Living Rooms
Decorating
Furniture
Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large
Take the guesswork — and backbreaking experimenting — out of furniture arranging with these living room layout concepts
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Charmean Neithart
Houzz Contributor. I love interior design and all things houses. It has... More »
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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.
modern living room by Cornerstone Architects
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by 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.
modern living room by Cornerstone Architects
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by 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.
contemporary living room by Ownby Design
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by 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.
contemporary living room by Ownby Design
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by 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.
traditional living room by Erika Bonnell, Inc. Interior Design
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by Erika Bonnell, Inc. Interior Design
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.
traditional living room by Spacecrafting / Architectural Photography
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by 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.
contemporary living room by MuseInteriors
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by 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.
eclectic bathroom by Margaret Donaldson Interiors
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by 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.