50+ Clever Ways to Reinvent Your Living Room Layout
Make the most of what you have by switching up your seating arrangement.
The living room is surely the heart of every home, but decorating this space can sometimes feel monotonous. For many people, the living room is a backdrop for great conversation and gatherings, so it should be designed with community and connection in mind. But—more often than not—the seating arrangement veers into basic territory: A sectional here, an armchair over there, and a cocktail table wedged somewhere in between. The results can be gorgeous, yes—but not necessarily groundbreaking. In reality, however, a living room is packed with unlimited design potential, and it all starts with your seating strategy. With a little creativity, an assortment of chairs, sofas, and stools can transform any room for the better. Here, we share 51 of our favorite living rooms, all featuring major seating arrangement inspiration.
Through the Looking Glass
If you want to create the illusion of indoor-outdoor living, place all of your seats right next to your window. In Amanda Gunawan’s Los Angeles loft, a CB2 sectional and her Charles and Ray Eames chair get the sun-drenched treatment.
Keep It Simple
As Shawn Henderson’s upstate New York home proves, you don’t need a complex layout to make your living room feel special. Here, he creates a simple yet striking setup with a Kaare Klint sofa, a Kerstin Hörlin-Holmquist armchair, and a cocktail table by Frits Henningsen.
Style Shake-Up
In his Milan apartment, Emiliano Salci of Dimorestudio shook up the conventional living room layout by placing the Dimoremilano table at one end of his vintage Vico Magistretti sofa.
Seeing Double
Why settle for one coffee table when you can have two? In this Pittsburgh Tudor Revival, two gilded coffee tables are paired with an Art Deco armchair, a custom sofa, and a set of chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar—so guests can enjoy separate conversations without having to speak over each other.
Fire Away
While many people place their furniture right in front of or just around the fireplace, this luxe London townhouse makes a case for an off-centered layout. Here, designer Thomas Hamel incorporated a chandelier by Hervé Van der Straeten, artwork from Béatrice Casadesus, and Regency chairs covered in Fortuny fabric.
Section It Off
In his small West Chelsea studio in Manhattan, Charlie Ferrer used a wall-to-wall sectional in a corner to create the illusion of a designated living room.
Lounge Away
To turn this Connecticut family room into a cozy sanctuary, the design team of Hendricks Churchill placed a Saarinen chair comfortably next to the fireplace. That way, the homeowners can kick back and relax while appreciating the hearth’s warm glow.
Room With a View
Have a living room with a view? Take a cue from Samuel Amoia, who designed this apartment on Manhattan’s Park Avenue. Between the low-slung furniture and colorful Annie Sacks sculpture, the emphasis remains on the stunning view of Central Park below.
Indoor-Outdoor Living
When you’re decorating for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle, it’s often best to keep your living room furnishings to a minimum. By restricting a lounge area to one side of the room, the owners of this South African bungalow maintained a clear pathway to the terrace and didn’t have to sacrifice their sweeping vistas.
Tally Up the Tables
In most living room layouts, the best seat is often the one that has an optimal vantage point and easy access to a side table. But as the living room of this Los Angeles mansion designed by Cliff Fong proves, there’s strength in numbers. With plenty of seating options—and accompanying tables—every seat can be the best seat in the house.
Conversation-Sparking Seats
In this Tel Aviv penthouse loft, architect Alex Meitlis and artist Ivo Bisignano placed the Indian rosewood sofas and armchairs—all of Meitlis’s own design—in a classic formation so that everyone can join in the conversation.
Style With Symmetry
For a visually soothing space, you can never go wrong with symmetry. In this Italian farmhouse, designer James Thurstan Waterworth flanked the fireplace with a pair of custom sofas.
Splitting Image
If you don’t want your living room to feel too coordinated, check out this space in Santa Monica, California. Designer Natasha Baradaran gives the conventional symmetrical layout an unexpected twist by placing the Egg Collective sofa directly across from the Anne Hauck chairs.
Mountain View Living Room
Touches of calming blues and layers of texture featured in a Mountain View home by Regan Baker Design.
Craftsman Style
A welcoming Craftsman-style abode in Austin, Texas, by Meredith Ellis Design.
Modern Look
Interiors by Design opted for a living room setup that’s equal parts fun and modern.
Light-Filled Design
Sculptural wood tables complement leather side chairs and a gray upholstered sofa in a Massachusetts living room design crafted by Found Design Studio.
Modern Eclectic
A blend of of modern and eclectic decor in a living room by Kress Jack Home.
Modern Farmhouse
The perfect modern farmhouse living room by Tom Stringer Design Partners.
Sag Harbor Estate
An attractive palette of blues in a Sag Harbor compound by David Kleinberg Design Associates.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
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