Arranging Your Living Room Furniture

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When you look at your living room, does it seem like a puzzle that’s got a couple pieces missing or out of place? Or perhaps you’ve been turning your brain inside out trying to figure out how to perfectly fit all your living room furniture into a (potentially awkward) space you’ve just moved into?

Furniture layout can definitely feel like a puzzle. And sure, puzzles can be fun. But they can also drive you to insanity (just think of that 5000-piece ‘Polar Bear Roams the Glaciers’ gem you attempted single-handedly that one fateful Christmas…). Add in the fact that furniture pieces weigh a hundred times more than actual puzzle pieces, and you’ve got a recipe for the opposite of fun.

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Thankfully, arranging your living room needn’t be an exercise in bepuzzlement or back strain. To help you find your way to the zen of perfect living room flow, we’ve rounded up some key designer insights and tips that will help you create a space that lives up to its name as the most liveable and lived-in room in your home.

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Function first

But then the key question is, what defines a liveable living space for you? Is it a space for relaxed family time, entertaining, conversations round the coffee table, TV-bingeing, or perhaps enjoying a cosy fire as you take on your next 5000-piece challenge? Even if it’s a bit of an ‘all of the above’ kind of scenario, you’ll need to decide on your main priorities for how the room will be used to be able to create an effective layout. Any designer worth their salt knows that form equals function. Everyone wants a beautiful and stylish living area, but style has to serve function or you’ll just end up with beautiful chaos that’s less than liveable. Decide on, say, your first and second priorities for the space, and you’ll start gaining a clearer idea of how your furniture layout should meet those needs.

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Find a focal feature

Once you’ve decided on your living room’s raison d'être, the next logical step is to choose a focal point in the room that your furniture will be oriented around to serve the room’s main purpose. In some cases, this may have already been decided for you (that slightly intimidating mantelpiece?), or by you (when you fell in love with those incredible French doors opening onto the oversize balcony). If there is no existing focal point, you’ll want to create one. For a lot of us, this will by default be our beloved flatscreen – bearer of all binge-worthy entertainment. But perhaps you’re one of the few remaining refined folk out there who still prize face to face interaction over screen time, in which case you’ll likely want to create a central conversation area around your coffee table, or have your furniture cosy up to the fireplace, if you’re lucky enough to have one.

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Once you have your focal point, think of it as the sun. Let your furniture be pulled in towards its gravitation force, while still keeping a ‘safe’ distance.

• A roughly semi-circular seating arrangement will create a cosy chat and chill zone around the fireplace.
• Sofas and chairs encircling a large coffee table clearly says ‘conversation space.’
• Or combine the two with seating on either side of your coffee table with the mantel to one end for a slightly more traditional setting.
• Remember to space seating no more than 2.5m apart for comfortable conversation.

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Make room to breathe

One of the most common mistakes in living rooms is trying to fit in too much, which will quickly make the space feel cramped. If you’ve got limited space, focus on the key pieces that will make it a comfortable room for your family’s daily use, rather than trying to cater for occasional guests – you could include a multi-functional ottoman or keep a few extra seats in the adjacent room that you can bring out when needed. The important thing is to give each piece of furniture enough breathing room. Here’s a few ways to create the ‘negative space’ that will give your room a spacious feel:

• Avoid placing your seating right up against the walls – allow about a 10cm gap.
• Place an area rug at least 60cm away from any nearby walls in a larger room, or between 25 and 45cm from the walls in a smaller room.
• Allow at least 45-75cm walking room between large furniture items.
• For a smaller size room, go with smaller scale furniture pieces.

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Feel the flow

A room will also feel more spacious when there is a clear flow through the space – in other words, when you can walk in and easily access the main function of the room without having to dodge your way around the furniture. Create a clear pathway from point A to B that is as short and straight as possible, and your room will immediately feel open and welcoming.

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Create clear spaces

In larger living areas, and particularly open-plan multi-functional living spaces, the key is to create clearly defined spaces where different activities take the focus, while still maintaining a natural flow and sense of cohesion through the space. Thinking in terms of these different ‘zones’ (which might include a TV area, dining area, smaller conversation areas, work or craft area, or a play zone for the kids) will help you figure out where and how to place your furniture in an organized and functional way. For instance, a sectional sofa can be a great way to help divide the room without truly dividing it. If you don’t like the look of the back of a sofa, you can place a narrow console table behind it with a lamp or some pretty decor.

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Area rugs are also a great way to help delineate different zones. Just be sure to use rugs that are big enough so they anchor the space – all furniture in a seating arrangement should be able to sit with at least the front legs on the rug, while dining chairs should fit comfortably on the rug when pulled out from the table.

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Find your balance

Creating balance and visual harmony is an important part of any design project. When it comes to arranging furniture, the weight, style and shapes of your furniture pieces will all affect visual balance. A few pointers to keep in mind:

• Avoid grouping all your heavier furniture pieces in one area, and then a bunch of lighter, more slender style pieces in another area - the space will feel all wrong.
• Aim for a variety of sizes, styles and shapes throughout the space to create a good visual spread.
• If your main seating and larger furniture pieces are all quite angular or rectangular, then try bringing in a few round side tables, or perhaps a round or oval coffee table to balance things out.
• Colour also factors into balance. For instance, if you’ve got a lot of neutral toned furniture pieces, add in a few accent colours with cushions, throws, and other décor to round out the look.

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Keep things in proportion

Another important aspect of balance is proportion. For starters, the scale of your furniture pieces should be appropriate to the size of the space you’re working with (you don’t want to feel like a giant living in a dollhouse, or like your furniture’s lost and floating in a giant room). Pieces also need to be in proportion relative to each other. For example, a coffee table should be around two thirds the length of your main couch, while side tables should be roughly the height and depth of the arms of the seating they’re serving. Even artwork needs to be in proportion to the furniture for the space to feel balanced – a wall behind a large couch, for example, will need an artwork, mirror or gallery display that’s at least two thirds the length of the couch.

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Prioritise the practicalities

This point goes back to ‘function first’. Creating a liveable living room starts with the big idea, but it also comes down to the smaller details that will help make this a room you’ll feel happy, relaxed and comfortable to be in. So, once you’ve got your ‘outline’ in place, think through the practicalities of how you’ll be using the space, down to where you’ll keep the TV remote, set down your drink, or put up your feet. Having the room well organised from the start will also help prevent it from turning into clutter city. Here are a few points to cross off your list:

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• Ensure every seat has easy access to either the coffee table or a side table at arm’s length, so you set down your drink, phone, or the remote without having to evict the cat from your lap!
• Make sure your TV viewing seats are at a comfortable distance and angle – ideally, between 2.5m and 3.5m away, at no more than a 30 degree angle from the screen.
• If you have some nappers in the family, designate a handy place to reach those extra blankies and stash them away again easily so your living room doesn’t turn into a blanket fort.
• Remember to lighten up the mood with well-balanced lighting. Make the most of natural light (avoid blocking it with furniture and heavy window dressings), use table lamps on side tables, shelves or the mantelpiece, place a floor lamp at the end of couch or behind an armchair, or add a couple of sconces to really up the atmosphere.

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With these key concepts in mind, you should be well on your way to creating a workable ‘outline’ as well as filling in many of the details for a comfortable and stylish living area. Of course, every space is unique and there are no one-size-fits-all blueprints for a perfect layout to suit your needs and tastes. Online floor planner apps are a convenient way to try out different layout options, or simply sketch your own floor plan and let the puzzle fun begin!

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Wherever your living room plan is at, why not visit Cielo online or instore for a wide range of stylish living room furniture and décor to inspire your space.

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