Whether you’ve just moved into your dream home, decided to remodel, or simply need a change and want to buy a couple of new pieces and rearrange the rest, the most comfortable and functional living rooms start with a plan.

The Perfect Fit

If you’re buying a new piece, such as a sofa, keep in mind that while the size and scale of the piece might look perfect in the huge showroom, it might not be perfect for your living room. Always measure your floor space—larger rooms require larger furniture, while smaller rooms require smaller scale pieces.

When it comes to sofas, moderation is the key, you never know if you’ll want it to fit in a smaller living room or den down the road.

Source: For People Design on Houzz

Remember the 3 Fs

Once you have the furniture chosen, it’s time to arrange your dream living room. Here a few tips to keep in mind.

Flow

How and where do you enter and exit the room? It should be easy and effortless, in other words, you don’t want to be dodging ottomans and banging your shins on the coffee table.

There should be a natural flow throughout each room as well as from one room to the next. Keep in mind that while furniture placement is very important, colour and style are also key to helping your room flow together.

Function

Whether it’s large or small, formal or family room, you want to create a space that suits your lifestyle. Living rooms are often multi-purpose so you want to arrange your furniture in a way that’s comfortable for watching TV with the family but also provides a cozy seating area, arranged to promote conversation when you have guests over.

For larger spaces, you can arrange smaller groupings of chairs or sofas to create more intimate spaces.

Source: Jennifer Baines Interiors on Houzz

Focal points

Fixed elements such as a fireplace, big-screen TV or a large window that offers a panoramic view are focal points; you want to arrange your furniture in a way that makes the most of them. Using a single bold colour—say on the ceiling or one wall—in an otherwise neutral room is another way to create a focal point.

A few more tips to keep in keep in mind:

• Try to keep at least 15 inches between chairs or sofas and the coffee table.

• Make sure you have at least a three-foot width of walking space along any main traffic areas.

• If you decide to place furniture on an angle, be aware that it will take up a lot of extra floor space.

Finishing touches

Once you’re happy with the layout of your room, it’s time for some fun: adding a few extras to tie the whole thing together. A well-placed area rug, some accent pillows in your colour scheme and, of course, personal accessories like family photos truly make the room your own. Now all you have to do it put your feet up and enjoy the view!

Alex, Your Furniture Expert