Complete guide for living room layout

Factors to Consider: A Living Room Layout Planner

Here is a checklist of all the factors you need to consider when creating a living room layout to optimise the space.

• The doorways to the living room will influence the positions of your furniture. Ideally, the movement paths in the room should go around the main seating area rather than through it.
  
  
• The positioning and direction of the windows in the room will determine the artificial lighting requirements. The living room layout should be such that it optimises the light usage in the room. If there is little natural light, opt for ambient lighting that would add brightness to the room. Lamps, sconces and string lights with warm lighting can make the room feel cosier.
  
  
• Efficient furniture placement hinges on measuring the floor area in the room. For example, ideally, the centre table shouldn’t be farther than 18 inches from the sofa. The pathways should at least be 3 feet wide.
  
  
• Make a list of all you want and need in the living room. It will help you determine the room’s focal point and how the furniture should be oriented. For example, suppose the living room will primarily be used as a media room. In that case, the TV will be the focal point with the seating furniture either facing it head-on or at wide angles. Consider enclosing layouts around a centre table such as the L-shape, U-shape, etc., to the warmth and intimacy in the room.
  
  

Different Layout Plans for Living Room

The layout of the living room will depend on its shape and size. Here are some living room layout ideas based on these factors.

Symmetrical layouts work really well for a more formal look. Add a large area rug under the furniture to make the sitting area the room’s focal point. 
 

Chandeliers and floor to ceiling shelves can enhance the height of the room. Play around with asymmetry for a laid back ambience.

4. Small Living Room Layout:

Light furniture for small living room can make you feel spacious and streamlined. Add ottomans and footstools to create enough space for entertaining guests.
 

Use floating furniture to enhance the dimensions of the room. Make sure that the furniture all stands at different heights to enhance the visual interest and make the room feel spacious. When designing small living rooms, always factor in mirrors to add more light and make the room feel expansive.
 

Modular furniture such as a sectional sofa can be utilised creatively without adding multiple furniture pieces in the room. This will keep the design in the room cohesive and avoid a chunky look. Utilising the wall with built-in shelves can open up a lot of floor space.

 

5. Square Room Layout Ideas:

Central seating with ample space around it for movement is a go-to layout for square living rooms. It creates an intimate conversation area. Anchor this layout with an area rug and a round centre table to soften any edges.
 

Square rooms are excellent spaces to experiment with symmetry. Flank the sofa with two chairs and end tables between them or place the furniture parallelly and mirror the elements on both sides. Add interest by using a centre table that differs in shape and height.
 

An L-shaped layout of the main furniture pieces works well when the TV is the focal point. This arrangement is conducive for socialising too.

Use area rugs to ground each focal point. Another way to do it is to split the room into two levels. Sunken living room designs can work really well in large spaces.

In a studio space, use coromandel room dividers or bookshelves to create a physical barrier in the room. This will allow you to keep the areas separate in terms of aesthetics and ensure privacy.

Built-in furniture in the living room can free up a lot of floor space. At the same time, it can efficiently utilise awkward nooks and add storage. The cons of built-ins are that they don’t provide flexibility vis-a-vis repositioning and resizing. Incorporating these elements into your living room plan can help balance the benefits and drawbacks effectively.

Pushing up all the furniture against the wall can open up more space in the room. This layout can work if the room is divided into different sections and anchored separately. The downside of it is that it can take away from the room’s intimacy. The design might look like it lacks a focal point. Try to balance out the placement of the furniture in the room.