12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (2024)

Room Design

Living Rooms

By

Kristin Hohenadel

12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (1)

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 02/26/24

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12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (2)

The best living room layout ideas serve both your space and your lifestyle. When placing sofas, chairs, coffee tables, side tables, stools, poufs, area rugs, and lighting, think about the ways that you plan to use the space.

This might mean creating a large seating area for entertaining and family time in a spacious family living room. It could involve creating a relaxing chill out zone centered around a TV in a smaller space. Or it may involve carving out a living room area in an open-plan space that flows with the rest of your interior.

Check out these living room layout ideas to help you figure out the best plan for your space.

  • 01 of 12

    Twin Sofas

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (3)

    In this traditional living room layout from Emily Henderson Design, the seating area is not centered around a TV but oriented around a formal fireplace, creating a gathering place that encourages conversation in the large rectangular room.

    Matching sofas opposite one another ground the design, an area rug defines the space, and two occasional chairs fill in the open side opposite the fireplace and provide additional seating. An intimate conversation area for two by the bay windows features a pair of upholstered armchairs.

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  • 02 of 12

    Oversized Sofa + Credenza

    In this rectangular living room designed by Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design, a large, overstuffed couch anchors the blank wall to the right, and a simple midcentury modern-inspired credenza opposite houses the TV and decorative objects while leaving plenty of open floor space.

    Try a Round Coffee Table

    A round coffee table will break up the linear lines in a rectangular room while creating flow and reducing the chance of bumped shins while moving around the space.

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  • 03 of 12

    Living Room + Home Office

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (5)

    If your home office is in the same space as your living room, you don't have to go to elaborate lengths to hide it. Just be sure to create a zone for relaxing and another for working.

    Reinforce the separate areas by positioning your couch so that it faces away from your desk, and your desk so that it faces away from the living room to keep you focused.

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  • 04 of 12

    Floating Sectional + Armchairs

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (6)

    This square living room from John McClain Design has a natural focal point with its fireplace and symmetrical built-ins on either side. But it lacks a solid wall to anchor the furniture, so the designer created a seating island in the center of the room anchored by an area rug. A console placed behind the sofa works as a virtual room divider to further define the space.

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  • 05 of 12

    Mismatched Seating

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (7)

    In this living room from Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design, a main sofa is positioned on the main wall opposite the windows. An eclectic mix of additional seating options scattered throughout the room include a small bank of vintage cinema seating and an Eames lounger.

    The mismatched furniture is loosely assembled around a large central coffee table and anchored by a large patterned area rug. A side table on one end of the sofa is balanced by a standing industrial lamp on the other.

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  • 06 of 12

    Conversation Area Layout

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (8)

    If you have a front or formal living room that is used primarily for entertaining, or are carving out a small seating area in an open-plan apartment, consider skipping the sofa in favor of armchairs.

    Interior designer Alvin Wayne created a sophisticated, minimalist conversation area using two pairs of voluptuous matching armchairs facing one another, with a long narrow table down the middle.

  • 07 of 12

    Couch + Chair + Pouf

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (9)

    Interior designer Alvin Wayne chose a main sofa and a round coffee table to preserve the flow in this small New York City apartment living room. A sculptural 50s-style armchair and a knotted velvet pouf add visual interest and offer additional seating for occasional entertaining.

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  • 08 of 12

    Off-Center Layout

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (10)

    A fireplace mantel is a natural focal point in many living rooms. But in this modern cottage design from Desiree Burns Interiors, the fireplace is located on a side wall in the middle of a deep rectangular room broken up with multiple windows and doors.

    The designer created a comfortable main seating area by placing a large corner sectional at the far end of the living room that faces away from the windows and into the main room. A pair of side-by-side armchairs are placed closer to the fireplace that help define the space while keeping it light and airy.

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  • 09 of 12

    TV-Focused Layout

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (11)

    Studio KT created an intimate seating area on one end of an open-plan room by positioning a long comfy sofa opposite the fireplace and TV wall. A pair of wooden chairs flanking the hearth add extra seating.

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  • 10 of 12

    Away From the Wall

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (12)

    Just because you have a lot of space doesn't mean you have to fill your living room with extra furniture if a large couch, a single end table, and a couple of floating coffee tables is all your family needs.

    In this spacious living room from Emily Henderson Design, the ample sofa was pulled away from the back wall. Midcentury modern-style shelving on the wall behind displays books, objects, and art, leaving the rest of the spacious room open and uncluttered.

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  • 11 of 12

    Double Living Room Layout

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (13)

    In this open-plan double living room from Midcity Interiors, the designers created two seating areas. One has a comfy velvet couch with its back to the open plan kitchen, facing the TV, with a plush area rug kept free of extra furniture to provide plenty of floor space for kids to play.

    A few feet away, a more formal sitting area is anchored by a colorful area rug, with a couch opposite a pair of armchairs and a coffee table in the middle.

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  • 12 of 12

    Sofa + Daybed Living Room

    12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (14)

    In this living room, an upholstered daybed is used in place of a second sofa or a pair of armchairs. The low profile of the daybed keeps sight lines clear and adds a place for afternoon naps or morning meditations.

FAQ

  • Where should a TV be placed in a living room?

    If the TV is a focal point in your living room, mount your TV on the wall across from your main seating area at a comfortable eye level. You can hang your living room TV above the fireplace mantel, place a TV stand on a media console, or make it part of a TV or media wall.

  • How do you work out a living room layout?

    You can figure out your living room layout by moving around existing furniture until it looks right. If you're starting from scratch, there are free online room design tools and home design software options to help you create a floor plan.

    Start by determining placement for anchor pieces like the sofa and armchairs. Next, add accent furniture and decor like coffee tables, side tables, and rugs. Once you have a flow that works well you can make decisions about decor like lighting, window treatments, and wall art.

  • How do I arrange my furniture when the door opens into my living room?

    If a door opens into your living room, maintain flow with clever furniture placement. Arrange the largest furniture pieces such as the sofa along the main wall away from the door if your room layout allows. Or you can create a visual separation by placing the sofa with its back to the door. Just be sure to place furniture far enough from the door so that you can open it completely without blocking pathways or hitting furniture or decor.

    Alternatively, you can replace a living room door with a barn or pocket door, or remove it altogether to create a more open feel.

12 Timeless Living Room Layout Ideas to Set Up at Home (2024)

FAQs

How to figure out living room layout? ›

All major furniture arrangements should be designed around that item. Some rooms have an existing focal point, like a fireplace. If your room doesn't have a natural focal point, you must create one. Try a large-scale piece of art, a gallery wall, or a console and television.

What is a timeless living room? ›

Timeless interiors tend to resist the trends and focus on an understated, yet sophisticated, style. Don't rush to purchase furniture, especially big-ticket items, or cover walls in the 'colour of the year'. Instead, add these trendy colours and materials in accent pieces like tableware, lamps, cushions and bedding.

Where to put sofa and TV in living room? ›

"Generally, a natural place to put a TV in a living room is on a media stand placed directly in front of the main couch, sectional, or sofa," Cameron Johnson. "Alternatively, a TV should be placed above a media console. Either sat on the console itself or installed on the wall above," shares Heather Mastrangeli.

How far should a couch be from the TV? ›

2.75 x Screen Size: Place your sofa at a distance of 2.75 inches away for each inch of diagonal screen size. (From IKEA) This formula puts my sofa at 82.5 inches from my TV – much closer to what feels comfortable and not claustrophobic, but still much closer than the actual current distance.

Where to put a sofa in a living room? ›

Avoid placing the sofa under ceiling beams. Keep the sofa in proportion to the size of the room. Position the sofa with a view of the front door. Position the sofa opposite key focal points such as a TV, a window or a fireplace.

What design style never goes out of style? ›

Neutral Color Palettes:

Neutral color palettes are a staple in timeless interior design. Shades of white, beige, gray, and taupe provide a versatile backdrop that can be easily accessorized and personalized. These colors create a sense of elegance, sophistication, and timelessness.

What is the most timeless interior design style? ›

Minimalism. Perhaps one of the most iconic timeless interior design styles is minimalism. Known for its clean lines and sophisticated style, it's for those who love to live clutter-free with a subtle color palette.

What color furniture is timeless? ›

2. Choose Neutral Colors. Neutral shades are timeless and go with all room types and styles. They can take on many meanings and interpretations, from natural tones like white, black, and stone to grayish-beige.

Which wall should a TV go on living room? ›

Which walls are the windows and doors located in? Ideally, you'll want to place your television away from high-traffic areas and at an angle where sunlight from the windows won't cause a glare on your screen. Feel free to experiment with placement before finding studs and punching holes in your wall.

Should TV be in front of couch? ›

The perfect layout is the one that keeps everything organized, leaves space to walk around and gives you comfort while watching the TV from the couch. So, consider all these factors and if they are met, the layout is perfect. So, a couch does not necessarily need to be centered in front of the TV.

Should TV be centered on wall or couch? ›

If your TV is your focal point, then place it in the center of the seating area. If you have another focal point such as a beautifully decorated mantel or an expansive window view, then think about placing it on the wall adjacent to the focal point so it can still be viewed comfortably.

What is the 2/3 sofa rule? ›

The rule suggests combining a two-seater sofa (loveseat) with a three-seater sofa in the same living space. This combination is chosen to create a more dynamic, versatile, and inviting seating area compared to using a single, large sectional sofa or multiple sofas of the same size. Benefits of Implementing the 2-3 Rule.

What are the four rules in furniture arrangement? ›

4 Rules for Arranging a Living Room, According to Designers
  • Start With a Focal Point.
  • Follow the 2:3 Rule.
  • Give Your Sofa Some Space.
  • Measure Before You Make a Purchase.
Oct 3, 2023

How to figure out the best furniture layout? ›

The 10 Commandments of Furniture Placement
  1. Function Over Form. The most important factor when arranging any room is to understand and have the layout reflect, how the space will be used. ...
  2. Always Allow For Flow. ...
  3. Balance is Key. ...
  4. Every Seat Gets a Buddy. ...
  5. Create Zones. ...
  6. Don't be a Wallflower. ...
  7. Keep the Horizon Clear. ...
  8. Find a Focus.

Is there an app to help me rearrange my furniture? ›

The best furniture-arranging kit if you're always on your phone: The Magicplan app. We like anything that can make this process even a little bit easier. You can use your smartphone's camera to capture your floor plan right in this app, rather than draw it out yourself.

Is there a free app to design a room? ›

Homestyler - Best Overall Home Design App

Users praise its realistic visualization and simple drag-and-drop function for furniture and decorations. Homestyler lets you create floor plans and then design interiors room by room. Choose furniture and décor from their catalogue of over 100,000 items.

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