accommodate all the necessary furniture, leave room for free movement.

Small

Shape options

Square

It is traditionally believed that square rooms are the most convenient for planning. The opinion is correct if the entire hall is a recreation area. Then it is appropriate to place a coffee table in the center, next to it is a sofa, armchairs, on the contrary - a TV or a projector screen, there will be enough space on the sides of the media zone for shelving with books or decorative elements, or indoor flowers. nine0003

Central lighting is enough, but it is better to make several scenarios: bright, subdued, decorative.

A completely different calico arises when the task is to divide the living room into zones: in a square, especially a small one, only visual techniques are allowed.

Rectangular

There is an unwritten rule in the layout of such a living room: the narrower the room, the more visual expansion techniques will be required. Of the benefits - rectangles are ideal for zoning. nine0003

Spacious living rooms from 16 square meters can be divided by physical partitions, screens, curtains, furniture (wardrobe, shelving, sofa), literally breaking one elongated room into 2 square ones.

If the area is small or you do not want to split up a narrow living room, use visual techniques: you can highlight the zone with color, light, texture accents.

You can expand the room by laying the floor or carpet with a geometric pattern, photo wallpaper with a 3D effect, painting short walls in dark colors (and long ones in light), lighting across. nine0003

Incorrect

Anything that does not fit the description of a square and rectangle is considered an irregular shape. Most common:

5-6-coal. Squares or rectangles with bevelled corners on one side take over all the pros / cons of the main figure. But on the other hand, they require special attention in the place of an additional angle. It’s easier to put up with a feature than to fight: we emphasize the “fifth corner” with a fireplace, armchairs, paintings, decorative posters or framed photos. nine0094
L-shaped. On the one hand, the letter G is not the most convenient option for planning a living room. On the other hand, a ready-made solution for dividing the hall into zones. In one part they make out a space for relaxation, in the other - a bedroom, dining room, office or whatever.

Quite often there are walk-through rooms, which, according to all the rules, cannot be physically arranged - at least, additional doors will interfere. It is their location that must be taken into account in the design of the living room. For example, 2 exits opposite each other in the center of the living room literally divide it in half. Diagonal exits in the plan are also taken into account: the arrangement of furniture will be diagonal. nine0003

Important! Do not block the path between the two doors - otherwise your family will constantly stumble over the furniture, experiencing discomfort.

The main differences in the functionality of the room

In the previous section, we already mentioned in passing what other functions a room can perform. Let's go through them in more detail.

Kitchen-living room

Usually the largest living room is combined with the kitchen. You can initially buy an apartment with such a layout (studio or euro), or make redevelopment in existing housing (with the exception of gasified houses, in which the kitchen must be closed). nine0003

The most popular idea for planning a living room combined with a kitchen is to separate it with a sofa. It is he who acts as the boundary between the cooking and recreation area. But this role can also be played by an island, a peninsula, a bar counter, a dining table.

Dining room

Unfortunately, in most kitchens there is very little space, it is not possible to gather all family members at one table. Therefore, modern homeowners prefer to transfer the dining space to the living room: look at the photo options for arranging a table with chairs. nine0003

Office

In the heyday of telecommuting, having a workspace at home is not a whim, but rather a necessity. If there is no separate room for work in the apartment, it can be arranged in the hall: a straight or corner table can be placed in an empty corner, or a console can be installed behind the back of the sofa in the center of the living room.

Bedroom

Not everyone likes to sleep on the couch, in a one-room apartment the question often arises about the placement of the sleeping area. Use horizontal or vertical zoning. The second is more suitable for apartments with high ceilings - the bed is placed under the ceiling on a special platform. nine0003

Nuances for living rooms in a private house

The purpose of a hall in a country house is no different from the same room in an apartment. But there are certain architectural features that should be considered when planning:

Fireplace or stove. If imitation is often done in apartments, then real hearths are usually placed in houses. They have a lot of advantages, including creating a cozy atmosphere.
Learn more

How to plan a living room layout