evaluate THE SPACE
A living room should invite intimate chats, while still allowing for easy flow when entertaining. Whether you are embarking on a total redo or simply implementing a few tweaks, try these tips for creating a space that best satisfies your situation and style preferences.
DEFINE THE PURPOSE
The first step is to figure out the role of your living room, as it can differ in every home and even over time.
- If it doubles as a den, you’ll need to contend with the TV (see below)—and provide ample seating for comfy viewing.
- When part of a great room, it helps to section the space into activity zones—one for conversation, another for playing games, yet another for casual meals.
- To delineate a living “room” in an open floor plan, partition it off from the other areas by placing the sofa with its back to the dining table, or by using an open bookshelf or other room divider.
- For frequent entertaining, consider creating two separate hubs by orienting chairs and/or sofas around an accent table, each group anchored by an area rug.
- Bay windows or cozy corners with views are ideal places to park a pair of padded chairs next to a floor or table lamp, for a reading nook.
provide a focal point
Be intentional about giving your eye a pleasant landing spot. While this design principle is true for all rooms, it is especially so in this gathering place.
- A focal point can be structural, such as a fireplace or a picture window, or constructed—a striking piece of artwork, for example, or a gallery wall.
- While it’s nice for the main perch (usually the sofa) to have an ideal view, that’s sometimes not the case. Better to have the view framed by the entrance.
- Color, too, can draw the eye, such as by painting a wall—or the inside of an imposing china cabinet or bookcase— in a bold shade, or using a patterned wallpaper to create a similar effect.
arrange the furniture
It’s important to work with your room’s layout when positioning the pieces.
- Avoid clogging up the entrance to the living room with a sofa or potted plant; keep this area open and therefore more welcoming.
- In general, there should be two feet around all furniture and other items in a living room, for good traffic flow.
- When possible, aim to have at least 18 inches between a sofa and chairs, so people don’t feel too hemmed in. You can always move the furniture closer when entertaining to allow for quiet conversation and make room for pathways.
- In long, narrow living rooms, the challenge is to leave at least 14 inches between the sofa and coffee table. Using a pair of smaller tables allows you to move one elsewhere when guests drop by.