A Guide to Creating the Perfect Living Room Layout
The living room is the heart of any living space, and the layout you choose can make or break your living experience.
Here we'll discuss living room layouts - how they work, what different living room layouts suit different styles of living spaces (and living styles), and why this matters for you.
A layout and what is it for?
So first things first: what is the living room layout? A living room layout is exactly what it sounds like - the way that living room furniture is arranged in a living space. The living room layouts that you choose will affect how much social space and private space exist in your living area, and they'll also reveal a lot about you and your cohabitant..
What living room layouts are available?
Open Concept
The first living room layout is the open-concept living room. This is an entire living space with no real separation of spaces - everything's open, everything's more or less readily accessible to everyone living there.
This living room layout works great for social living spaces - where people are likely to spend a lot of time hanging out together. And this layout is ideal if you're after a bigger and more inviting space.
Separate Space
Now, living room layouts aren't just for living spaces where socializing is the main activity. For living rooms that are more focused on privacy or dedicated to solitary living, there's another layout that's perfect - the separate-space layout.
The separate-space living room layout is when the spaces are divided into two or more distinct living areas. For example, you could have a living room with a living area, an eating area, and bedroom space. Or maybe you have living room space dedicated to watching TV, reading alone in your armchair, studying at the dining table, and sleeping on the living room couch.
What To Expect From The Two Layouts
Here's what living rooms with each living layout look like:
Open-concept living rooms tend to have furniture that's easy to move around so it can be rearranged quickly and easily. The living room furniture is often fairly low-to-the-ground, with lots of pillows and decorative living room accents to make it look nice but not too formal.
Separate living rooms are often more high-end living spaces - the TV area has an easy chair or sofa that's perfect for watching shows, there's a dining table that's a good place to do work, and generally living rooms that are laid out in this way has living room decor that reflects the living area's special function.
Factors to Think About and Consider in Making a Living Room Layout
Now that you've found living room layouts that work for living rooms in living spaces with different living styles, what should you consider when choosing a living room layout?
First off, think about how many people are living in your living space. If it's just you, then maybe an open concept living space is perfect. However, if there are two or more of you living together, then a living room layout that includes two living areas -living area and dining area - would be ideal.
Second, think about your living habits. Open-concept living rooms are great for social living spaces where people don't mind being in the same living space all the time. If you're living by yourself and like to keep your living space private, then a living room layout that includes the living area and bedroom space would be perfect.
Third, think about the living habits of your family, partner or roommate. Just as people have living habits that influence the designs of living rooms they need for living spaces, so do their living styles.
Lastly, think about the living space you currently have. How big is your living space? What are its dimensions? What does it look like now? Where do you want to place furniture to make living area designs most functional and aesthetically pleasing?
Arranging Living Room Furniture for Different Living Styles
How can you arrange living room furniture for living rooms in living spaces that emphasize more than one living function or embrace different living styles? Here are some things to consider:
First, think about living room decor and living room furniture essentials. Does your living space need a coffee table, sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman, entertainment center? What colours and styles do you want living room furniture to reflect?
Second, decide on living room layouts that will serve the different functions of living spaces. Will living room furniture be used primarily for decor or living room settings? Where should accessories and living room tables go to add the most value to living rooms that emphasize more than one function?
Third, consider each piece of furniture separately. How will different types of living room furnishings affect living room layouts?
Fourth, think about living room decor. Do you want to keep furniture basic and neutral, or do you want to make living rooms more vibrant with different patterns and textures on rugs, room chairs, pillows and room curtains?
And lastly, keep living space plans in mind. Are there any furniture placement restrictions that come with living rooms in living areas of a certain shape or size? Do some living room layouts simply not work for certain living spaces because of their dimensions?
In The End
So living room layouts exist, and they matter - living rooms with open-concept living room layouts encourage social living, living rooms with separate living areas reinforce the function of each part of your living space.
And now you know exactly what living room layouts are available, and how to choose which one works best for you! Thriving in a living room that suits your needs and living style will surely make you happy in the long run!