Living rooms are the focal point of every home. Not only are they the best site for social activities, but they also make it easier for your family to spend quality time together. If your space is feeling cluttered or in disarray, you can always rearrange it to your liking. There are many ways of arranging your living room to make them more comfortable and inviting. In fact, turning a drab room into a household oasis is easier than you think.
Should you need to make changes, think about your budget and immediate needs first. While you may want a new sectional for the holiday season, it could make the most sense to rearrange your current chairs and pull them together with an inexpensive table or area rug. Before you buy, visit consignment stores and discount shops–and pay attention to furniture sales in your area. Explore the following strategies to determine if there are any items you may need to add, subtract or change. After tackling each tip, the area will become more pleasant and useful to you and your guests.
{ 1 } Measure Furniture Before Buying
How to Measuring up for New Furniture Via Pasue kl
Understand how big your space is before you purchase a large item, such as a sectional sofa. Many homeowners pick up a beautiful new piece, only to realize it doesn’t fit in their living area or fails to leave room for other furniture. First, measure the length and width of the spot you plan on placing your armoire or couch. Next, obtain the specifications of the new object online or in the furniture store. Compare the two sets of numbers to determine if there is ample leeway. If not, you may need to consider another style or design for arranging your living room.
{ 2 } Consider Household Traffic Flow
Big items or multi-piece furniture sets are a hindrance to natural traffic flow. Leave enough room between coffee tables, chairs and desks so your family and guests can easily travel from one doorway to another. If you notice people tripping or twisting their bodies to get around furnishings, it’s time to redesign your setup. It may be helpful to move your pieces back toward the wall. You can also consider adjusting vertically or horizontally.
{ 3 } Create Inviting Social Areas
Every living room is a social space. For this reason, your guests should be able to gather without having to turn their bodies or shout at one another. If you have a large room, you can design comfortable seating areas that facilitate easy conversation. Pair a sofa or set of chairs with A Coffee Table or a couple of end tables. Smaller quarters benefit from one central point that brings together the most essential furniture. To create more intimacy, place couches and recliners across from one another. Put bigger tables in between the furnishings or arrange smaller ones besides seating areas. This way, visitors can set down their beverages or bags without having to put them on the floor.
{ 4 } Incorporate Natural Lighting
Cottage at the Beach By Bowley Builders
Natural lighting from your windows enhances the mood of the room and makes it easier to enjoy entertainment and conversation. Make the most of the sunlight by arranging your living room furniture around your openings. Install blinds or shades to prevent the sun from bleaching sofa and chair fabrics. If your living space is particularly bright or warm in the summer, consider a room-darkening variety. Cordless blinds are also an excellent choice for creating a sense of orderliness and avoiding safety concerns for children and pets.
{ 5 } Select and Arrange Lamps Carefully
Foothill Drive Project Formal Living Room By Studio Mcgee
When it’s dark outside or too warm in the room to take advantage of natural light, strategically placed lamps will make it easier to chat, read and watch television. If you already have attractive floor lamps to sit next to your chairs and sofas, make sure there is a coffee table nearby to hold magazines, drinks, and snacks. End tables should be complemented by a table lamp. While they range in size, be sure they don’t consume the entire space. If you plan on placing a ceiling lamp or chandelier in your living area, make sure you put a large furnishing under it. Sectional sofas and couches make great partners.
{ 6 } Add a Stylish Area Rug
How to Choose the Right Rug By Apartment Therapy
An area rug is an essential tool for bringing the entire room together. Select one in a color and fabric that matches the other furniture, as well as your décor and artwork. Place it in the center of the primary seating arrangement. Ensure it extends beyond the sofa or chairs to provide an anchored feeling to the place. These textiles aren’t only beneficial for rooms with hardwood or tile. If you have carpet in your living area, put a thicker rug in a bolder color on top to add distinction and warmth.
{ 7 } Offer Several Different Seating Styles
Layout for Long Narrow Living Room Via Flickr
Whether your grandfather has a favorite reclining chair or your kids love to watch movies on the couch, it’s easy to notice that everyone has their own seating preferences. Providing several types of options will allow everyone to relax, talk and nap. Larger spaces may be best suited by a sectional sofa and a few loungers, while smaller rooms are completed by a loveseat and plush armchairs. Consider your family’s favorites first. Then, think about what kinds of furniture will allow guests to stay awhile during a dinner party or celebration. If you’re arranging your living room or furnishing a new home, start with a few key items. You can always add chairs if the room allows it.
{ 8 } Small Coffee Table
1940’s Tudor Cottage via The Decor Fix
When it comes to coffee tables, often bigger is better. However, if you have a small living room, bigger furniture will make it look cramped and messy. Try using two small coffee tables instead of one big table for arranging your living room. They will save you a lot of space. They are also good for the easy flow of traffic. Moreover, you can easily move them to wherever else you may need them.
Another way to make better use of your space is to use two or more ottomans in place of a traditional coffee table. These can work as a coffee table and also work as extra seating when you have many guests.
{ 9 } Hanging Artwork on Walls
No room is truly complete without a display of some form of art in the room. However, the artwork doesn’t have to be inexpensive. You can decorate your walls for very little money by framing the children’s artwork. You can also frame keys, jewelry, silverware, etc. in shadow boxes or frame pages from old books. The best place to hang artwork in the living room is above the sofa. However, the piece of art should be two-thirds the width of the sofa.
Tips for Installing a Gallery Wall via A Beautiful Mess
If you have smaller pieces, use a grouping of pieces and place them strategically in proportion to the sofa. Similarly, you can also hang your artwork over a mantle or on either side of a window. If you’re hanging your art over a mantle, make sure to hang it 4 to 6 inches above the mantle. Also, if you have drapes on the windows make sure you’ve got enough room between the drapes and the walls so the art doesn’t look too crowded.
{ 10 } Divide Large Spaces With Furniture Living/Dining/Kitchen
Family Home Melbourne By Ali Ross Design
If you have a large and open living room/dining/kitchen space, you might want to arrange your living room into distinguishable parts. A simple, yet effective way to distinguish areas in a large living room is to group furniture in separate areas. Another simple way to define your space easily is to use curtains. Other options include using metal dividers, bookshelves, Natural and artificial screens, open shelves, sliding doors, TV tower, and fireplace installation. Include an extended breakfast bar or island to separate the cooking and eating zones. The main thing to keep in mind is the easy transition from one space to another.
{ 11 } Distance Between Furniture
Whether you are arranging your living room or designing your first space, arranging the furniture is an important consideration. It is important to allow for easy movement throughout the room. You should also consider the entrances to the rooms and doors. If the doors open in, you need to allow room for them to open fully. You should also consider the feel you want in the room. If you want a cozy and intimate space, place the furniture in closer groups. However, if you want an open and spacious feel, keep more space between pieces. Also, if your room is used as a pathway to another room, you should allow space for an easily navigable pathway from one room to another. The best thing to do is to measure your room and assess what you have before buying anything new.
You may also find new solutions for your current chairs or couches by drawing out different scenarios on a piece of paper or participating in a community furnishing swap. Remember: Your living room should be enjoyable–not necessarily perfect. The most important thing is that you like spending time in your space, can move about freely and have enough freedom and solutions to happily entertain others.