How to Arrange Living Room Furniture

Knowing where to begin can feel like a minefield when it comes to living room ideas. Arguably, our living space is where we spend the most time, so it's worth planning the best ways to utilise it. However, this usually means we’re preparing for different personalities, variable times of day, and various uses, as well as accommodating socialising with friends on occasion and creating a relaxing haven for downtime after long hours at work. Phew. 

So, while it’s no mean feat, we experts at Furniture World are happy to do the major legwork for your living room design and leave the good stuff, like candle sniffing and paint swatches, to you.   

How do you design a living room?

The first step in designing your living area should always be to consider the room's layout, whether you have a long, narrow space or a substantial, open-plan room. This will be essential when understanding where to place your furniture. 

Not to be underestimated, furniture placement can significantly affect your mood and well-being. In this post, we’ll touch on living room types, sofa organisation, our top decor tips, and all-important living feng shui that ensures you get all the relaxing vibes out of your space.  

First, let's consider your room type and any awkward areas that may hinder the design process. 

Small Living Rooms

It may not seem like it, but a small living space is a blessing in disguise, with an excellent opportunity to get creative and make a cosy space. Often, a small spot will have a designated place for your sofa, with little room for different options. With the sofa being the room's focal point, your other living furniture should flow seamlessly into the rest of the space while maximising the room's full potential. 

Use footstools instead of coffee tables, mount the TV on the wall instead of opting for a bulky unit, and consider using ottomans for storage instead of large bookshelves. 

Top Tip: For smaller rooms, consider using a satin-finish paint or adding decorative mirrors to bounce light around the space and create the illusion of a larger room. 

Large Open Plan Living Room

We’re in furniture heaven when it comes to open-living layouts. Large, open-plan rooms are fantastic, with plenty of space for storage and plush L-shaped sofas. However, without the right touch, you risk your space lacking real depth, and it could become a room you bypass when looking for the perfect spot to relax. 

Dividing your room into zones for working, family entertainment, and relaxation can be the perfect way to maximise your space's multi-functional uses. Don’t line furniture up along walls; use it to create dividers and mini-rooms within, and place large sofas in the centre of your room. This may feel counterintuitive, but it will create a lovely social atmosphere devoid of wasted space. 

Narrow Long Living Rooms

Your living room will likely be this shape if you live in an older terraced property. The most complex design to navigate in the modern day, the standard tends to be arranging sitting room furniture opposite each other. This may visually look appealing, but after twenty minutes of sitting opposite your extended family members, you may begin to feel slightly like you’re in a job interview or, worse, speed dating! 

Instead, think L-shape with a twist. Purchase a standard two or three-seater couch and add an armchair at an angle alongside it to create some dynamics in your room. Add bookshelves or TV units on the opposite wall for storage and a killer dynamic design duo. 

Bay Windows 

With their awkward shape, bay windows often present an odd design dilemma when arranging furniture. As standard, we tend to see two options when it comes to sofas: either placing a large one in front of the window and essentially ignoring it as a feature in the room, or “book-ending” the window with two chairs or small sofas to take full advantage of the feature and create a cosy conversation spot. If your room is south-facing and guaranteed a lot of light, we recommend the latter for optimising your space. 

If you’re feeling fancy, why not create a sofa bench in the bay window as the perfect place to curl up with a book? Alternatively, place a work desk in the window to create a bright and motivating area to spend your day.

If you block out the window, don’t waste the space! Add a low sideboard or toy storage to keep your living room clutter-free.   

Alcoves

Alcoves naturally present a design flaw in rooms and can become a dumping ground when sofas are placed nearby, making it easy to shove clutter down the edge. 

However, we recommend using the space to the best of your ability. Providing you have access to sockets, why not add floating shelves and lighting to create a bespoke workstation that you may not have had room for otherwise? 

If you have two alcoves on either side of your fireplace, we recommend using each space differently so your room doesn’t feel too formal. Think bookshelves or small cupboards for decor and storage.

How to optimise sofa arrangement in your living space. 

The most classic setup in any space is a sofa and two armchairs opposite each other. This makes for a great conversational space, and a TV can be mounted on the opposite wall. Although this isn't the best setup for viewing, if you prefer to use your room for family time and game nights, this setup may be ideal for you. Add coffee tables and be prepared to rug up—always choose larger rugs in your space to make the room warm and inviting. 

You can put your opposing chairs at an angle if this works better for your walkways. Adding chairs close together with a small side table and low lighting in the evening makes for a lovely spot to cosy up and spend precious time with loved ones. 

If your room is long and narrow, chairs flanking your sofa are an excellent way to ensure you still have the same amount of seating without taking up too much space. 

Feng shui 

Making your living room space a place of harmony and peace is essential when it comes to your decor. For this, we’ve drawn inspiration from the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui, which affects our senses and improves our overall quality of life. 

Intent

  •  Set an intention for your room, will it be used as a relaxing space in the evening? In this case, opt for low lighting and comfortable, large sofas. 

 

  • Would you prefer this space to be a place for entertaining family and friends? Somewhere for your teenagers to have friends over, or you may love to host dinner parties and want a space to chat after hours. In this case, place furniture adjacent to each other to encourage a good conversational flow. 

 

Positioning Living Room Furniture

  • Help family and friends move freely through the room by placing seating in a way that prevents obstacles and negative energy in your space. 

 

  • In large spaces, place your sofa facing the entrance to make guests feel welcome when they arrive at your home. 

 

  • If you have a fireplace, gather chairs around it for a lovely focal point that is guaranteed to start conversations. 

Lighting

  • In feng shui, lighting is used to help “problem areas” become more balanced and bright, creating a more positive atmosphere in turn. 

 

  • It's essential to avoid harsh lighting in your living space. Use lamps or energy-efficient bulbs to create soft, natural lighting that uplifts your mood.

 

Mirrors

  • By naturally drawing the eye upward, mirrors can create the illusion of more space and more light. As a rule, placing mirrors about an inch higher than you initially think is optimal for bouncing light and energy around your room.

 

  • In feng shui, it’s recommended to avoid hanging mirrors above sofas and chairs, especially if this is going to reflect on those entering the room. Placing mirrors adjacent to windows can be an excellent option, creating a light and welcoming space that helps you relax after a long day. 

Furniture World is here for your living room design needs

In summary, considering the space you have and planning your big furniture layouts will make a big difference to your sitting room furniture. 

While it may feel more exciting to pick out your paint colours and research which houseplants are less likely to die, without the fundamentals, your space won’t feel cohesive, and you won’t feel as comfortable relaxing in it. 

No matter what you choose, Furniture World has your needs covered with our outstanding range of living room furniture and accessories. Are you still stuck for ideas? Why not take inspiration from our experts and be well on your way to your ideal home?

Posted by SEO Mabo
16th May 2025

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