The living room is the central gathering spot to relax, entertain, and catch up on go-to shows or movies. The right layout and fusion of elements can help make your living room more functional and lounge-worthy. Keep reading to learn how to arrange a living room, step-by-step.

1. Establish a Focal Point

(Shop this image: white sectionals, navy blue accent chairs, pedestal coffee tables, and white and black rugs.)

The first step in how to arrange a living room is to decide on a focal point. A focal point will help guide you in choosing a furniture layout and getting started. Sometimes, your living room focal point will be obvious, like a wall-mounted TV, a statement fireplace, or large-scale windows with a view, but you can also create your own focal point! Living room conversation pits place the coffee table front and center, while the sofa steals the show in other living rooms. You can even design your living room around a piece of large-scale artwork or a breathtaking chandelier.

2. Choose Large Furniture Pieces First

(Shop this image: gray corduroy sectionals, modern pedestal tables, patterned throw pillows, and floor lamps.)

Once you've established the focal point of your living room design, you can select your main furnishings. It's important to choose large furnishings like a sofa or sectional before you choose other furnishings, as these will take up the most space and set the tone for accent furniture color and style choices. Depending on your living room size and lounging needs, you might want two sofas, two sectionals, or a combination for ample lounge opportunities. Step five goes over furniture layout options in more detail.

Tip!

Furnishing a small living room? Your large-scale statement furniture could be a loveseat. Review How to Arrange a Small Living Room for more space-savvy work-arounds.

3. Then, Add Accent Furniture

(Shop this image: yellow barrel chairs, abstract side tables, martini glasses, and modern plaid rugs.)

Choosing accent furniture is the next step in how to arrange a living room. This includes picking out the coffee table (if it's not the focal point), selecting stylish (and cozy) accent chairs, and incorporating other must-have furniture like side tables, bookcases, TV stands, or console tables. With your sofa(s) and/or sectional(s) already picked out, you can make sure you choose accent furniture that matches the vibe and fits seamlessly into the space.

4. Anchor Furnishings With a Cozy Rug

(Shop this image: gray sofas, rattan drum coffee tables, ivory geometric rugs, and gold side tables.)

Area rugs are essential for making living rooms extra cozy and inviting. However, they also serve as an anchor point when creating living room furniture layouts. When placing living room furniture on an area rug, there are so many options! Place all of your furniture on the area rug to create a cool conversation pit. Keep things open by only placing the front sets of sofa or chair legs on the rug. You can even highlight your coffee table with a smaller statement rug that only meets the edge of your furnishings. To determine the right way to layout your living room with a rug, check out How to Place a Rug in a Living Room for illustrations, and get tips for selecting a rug size in How to Choose a Living Room Rug.

5. Choose a Living Room Furniture Arrangement

(Shop this image: black and white striped rugs, beige sofas, gray barrel chairs, and oval wood coffee tables.)

With your living room focal point, furniture, and area rug picked out, You can play around with how to arrange living room furniture! Here are a few options to try:

• Position a sofa across from a pair of accent chairs with a coffee table in the center so you're always ready for coffee chats or game nights.
• Angle a U-shaped sectional toward the TV and put a coffee table in the gap of the sectional to display movie night snacks.
• Line up an L-shaped sectional with a corner of an area rug. Place an accent chair in the corner directly diagonal from the sectional. Then, place a coffee table in the center of the rug.

Review The Most Inviting Living Room Layouts to Try for helpful layout ideas and illustrations.

6. Pull Your Furniture Away from the Wall

(Shop this image: blue-striped rugs, beige sofas, blue plaid accent chairs, and black pedestal side tables.)

Give your furniture room to breathe by making sure that your sofa and any other living room seating rests just off of the wall. We recommend at least 1' of space between the wall and your living room seating to promote an open, spacious feel. This living room furniture placement also helps balance the center of the room as there isn't a bunch of blank space in the middle.

7. Consider the Flow

(Shop this image: boho area rugs, drum coffee tables, blue velvet sofas, and blue velvet accent chairs.)

You also need to think about the flow of foot traffic when deciding how to arrange a living room. There should be enough space between furnishings to walk comfortably (approximately 3'), and there should be clear pathways to doorways or the kitchen (in open-concept spaces). Nothing will make your mid-movie dash to the pantry more seamless!

8. Work With Architectural Features

(Shop this image: brown leather sofas, blue throw blankets, throw pillows, framed abstract art, and boho wall accents.)

When arranging a living room, you also need to consider any nooks, alcoves, or architectural features that may affect the size or placement of your furniture. In this living room, a perfectly-proportioned sofa looks like it belongs in the wall nook.

9. Don't Forget to Decorate!

(Shop this image: green velvet sectionals, round glass coffee tables, throw pillows, and gray barrel chairs.)

No living room is complete without stylish decor! The final step for how to arrange a living room is to decorate – and decorate some more. Dress your sofa and accent chairs with fun patterned throws. Don the walls in artsy prints. Show off your coffee table with a faux floral arrangement and decorative candles. Complete the space with ambient light fixtures like table lamps – extra points if they're battery-operated to eliminate the possibility of tripping on wires.

Tip!

Check out these guides for living room layout ideas and decor tips for specific room sizes:
How to Decorate a Large Living Room With 10 Simple Tips
How to Decorate a Long Living Room Like a Pro
How to Decorate a Small Living Room With 7 Design Tricks

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