How to Arrange a Living Room Like an Interior Designer
decorating your living room is intimidating. How do you turn that wide open space into a stylish, livable room you enjoy spending time in? Interior designers have tried-and-true tricks for transforming any living room into a stunning showpiece. Follow these interior designer tips to create a space that combines form and function with beautiful design.
The layout of a room forms the foundation of the design. A thoughtful furniture arrangement establishes flow, maximizes seating capacity and comfort, and creates an inviting atmosphere. Start by determining the focal point of the room. This could be a fireplace, large window, or piece of statement art. Arrange the main furniture pieces around this center of interest.

Choose a Focal Point
Every well-designed living room has a focal point. This is the element your eye gravitates towards when you walk into the space. A focal point adds visual interest to the room and serves as an anchor for furniture arrangement. Common focal points interior designers use include:
- Fireplace - A classic focal point that elicits coziness.
- Large window - Frame views of the outdoors.
- Gallery wall or large piece of art - Make a decor statement.
- Statement furniture piece like a cabinet or shelving unit - Display favorite items.
If your living room lacks a natural focal point, create one by hanging artwork or a mirror above where your sofa or TV will go. This will establish a central point to build your layout around.
Consider How the Room Will Be Used
Before organizing furniture, interior designers consider how the homeowners want to use the living room. Do you envision it as a quiet retreat for reading? The hub of family time and entertainment? A space to host large gatherings? Determining the room's function informs the layout. For example:
- Conversation areas benefit from intimate furniture arrangements that bring people closer together.
- TV viewing demands comfortable seating facing the television.
- Frequent entertaining requires plenty of flexible seating options.
If you'll use your living room for multiple purposes, section it into defined zones. For instance, create a conversation nook around a pair of chairs near the fireplace, and a media area with a sofa facing the TV. This variety accommodates different activities.
Mix Up Seating Types and Styles
To furnish a multi-functional living room, Sarah, an interior designer in Austin, Texas recommends planning seating for both conversation and TV viewing. She suggests including armchairs or a loveseat for intimate discussion and a sectional or sofa facing the television. Stylistic variety also adds visual interest through contrasting shapes, sizes and designs.
Incorporate Customized Storage
Built-in bookshelves or media cabinets tailor storage to a family's needs. Anna, a designer in Seattle, notes that containing clutter maintains a calm, orderly aesthetic. For media components, she suggests a closed cabinet to conceal electronics. Open shelving offers display space for books, collectibles and decorative objects. Thoughtful storage solutions prevent living rooms from feeling cluttered and disorganized.
Follow General Furniture Arrangement Guidelines
Certain furniture placement principles create a pleasing flow in living rooms. Interior designers recommend these general guidelines:
- Float furniture away from walls rather than pushing pieces flush against them.
- Allow ample walkways of at least 36-42 inches for comfortable movement.
- Create intimate groupings of seating instead of lining up furniture.
- Angle furniture toward each other to facilitate conversation.
Applying these basics prevents a cramped, cluttered appearance. The room looks intentionally arranged, not haphazardly crammed with furniture.
Balance Openness and Separation
When floating furniture, Alex, an interior designer in Miami, suggests maintaining some separation between pieces while still allowing an open, flowing layout. Occasional gaps prevent a crowded feeling but furniture should still relate to each other. He recommends 12-18 inches between components as a general guideline. This level of space looks considered, not disconnected.
Make Sure Traffic Flows Smoothly
A common mistake Amanda, a designer in Portland, points out is impeding movement with narrow walkways between furniture. This makes rooms feel smaller and cramped. She recommends using tape to map out potential layouts on the floor, ensuring ample paths for navigation before purchasing pieces. Testing traffic flow first prevents frustrating mistakes.
Use Furniture Shape and Size Strategically
Maximizing both aesthetics and functionality relies on selecting furniture with purposeful shapes and sizes. Follow these professional strategies:
- Choose at least one large anchor piece like a sectional sofa or oversized chair. This grounds the arrangement.
- Incorporate medium supporting furniture like chairs, benches and ottomans for versatility.
- Add small accent tables like side tables and stools to fill gaps.
Varied scales and shapes add visual interest while ensuring plenty of seating. Just take care to maintain balance without overwhelming the room.
Select the Right Sofa Size
Interior designers recommend sticking to the 2:3 rule for sofas. This means your sofa should be roughly 2/3 the size of your room. A 10' wide living room could accommodate a 6-7' sofa. Anything larger crowds the space. Anything smaller looks undersized. Measure carefully to find the ideal proportions.
Add Flexible Seating Pieces
Ottomans, stools and slipper chairs expand seating for gatherings without taking up much space. Lauren, a designer in Chicago, keeps several folding chairs on hand to place around the living room when hosting larger groups. Multifunctional furniture satisfies both everyday needs and special occasions.
Employ the 60-30-10 Rule
This go-to interior design guideline recommends visually balancing a room through furniture size ratios. Specifically:
- 60% should be larger anchor furniture like sofas or sectionals.
- 30% medium supporting furniture like chairs and benches.
- 10% smaller accent furniture like side tables and poufs.
Distributing furniture in these approximate proportions prevents any one size from dominating. The room looks purposely composed for both beauty and utility.
Anchor with a Sectional
A sectional sofa takes up significant visual real estate as a room's foundational furniture piece. Becca, an interior designer in Denver, says sectionals work especially well in large, open concept living rooms. Their expansive size makes them natural anchor pieces. Just balance a sectional with plenty of smaller accent seating.
Add Pops of Color
Small furniture like poufs, stools and side chairs let you incorporate bold colors without overpowering the room. Bright primary hues on these smaller scales energize more subdued foundations. Aim for pieces that complement your main furniture without matching exactly. Pops of eye-catching colors keep the scheme visually intriguing.
Play with Scale and Proportion
skillful interior designers mix and match pieces of varied sizes, shapes and styles to cultivate depth and contrast. Avoid uniformly matching furniture. Instead, consider these strategies to add compelling scale variation:
- Combine large and small seating pieces like a bulky sofa and slim side chairs.
- Vary heights with tall floor lamps, short occasional tables and medium accent chairs.
- Pair visually lightweight items like a glass coffee table with substantial furniture like leather armchairs.
Contrasting scales stimulate the eye and let spaces feel curated, not haphazard. Don't be afraid to embrace eclecticism!
Add Height Variety
Different elevations create visual rhythm and interest, notes James, an interior designer in Houston. He suggests using a combination of coffee tables, side tables, floor lamps and other lower furniture along with some taller bookshelves and cabinets. These layered heights make spaces appear fuller and multi-dimensional.
Choose Timeless, Versatile Furniture
Stick to versatile, classic silhouettes without overly specific style references, advises Lisa, a designer in New York. Furniture like rounded armchairs or clean-lined sofas function in many decor schemes. They transition better if your tastes change. Similarly, neutral colors are more flexible than bold hues that could eventually feel limiting.
Incorporate Texture With Decor
Beyond furniture, interior designers inject visual richness through textiles. Layer rugs, throw pillows, blankets and window treatments in an array of textures.Combining complementary fabrics makes rooms feel warm, layered and full of depth and dimension. Ideas to try include:
- Wool, velvet, leather, linen and rattan add natural texture.
- A handmade rug warms up sleek floors.
- Knit and woven throws enhance sofa comfort.
- Sheer linen curtains softly filter light.
Repetition ties the look together. Select 3-4 base textiles and use them throughout pillows, window treatments, and other accessories for a cohesive feel.
Mix Cozy and Sleek
Kari, an interior designer in Los Angeles, frequently pairs easygoing textiles like wool with shiny accents like metal legs or glass tables. This marries comfort and elegance for rooms with broad appeal. Don't limit yourself to all matte or all shiny surfaces. Find the blend that reflects your style.
Add Layers Gradually
Resist the urge to layer everything at once, which can veer busy and overdone, cautions Amanda. Start with a statement rug and lighter window treatments. Add other layers like throw blankets gradually until reaching your desired coziness without clutter.
Use Lighting to Set the Tone
Lighting serves both function and ambiance. Use a combination of lighting sources to make the room enjoyable and usable during day or evening. Typical interior designer-recommend options include:
- Overhead lighting like chandeliers or recessed cans offer ambient illumination for general use.
- Table and floor lamps provide task lighting for reading or working.
- Accent lighting like wall sconces brighten specific areas like alcoves or artwork.
Dimmers give flexibility to control brightness levels. Position lights thoughtfully to prevent overly dark or bright spots. Illumination should distribute evenly throughout the room.
Choose Energy Efficient Options
LED bulbs consume very little energy yet last years longer than alternatives, explains Ryan, an eco-conscious interior designer in Portland. He recommends LED for all living room light fixtures. Smart technology like motion sensors or timed lights prevent waste when a room isn't occupied. An eco-friendly approach reduces environmental impact.
Showcase Architectural Details
Accent lighting draws attention to special features like decorative moldings, explains Olivia, an interior designer in Atlanta. Up-lighting perimeter shelves or artwork also highlights beautiful details. Don't let unique attributes get lost in the shadows. Focused lighting keeps them in the spotlight.
Define Spaces with Rugs
Larger living rooms benefit from using rugs to delineate individual zones. Interior designers recommend area rugs to:
- Anchor seating arrangements and prevent furniture from feeling adrift.
- Distinguish spaces like a living area from a dining area or office corner.
- Add comfort underfoot and sound dampening.
Choose a rug approximately the same length and width as the furniture grouping. This visually connects the pieces. Leave at least 8-12 inches of floor showing around the perimeter so the rug doesn't look crammed.
Add Child-Friendly Rugs in Play Areas
For homes with kids, washable, durable rugs stand up to regular use, notes Sarah. Natural fiber options like jute and sisal hide stains well. Keeping play areas defined preserves the rest of the flooring from excess wear.
Use Neutral Tones as a Base
Since rugs cover significant floor space, select subdued, versatile solids or simple patterns as a blank slate, advises James. These foundational shades allow bolder expression through changeable decor elements like pillows and art. Keep the "bones" of a room neutral for flexibility.
Add Warmth and Personality with Accessories
Finishing touches that reflect the homeowner's interests infuse personality into living rooms. Seek special items like:
- Art, photos and collected objects that show hobbies and passion
- Sculptural decor that functions as an artistic element
- Books, music and media that reveal preferences
- Sentimental memorabilia like souvenirs from trips
Group meaningful accessories together in conversational arrangements. This provides glimpses into who uses the room on a daily basis.
Avoid Clutter on Horizontal Surfaces
Limit accessories on the coffee table or side tables to maintain an uncluttered aura, recommends Olivia. Adequate display space prevents constantly dusting and reorganizing tchotchkes. Edit frequently to keep top-heavy surfaces from feeling more messy than curated.
Refresh Displays Seasonally
Rotating beloved items prevents collections from fading into the background, explains Alex. Keep possessions you don't interact with regularly in storage. Swap these out a few times a year for a change of scenery. Don't let stagnant decor make rooms feel stale.
Creating a living room with the wow-factor of a professional interior designer is possible by following guidelines they rely on. Choosing a central focal point, planning furniture arrangement thoughtfully, and layering in decor that complements your lifestyle results in a highly personalized space. Use these insider techniques to craft a living room you can't wait to spend time enjoying.
As your needs change, your living room can adapt. Define activity zones, incorporate multipurpose seating, and choose classic over trendy for enduring appeal. Most importantly, embrace your personal design aesthetic. Interior designers agree that rooms with unique personality feel the most inviting of all.