Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large (2024)

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Take the guesswork — and backbreaking experimenting — out of furniture arranging with these living room layout concepts

Charmean NeithartMay 20, 2013

One of the first things I do when I see a room for the first time is study the options for furniture arrangement. Sometimes there can be more than one great option. Occasionally, things like windows, a fireplace or doorways can limit options and stump the homeowner on how to place furniture.

Living rooms are one of my favorite rooms to decorate. Living rooms sometimes get a bad rap as the most underused room in the house, and some homes don't even have them. They're fairly traditional spaces with no specific utility, like a kitchen or bathroom. I think that's why I like decorating them; it's all about the furniture. Here are some great examples of furniture floor plans that not only look great, but take full advantage of the rooms' architectural features.

Cornerstone Architects

I like to start on a furniture floor plan by considering the various angles of the room. This gorgeous space in an open-concept setting takes advantage of the view with two floated sofas that create a version of a sectional focused toward the outdoors.

Cornerstone Architects

From a different angle, it is clear how creating a corner with the

sofas

creates a visual separation from the dining space just behind the living room.

Ownby Design

This handsome living room is eye catching with its strong neutrals, and the designer also pulled off major challenges. The living room is just beyond the front door, so a

long console table

was placed behind the first sofa to create a sense of entry. The two facing sofas provide great symmetry, adding to the transitional feel of the room. Two chairs were placed in front of the fireplace, which is in the corner. The fireplace in this case acts as a backdrop rather than the focal point.

Ownby Design

Floating the furniture in this case was the best strategy. From the opposite angle, it is clear that this room takes advantage of the gorgeous view at the same time as it provides comfortable seating for TV watching.

Erika Bonnell Interiors

Here is a common condition in a smaller room with lots of big windows. Don’t be afraid to pull the furniture away from the walls. This classic arrangement makes a small room feel larger, with many seats for guests to choose from. Notice the

ottoman

in lieu of a coffee table. A tray provides a hard surface for flowers or drinks. The curtains have a natural place to fall since furniture is pulled away from the walls.

Spacecrafting / Architectural Photography

The sofa placement in this space provides a visual break from the kitchen.

Two chairs side by side

in front of the French doors provide additional seating but don’t block the view. The two smaller stools placed in front of the fireplace provide more places to sit but do not crowd the main seating area or block the view to the fireplace.

MuseInteriors

This classic furniture arrangement features twin sofas facing each other with a great coffee table in between. Consider a low and long chaise longue to separate a long space and help define two seating areas.

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

Use a center table to divide two spaces. Oversize rooms can be just as tricky as small rooms; they can feel cold and cavernous. The goal is to bring them down to a human scale and encourage comfortable gathering.

Jill Litner Kaplan Interiors

If you have a fireplace off to one side, consider one lounge chair to the side while creating a corner with sofas opposite the chair. This creates visual symmetry. Notice the

great game table

in the corner that sits in the window with all the glorious sunlight.

I love the choice of two chairs here with the sofa opposite. The look of the chairs in front of the French doors is light and airy. Also, the chair placement leaves enough space to create a nice vignette to the left of the fireplace. Always try to include small tables next to seating for setting down drinks or books. I prefer tables that are not pairs but have individual character.

Jamesthomas Interiors

Bookshelves make great backdrops. This is a very small room with the challenge of a corner fireplace. The

bookcase

adds depth and visual scale to the room. This small space has room for at least eight adults because of its clever chaise longue placement as extra seating.

Marie Burgos Design

The classic sectional is still a great option. I think there is great versatility in this floor plan. It features a large, comfortable sectional for TV watching, two extra chairs that add interest and a mobile piece for holding the TV. The height of the TV stand adds a transitional vibe to the industrial aesthetic.

Find an interior designer to help you with your floor plan

Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large (2024)

Take the guesswork — and backbreaking experimenting — out of furniture arranging with these living room layout concepts

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