How to Design an Aesthetically-Pleasing Living Room Layout

Discover how to design a living room space perfect for your everyday life. After all, the living room is at the centre of our home, so it's important to design one that is not only welcoming to our friends and family, but is also a space where we can unwind after a long day.

So you want to redesign or set up your living room, but you're not sure how to create the best layout for your space? After all, how do you put together a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing design? The professionals really make it look easy, but if you know where to start, you can do it, too!

The ideal living room layout will vary, depending on the size and style of the space. However, you can use some key tips to help create a stunning, magazine-worthy interior. Read on to discover more about layouts, and learn how to transform your living room into somewhere you'll love.

Start with Shape

Before you go shopping for new furniture, take a step back and examine the shape of the room. Is your living room large or small? Is it square, rectangular, or slightly irregular? Whether you have a tiny living room or a massive one, you can only make the most of the space if you work with the shape of it.

Once you understand the shape of your living room, take measurements. The last thing you want is an oversized sofa crammed into a tiny room. Large furniture tends to dominate small spaces, which negatively affects the layout. Big, open spaces can accommodate bigger furniture. In fact, without enough furniture to fill the room, large living rooms can look cold and bare.

How Do You Use the Room?

The best living room design combines functionality with style. A living room is only functional if it works for how you plan to use it. For instance, is the living room also the TV room? A place to gather with friends and entertain? A room you plan to use to snuggle in front of the fireplace and read a book?

While the room may serve multiple purposes, it's important to consider how you envision enjoying this space the most. Why? The way you place your living room furniture should reflect those ideas. To do this, start by choosing a focal point. Arrange the furniture around your focal point. If your goal is to create a place to talk or entertain, arrange the furniture in a way that encourages sitting and talking with others. 

In many living room layouts, the focal point is the television, but it doesn't have to be. If you do plan on watching a lot of TV in this room, consider choosing a decorative display or mounting the TV. Make sure the TV is at eye level so that you don't have to crane your neck to watch a mounted display.

Choose a Colour Palette

One way to make a cohesive and appealing design is to choose a colour palette for your living room. Colours not only impact your mood, but they can also tie your design together. However, the process is more than just choosing your favourite colours and calling it a day. Light colours can make a small room look bigger, while darker colours have the opposite effect. You also want to choose shades that complement your furniture. Certain colours work well in the living room and complement almost any style of furniture. If you choose ocean blue, for instance, consider adding neutrals and earthy colours to the palette such as white, grey, or sandy beige.

Keep or Toss Old Furniture

When rearranging furniture, you may choose to either keep your old pieces or invest in new ones. Look through the furniture you have now and decide what you need and what you can live without. If your current furniture has seen better days, part with it. That includes antiques and hand-me-downs that you don't love. One common mistake people make when laying out a living room is keeping bulky, hand-me-down furniture that doesn't add anything to the space. It's okay to part with pieces that don't suit you.

What Do You Like?

Take a look at some living room designs and pick out a few that you enjoy. Do they have anything in common? Maybe you like a minimalistic look, or perhaps you love plush furniture you can sink into. When it comes to lightning, would you prefer an elegant chandelier or the warm, cosy glow of a floor lamp? Take a look at what's new and see if anything strikes you.

CHOOSING A LIVING ROOM LAYOUT THAT WORKS

Now that you have an idea of what type of furniture you like and how to choose pieces for the space you have, you'll want to know how to rearrange the furniture in a way that works. Use your measurements to sketch out possibilities. Draw it yourself or use a furniture layout tool. Some of these tools even let you use authentic pieces of furniture in the design to test how it looks in your room on your phone or computer. 

Design resources can guide you as you plan your layout. You don't want to haul your sofa halfway across the room only to realize you liked it better against the other wall! You can also find inspiration online or in magazines.

Remember your focal point and arrange your furniture around it. Televisions and fireplaces make common focal points in living rooms. If you plan on watching a lot of TV in this room, consider choosing a decorative display or mounting the TV. Alternatively, you could consider a fireplace TV stand which combines functionality and style. Alternatively, you could also arrange the furniture in a way that serves the purpose of the room. Placing the couch to face your armchairs encourages conversation, for example. 

THE FINAL TOUCHES

Designing a living room layout can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Don't be afraid to experiment or try something new, either. Use our tips to help, and soon you'll have a living room that's both stylish and functional.

The last step in the process is to add the final touches. Consider tying the room together with an area rug. A rug helps "ground" your furniture and keeps it from looking like it's floating around. If the room seems unfinished, a rug can make all the difference. The right lighting and mirrors can also take the room from beautiful to Instagram-worthy. Check out what we have to offer to find those perfect pieces for your dream living room.

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