How to Arrange Your Room for TV and People, Too

If you're lucky enough to have a room used solely for lounging and watching TV, a setup like this is perfect. A sectional facing a a screen with ample space to put up your feet is the family-room equivalent of a screening room. The dark wall and ceiling create more contrast so images are crisp and clean, and the low-positioned TV means never having to crane the neck.

Moving the TV next to another focal point, in this case the fireplace, takes the emphasis off the screen. The furniture arrangement is roughly the same as in the previous photo, but the TV doesn't dominate. There are easy views from all the available seating of both the TV and the fireplace, and there's a clear feeling that more goes on here than watching a screen.

If you live alone or consider TV or movie watching a solo activity, a nice screen and comfy chair are all you need. Swap out the chair for a chaise or daybed to make room for two. Simple and private.

When a room needs to serve both as a place to socialize and get a little screen time, a corner media center is great way to go. Put the TV on an adjustable arm or swivel stand extends the view to both sofas and the dining room table.

While I'm not an advocate of mounting TVs above the fireplace, it works for this room. The different forms of seating and the arrangement creates a cozy conversation area and leaves sight lines unobstructed to both the fireplace and TV. The screen is big, but the arrangement clearly communicates that the room is for socializing first and watching TV second.

There's no TV visible in this photo, but it's easy to imagine one on left wall, behind the white settee. Style and comfort are addressed equally in this setting. The collection of furniture — couch, daybed, footstools and chair — serve many purposes. The occasional chair, footstools and daybed indicate the room is often used to entertain guests. The daybed beckons for an afternoon nap or cozy evening reading before the fireplace, and the positioning of the couch is perfect for watching TV. The daybed with its low height and no back, allows for clear sight lines to the screen.

Sight lines are again taken into account when choosing and positioning both the furniture and TV in this room. The smaller scale of the chairs allow easy viewing from the couch, though the TV here is positioned slightly higher than is optimal for viewing.

We may love a TV and the entertainment it provides, but nothing beats having a home filled with people and the connections they bring. Serving both is the sweet spot between technology and design.

More: Where to Put the TV
TVs That Pass the Designer Test
TV in the Bedroom: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?