Living room layout – interior design blog

The living room has different purposes depending on each family. In some homes this is the main gathering area for the whole family, while in others it is more of a lounge used only for some more special events. In both variants, however, some question marks and contradictory discussions appear when it comes to arranging the furniture.

In this sense, the designers at Startdecor can help you with some advice which, if applied, will make everything easier.

That’s a very insightful observation! The modern living room suffers from an identity crisis because it often has to fulfill two contradictory roles: a daily gathering hub and a formal special events lounge. This duality is precisely why arranging the furniture often leads to “question marks and contradictory discussions.”

Arranging the Living Room: The Conflict Between Hub and Lounge

The living room has different purposes depending on each family. In some homes, this is the main gathering area for the whole family and is used daily, while in others, it is more of a formal lounge used only for special events or receiving less frequent guests. In both variants, however, some question marks and contradictory discussions appear when it comes to arranging the furniture.

The core conflict in furniture arrangement stems from the clash between Comfort/Functionality (Hub) and Aesthetics/Formality (Lounge).

1. The Daily Gathering Hub (Functionality Priority)

When the living room is the family’s main hub, the furniture must prioritize comfort, media access, and casual use.

• Conflict: Discussions center on optimizing comfort over conversation. Should the massive sectional face the TV (maximizing viewing comfort) or should pieces be arranged to encourage dialogue (maximizing social function)?

• Arrangement: Tends toward a single, large, comfortable sectional sofa oriented directly toward the largest screen or entertainment center. The coffee table is secondary, often large enough for board games or snacks.

• Resolution Tip: Prioritize durable, stain-resistant fabrics and ensure there is adequate, localized task lighting for reading or hobby work, rather than just soft ambient lighting.

The basics of the living room

There are some important things to remember when starting the deal, namely:

1. Determine the focal point of the room and arrange the furniture around it. In some rooms the focal point will be an existing piece, like a fireplace or window, while in others it will be a new song, like a TV.
2. Use furniture to create conversation areas. People in the room should be able to talk comfortably to each other, without crowding together or shouting to be heard. If the room is too large, then it is more effective to create multiple conversation areas.
3. Remember the flow of traffic. Leave enough space for people to pass lightly to one side of the room without having to surround the furniture too much.
4. Remove furniture from the walls of the room. Having all the furniture with its back to the walls is one of the biggest mistakes we can make when arranging a living room. Bringing the parts closer to each other will help you create a more intimate space. As long as the back of the cabinet is finished, there is no reason to hide it.

The dimensions and arrangement of the furniture

These two are often the items that take up a lot of space, so it is very important to measure the room before purchasing either piece. You don’t want them to be too big or too small, so it’s best to come up with a plan before purchasing. Draw the room on an A4 sheet using all the measurements and try placing the sofa and chairs in a few different places and see where the room looks best aesthetically and then in terms of traffic flow in the room.

The carpet

Using rugs is a great way to delimit living areas. One of the big mistakes in using rugs is choosing rugs that are too small. Keep in mind that at least the front legs of the sofa are above it.

Table

Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center of the conversation area. If you choose to use it, keep in mind that its height must be slightly lower than the height of the chair or sofa surrounding it. Guests in the living room should let go or grab a drink from the table without having to get up.

Accessory

Once the position of the furniture has been established, you need to think about where to place the accessories. You will no doubt have some artwork and maybe a TV or other electronic device. However, you need to allocate as much time to the accessories as they have been allocated and to the furniture in the room.