The living room is usually the largest room in your home. Built to be a wide open, large space, it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly how to arrange the furniture in the living room in order make it look appealing as well as encourage people to get the most out of this gathering point.
Certainly, every homeowner has the right to choose and design the layout of the furniture in their home, but it's always a good idea to get some fresh ideas and a new perspective.
For Intimate Conversations
One very popular choice for living rooms is to arrange furniture in order to encourage intimate conversations. By positioning two sofas, one sofa and a pair of comfortable chairs, or four chairs across from one another, people will naturally find themselves drawn into conversation with one another.
The key to jump-starting great conversations in a living room is to carefully tie in a focal point with the face-to-face positioning of the furniture. Whether it's a fireplace, big screen television, or signature artwork, a focal point naturally draws you to a specific area. By arranging the furniture so the focal point is not located within anyone's direct view, people will naturally turn to one another for conversation and banter.
Even when it's just one person in the living room, this arrangement works very well for activities like reading, listening to music, or working on a computer. You can also increase the intimacy of your living room by adding ottomans and sofa pillows to further help denote the usable space.
Flow
Many of today's new homes are built with open concept layouts, meaning there are no interruptions in lines of sight. While a large, open living room creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, it's essential to make the furniture arrangement consistent with the visual flow of rooms like these.
Start by imagining how you want the living room to be used. Is it a room that lies between another room (say, a kitchen) and a patio out back? If so, the flow of the room should encourage easy passage through the space. But if you plan to use your living room for the entire family, group events, and interacting with an entertainment centre, it's essential to make all the furniture easily accessible.
Another key aspect of preserving flow is to avoid creating any bottlenecks or "dead ends." Many people choose to put a sectional sofa in the corner and build the rest of their living room furniture arrangement around it. But the simple act of pulling the sofa back from the wall allows light and air to circulate better, preventing corners or side areas from feeling far from the rest of the room. Wherever possible, don't let any furniture rest directly against a wall.
Strategically position lamps, large potted plants, corner tables, or simple decor items for your living room, in spaces that are too far from the action for people to sit.
For Parties and Special Events
If you do intend for your living room to be a place to host special events, parties, or get-togethers with friends and colleagues, it's important to arrange your living room furniture for maximum effect.
For groups, the key concepts are a large focal point (usually an entertainment centre, but it can also be a window, fireplace, or artwork) with a wide open flow to direct newcomers to a selection of seating.
Be sure to include plenty of end tables, coffee tables, corner stands, and other flat surfaces where guests can set down their snacks or drinks. Make sure lighting is adequate and well-spaced without seeming overly harsh or blinding.
At the same time, keep in mind there will probably be a steady flow of food and drinks coming in and out of the kitchen, so make sure there's a direct path without any obstacles that might cause people to stumble. Guests will notice if your setup feels cramped.
Flexibility
With a little foresight, it's usually possible to find a furniture arrangement that gives you the flexibility to convert from just one or two people using the room to enough space for a larger gathering. Items like coffee tables, throw rugs, throw pillows, and small furniture items such as ottomans can easily be re-arranged to suit your needs.
Online Tools
If you're struggling to imagine how your living room would look with a different furniture arrangement but don't want to go through the effort of physically moving every item, there are a number of great online tools available to help you get a better idea of what a new layout might look like.
Room Styler 3D allows you to create interactive three-dimensional floor plans for free. Available in both metric and standard measurements, Roomstyler lets you easily drag, drop, and reposition furniture with the click of a mouse.
Planner 5D is probably the most sophisticated home visualizer available and is compatible with Windows, Android, and Apple mobile devices. Planner 5D lets you create simple room layouts or extremely detailed three-dimensional architectural plans.
Armstrong Flooring has a free online tool that will help you imagine how different furniture layouts will look in your home. Best of all, this online tool allows you to upload a photo of your home's living room to get started, allowing you to easily see what different layouts and designs would look like.
Thankfully, it's now easier than ever to make smart use of large interior home spaces such as a living room. Whether it's by using architectural software and online design tools or by consulting helpful tips and tricks for arranging your furniture, you can quickly find a furniture arrangement that works best for your needs.
