Your options when planning your lounge layout are nearly endless. The best design is mainly dependent on your current pieces, the shape and size of the room and how you prefer to use your living room.
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How to position your furniture
When arranging your lounge furniture, start with your largest pieces first as they will influence the overall flow of the room. Depending on the size of your lounge, this will likely be your main sofa or an armchair for smaller spaces.
Position this piece to face the most prominent feature: the view, fireplace, TV, gallery wall or a large window. However, you should avoid placing a sofa or other large pieces of furniture directly in front of a window, as it can block natural light.
Next, you should position smaller seating options opposite or adjacent to the first piece you placed. These options include armchairs or loveseats. Lastly, fill prominent empty spaces with accent furniture, like ottomans, coffee tables, end tables and standing lamps. Ensure that each seating option is within reach of a tabletop surface.
Finally, to anchor the space, we suggest adding a large area rug. Ideally you want at least the front two feet of each item of furniture to be on the rug.
Tip: these layout ideas translate to outdoor living spaces as well. Just be sure to select practical materials and products, like weather resistant rugs and lounge chair covers to keep them from the elements.
Focus on the view
A practical and stylish lounge design starts with a focal point that will serve as the cornerstone and highlighted feature of your overall design. For many homes, the fireplace would play this role. Orient the main seating piece towards your focal point while arranging the secondary pieces around it.
In the summertime, when you are likely not to use your fireplace, you can rearrange your layout to refocus the flow of the room and highlight a different feature, like a large window or doors that lead out into the garden. This will allow you to maintain cohesion and continue highlighting the room’s best features.
Small living rooms
When designing the layout of a smaller lounge, you should downscale the size of furniture to fit the room. For example, you can create a more comfortable sense of space and openness with a a 2 or 3 seater sofa as opposed to cramming in a sofa with chase. Similarly, rather than one large coffee table that can take up all your floor space, consider using a nesting coffee table that can adapt to your needs.
Tip: getting balance and scale right is a fine art. Bulky furniture in a small living room simply isn’t practical and can create a sense of claustrophobia. But, fill a small living room with lots of small pieces and it will make it feel even smaller. To create the illusion of a larger space, embrace lighting or paint an accent wall.
Large living rooms
Strategic furniture arranging can help you make large lounges feel cosy and intimate while still utilising the bigger space. This can be achieved by creating two conversation groups with a clear path connecting them.
One area could be designed to accommodate guests and conversation, while the other could be geared towards comfortable evenings with family lounging in front of the TV. Use a large floor rug to fill the gap between the areas and further add to the cohesive nature of the room.
Rest and relaxation
For many people, their lounge is the room where relaxing and watching TV reign supreme. For families like this, a sectional sofa is an excellent and flexible choice for comfortable seating. The benefit of sectional couches is that they are available in a variety of configurations, including armless chairs, loveseats, ottomans and chaises.
By placing end tables on either end of your sofa, with an accent coffee table to accommodate those sitting in the middle, you eliminate the need for additional seating while offering a cosy spot for several people to enjoy.
Perfect for conversation
Suppose your lounge is often used as the meeting place for family and friends to sit down and catch up. In that case, you will significantly benefit from designing your layout to facilitate lively conversation. Avoid the common misbelief of positioning your seating options against the wall and instead pull them close to the middle of the room.
Position them to face each other and place a coffee table in the middle to keep food and drink options within reach for both sides. Be aware of how much space you leave for walking around the table and between your furniture to prevent the close space from feeling cramped and uncomfortable.
Flexible furniture arrangements
To make the most of living spaces in your home, it is vital to grant yourself added flexibility to switch around your furniture choices to suit the occasion. Fill an empty corner with a lightweight chair that can be pulled out easily for extra seating when needed.
Furthermore, items like ottomans and stools can be used as stylish end tables or function as additional seating when you have guests over. This will allow you to invest in quality furniture pieces and help you avoid cluttering spaces with unnecessary pieces.
Open and airy
In open-concept living rooms, you can use furniture arrangements to divide the spaces into different activity zones. A small table and chairs on one side of the room provide a place to eat informal meals or partake in a games evening. On the other side of the room, you can arrange your main lounge furniture, like sofas, accent chairs and tables, using a TV or fireplace as your focal point.
While dividing the room is vital to prevent the space from feeling too large or sparse, it is crucial to ensure the rooms still flow into each other, as you could risk the two areas feeling disconnected, which would disrupt the appeal of open-plan homes.
Have you picked up any new tips or tricks from this article about lounge space with clever design ideas? Or what interior decorating tip do you love to use in your living room? Chat with us in the comments!
