Living rooms serve different purposes for different people. In some homes they serve  as the main gathering area for family, while in others they’re more of a  show room, used only when company comes over. Either way, there are  certain issues that always come up when trying to arrange living room furniture.
Check out these tips for placing furniture in your living room.
Living Room Basics
There are a few important things to remember when arranging living room furniture.
- Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around  it. In some rooms the focal point will be an existing feature such as a  fireplace or window, and in some it will be something you bring in to  the room such as a television.
 
- Use the furniture to create conversation areas. People should be  able to comfortably talk to each other without straining their necks or  shouting. If the room is particularly large you might want to create a  few different conversation areas.
 
- Don’t forget about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to  walk around furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room  to another.
 
- Pull furniture away from the walls. Having all the furniture backs  touching the walls is one of the biggest mistakes people make in the  living room. If the pieces are closer together it will create a more  intimate setting. As long as the backs of the pieces are finished,  there’s no reason not to show them off.
 
Furniture Sizes and Placement
When it comes to living room furniture, size matters.
Sofa and Chairs – These are often the big-ticket items so it’s important that they suit  the space. The most important thing to do is measure the space before  buying any of these pieces. You don’t want them to be too big or too  small, so it’s best if you draw up a floor plan ahead  of time. Sketch out the room on a piece of graph paper using all the  appropriate measurements. Try putting the sofa and chairs in a few  different spots and see what works best visually and in terms of leaving  space to accommodate traffic flow.
Rug – Using area rugs  is a great way to define seating areas, but the number one mistake  people make in the living room is using an area rug that’s too small.  Remember that all of the furniture should be able to comfortably sit on  the carpet. If space doesn’t allow it, make sure that at least the front  legs of any large upholstered pieces are on the rug. (Small pieces like  side chairs and tables should always have all four legs on the rug.)
Coffee Table – Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center  of conversation areas. If you choose to use one remember that the  height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and  chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one  half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don’t want to use a  coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to  achieve the same look. Just make sure they’re not too small. People  sitting around them should be able to lean over to put down or pick up a  drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be  sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches  should do the trick.
Side Tables – Side tables tend to be an afterthought but they’re actually very  important. The number you need will depend on how much seating you have.  Everyone should be able to comfortably set down a drink without having  to get up and walk over to a table. Try to have one on either side of  the sofa (unless there isn’t enough space – in this case people can use  the coffee table), and between pairs of chairs. The key is to have  enough surface space without overcrowding the room. The tables should be  approximately the same height as the arm of the chair or sofa they’re  next to.
Living Room Accessories
Once the furniture is in place it’s  important to think about where to place the accessories. No doubt you  will have some window treatments and artwork, and maybe a television and  some sconces. Give just as much thought to placing living room accessories as you do the furniture.
If you’re unsure about what will work  try using an online room planner to create an arrangement. Test out some  different looks and see what looks best and what works for your  lifestyle. If you’re not too computer savvy you can make up a living  room floor plan using graph paper. Just make sure to use all the  appropriate measurements so you don’t face any unwelcome surprises when  you actually put the furniture in the room.