Arranging sofas in a living room can be a tiring task, especially if you are a beginner. The success of the procedure lies in the identification of the correct focal point followed by the perfect balance between various items present in the living room. In order to aid the masses, interior designers have prepared a detailed list of tips that must be followed to achieve remarkable output. Thus, this article offers various insights into how to arrange a sofa in the living room based on aesthetic appeal and practical application.
How To Arrange Sofa in Living Room?
As mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of effort and thinking to come up with a perfect design for placing sofas and other furniture in your living room. The outcome should be practical as well as aesthetically appealing. The practicality encapsulates the arrangement and buying of the items according to different aspects like the size of the living room, whereas; aesthetic appeal refers to the eye-catching and attractive interior that adds five stars to your room. Hence, follow these below-mentioned tips to achieve outstanding results.
Identification of the Focal Point
The first and foremost step in this regard is the identification of the focal point. It can either be natural such as a window located in the room or can also be artificially created by placing other units. For Example, the use of television to create an alignment or setting stone for the arrangement of remaining items. A focal point provides you enough space and ideas for placing furniture in a variety of ways.
Distance Between Walls and Furniture
This trick is handy in small rooms. It is always recommended to keep at least a few inches gap between your sofa and the wall behind it. You need to generate a breathing space that will allow the room to look wider than it actually is. It will also prevent your walls from getting dirty and damaged.
Using this method in small living rooms creates a visual illusion that tricks you into thinking that the room is wider than its actual size. Similarly, for larger rooms, it is advised to keep a 3 to 5 feet gap between sofas and walls. It offers dual benefits in this regard by covering up the empty space and creating a geometric pattern that can add life to your boring room.
Balance is Important
Another crucial factor in this regard is balance. You need to maintain a balance in the arrangement and placement of the sofa according to the design and size of your room. It is recommended to avoid setting similar furniture in one direction. Instead, you should mix and match items of various sizes, colors, and textures.
Mixing and matching are important for breaking the repetitive pattern and directing your attention towards varied arrangements of different sizes. In addition to this, it is best to place sofas of different designs together for a better outcome. For Example, a sectional sofa can be paced with a one-seater, etc. Likewise, a round coffee table can be used with straight-line seating.
Creation of Conversation Space
Next is the creation of a conversation space. For this purpose, your furniture items should not be too apart from each other. As it will make the guest speak louder and will generate a lot of noise. Instead, the sofas should be placed at an appropriate distance for guests to understand each other clearly without speaking loudly. Furthermore, try to arrange the units in a way that does not make you extend or turn your neck to engage with other people sitting in the room. If the room is larger and wider in size, it is best to create more than one conversation area to cover the space.
Use Large Rugs
Now it is time to consider the rugs placed under the sofas. It is perfect if you do not use a rug at all. But if you want to place a rug underneath your furniture, make sure it is large enough to accommodate everything. If not, at least the front of the sofas should be placed on the rug, and the back can be left on the bare floor. It seems displeasing to expose the floor between furniture and rugs that impacts the overall setting and decoration of your living room.
Consider the Traffic Flow
You should arrange the furniture while considering the traffic flow. You don’t want people tripping over and colliding with the sofas in your living room. Thus, you should keep an appropriate distance between items for guests to pass through easily. The table between sofas should also be kept at arm’s length for you to sit comfortably.
Your knees should never touch the table while sitting. Similarly, the table should be large and wide. It will allow you to set a lot of furniture around it and will also act as a platform to place various items such as drinks and food while having conversations. Thus, it acts as an anchor which offers easy access to the seats around it and is also aesthetically appealing at the same time.
Light and Right-Size Artwork
Light can make up or destroy the overall outlook of your room. It plays a crucial role in the decoration of your room. It is always recommended to search for a natural lighting source such as sunlight which can be attained through windows in the room. Hence, it is recommended to avoid setting any furniture item such as a sofa in front of your windows. Apart from sunlight, a mix of overhead lights, floor lamps, and table lamps can also be used to decorate the room.
The floor lamp can be used alongside a sofa or individual chair, while table lamps can be placed on side shelves and mantels. Besides lighting, the room can also be decorated with artwork in combination with sofas. The decorative items and artworks should be placed strategically with respect to the sofas. It is always advised to use a large landscape or portrait behind the sofa instead of a small frame.
The Arrangement and Room Design
For Open Living Rooms
Once you have followed all the tips, there are different approaches that can be adopted to arrange sofas in various combinations around your living room. Firstly, if your living room is open and is connected to the kitchen area, you can differentiate both areas with the help of a sectional sofa like an L-shaped unit.
Make sure to purchase a small item for smaller rooms to avoid blockage of the windows. Similarly, a floating sofa can also be placed on the other side a few inches away from the wall. The decoration can be completed with the inclusion of a coffee table and a floor lamp on the side.
For Conversationalists
Contrary to this, if your living room consists of a fireplace, you can use it as a focal point for remaining decoration. If the size of the room is smaller, it is recommended to go with narrow sofas and tables to provide enough space for traffic flow. You can also decorate the room with beautiful curtains, a few paintings, and a television.
For Classical Living Rooms
In addition to this, for classical living rooms (rooms where television is present in front of the sofa), it is recommended to use a three-seater with a moderately high back. The decor can further be enhanced with the inclusion of a few chairs and side tables. However, the room should receive lightning from all directions for a better outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mix and match sofas?
Yes, it is always a good idea to mix and match different sofas depending on their color, texture, and design to create a unique outlook to your sitting area. The use of similar style sofas creates repetition that seems boring and makes your room look dull. Similarly, the use of vibrant colors can add life to your room and make it more visually appealing.
Where should I put my sofa in the living room?
The sofas should be kept around the focal point. More specifically, it should be facing the focal point. Thus, the identification of focal points is extremely important. It can be natural or artificial and add symmetry to your room. The most common focal points in living rooms include a television, fireplace and a mantle, etc.
What to put behind a floating sofa?
It is extremely important to consider the back of a floating sofa because it contributes a lot to the overall arrangement and decor of your living room. You can place a variety of objects behind a floating sofa, including a console table, desk, bench, or a few paintings to give a better outlook to your living room.
Wrapping Up
There are a variety of ways to arrange sofas in your living room. It is important to identify the focal point to create symmetry. Then, the furniture can be aligned accordingly. Furthermore, you should also create a balance in the living room by mixing and matching various sofas together.
It is important to consider the traffic flow while devising a plan to leave enough space for walking freely. Besides these, lighting, design of the room, and other decorative items also play a crucial part in making or destroying the outlook of your living room and should be addressed properly.
