Living Room Furniture Layouts That Make the Most of Your Space

Use these living room layout ideas to find an arrangement that suits your space. The options for how to place furniture in a living room are nearly endless. The best way to position your sofa, chairs, accent tables, and more generally depends on the shape of your room and what it’s used for.

1. Living Room Layout Ideas for a Fireplace

The fireplace is the natural focal point of a living room. Flank each side with seating, which could be two sofas or a sofa and a pair of chairs, and place a large coffee table in the middle. Leave the side opposite the fireplace open to allow entrance into the seating area.

2. Layout Ideas for Bay Windows

Turn a bay window into a quiet spot for two with a pair of comfortable chairs and an ottoman. Provide the chairs with a lamp table, so you’ll have light for reading at night and a place to rest a beverage. If possible, position the arrangement within the pop-out area to distinguish the seating from the rest of the room.

3. Cozy Living Room Layout Ideas

Consider your home’s architecture when deciding how to arrange living room furniture. An expanse of south-facing windows, for example, makes a sunny, inviting spot for a seating area. A pair of chairs with a set of stools converts this well-lit corner into a cozy spot for two.

4. Small Living Room Layout Ideas

Scale down the size of your furniture choices when decorating a small living room. For example, you can create a greater sense of space and openness with a collection of chairs rather than using sofas or love seats. The scale of these armchairs suits the smaller living room, while petite stools take the place of bulkier ottomans.

5. Open Living Room Layout Ideas

In an open concept living room, use furniture arrangements to divide the space into different activity zones. Here, a table and chairs gather on one side of the room, providing a spot for informal meals or games. On the other side of the room, a sofa and chairs form a conversation cluster around the fireplace.

6. Furniture Arrangement for Lounging

In living rooms where lounging and TV-watching are the main activities, a sectional sofa offers flexible, comfortable seating. Sectionals come in a variety of configurations, including ones that feature armless chairs, love seats, ottomans, and chaises that you can combine to fit your space. The sofa in this living room helps divide the larger space while offering cozy seating for several people.

7. Large Living Room Layout Ideas

Strategic furniture arranging can make particularly long or large living rooms feel cozy and intimate. Bring a comfortable sense of scale to the room by dividing it into two conversation groupings with a path between them. Placing one sofa with its back to this path underscores the separation between the two areas.

8. How to Arrange Furniture on a Rug

Use a large area rug to unify a seating group within a larger space. As a general rule, all key pieces of furniture should fit on top of the rug. If the rug isn’t big enough to contain all of the furniture. At least ensure the front legs of each piece are on the rug.

9. Symmetrical Living Room Layouts

Symmetry imposes a sense of order in living rooms. To achieve an attractive balance, try arranging identical sofas or chairs opposite each other. If your furniture pieces aren’t an exact match, you can still achieve a symmetrical look by arranging pieces with the same proportions on both sides of the room.