Living Room Furniture Design Guide

If you are looking to make a stunning design impact in your home, the living room is the place to start. Not only is the living room typically centrally located in your home, but it may also be one of the most frequently used spaces—by your family and guests alike.

Selecting living room furniture—from a sofa or sectional and additional seating, to occasional tables and other accents—will likely be one of the most important home design decisions that you make. The pieces you choose will represent your style, whether it’s elegant and traditional, or strikingly minimalistic and contemporary. Perhaps your personal design style falls somewhere in the middle. The important thing is your living room furniture and decor speaks to you, and that you enjoy all the pieces you choose.

Style isn’t the only aspect to consider when making your choices. Whether you commonly use your living room as a casual place to relax and unwind with a glass of wine at the end of a busy day, or a place to entertain family and friends, you want everyone to be comfortable. Furniture that’s made from the highest quality materials—such as real hardwood and luxurious leather—will not only deliver the high-end look that you desire, but also stand up to the test of time. You may even choose to pass down a favorite piece to the next generation, carrying on the rich tradition of quality furnishings and beautiful living room décor.

The tips in this living room furniture design guide can help you navigate the myriad of options available, and help you decide which ones are ideal for your home. We’ll also detail ways to customize your living room furniture, to create a truly one-of-a-kind look that’s tailor made for your comfort and enjoyment.

Consider the Layout of Your Living Room

Before you start the process of selecting your pieces, you need to be aware of the differences between traditional living rooms and open concept floor plans, particularly how they affect your furniture selections.

• Traditional: In this instance, “traditional living rooms” is referring to the layout of your space itself, not the design style that’s associated with timeless and classic pieces. Traditional style living rooms are almost completely closed in by walls. Because of this, the room may feel smaller, so you might choose to go with smaller scale furniture and other décor in order to offset that. One advantage of traditional style living rooms is that the furniture in that room stands on its own. You don’t have to take into consideration the furniture and décor in adjoining rooms, since they won’t be in the same line of sight.
• Open concept: These floor plans offer a more spacious feeling, as the living space typically flows into the dining and kitchen areas, without walls to separate them. Since open concept floor plans foster a more voluminous look, you may choose to go with larger scale pieces, without the worry of these items looking cramped or overcrowded. Sectional sofas, which take up more space than traditional sofas, can also be a good fit for open concept rooms. However, you will need to take into consideration the furniture and décor in the adjoining spaces. You’ll want to keep your living room furnishings in harmony with the other areas which flow around it. Dining areas, kitchens, foyers and even hallways will often need to complement each other in open concept homes.

Living Room Design Considerations

When it comes to living room design, you need to factor in more than just the layout of your room and your design preferences. The ideal furniture for your home depends on how you plan to use the room and who will be using it. There are numerous factors that you will want to keep in mind, so it is a room your whole family will enjoy.

• Consider the purpose of your living room. First, think about how the room will be used. For instance, will it be used mostly for conversation—either between family members or guests? If so, then a sofa and loveseat combo may be just the right pieces for you. Will your living room be used primarily for watching TV, playing games or perhaps all of the above? You will almost certainly need a conversation area, but maybe a fabulous entertainment console, game table or coffee table with storage can be used to great effect. You may also want to consider power motion recliners or even cinema seating so you can sit back in ultimate relaxation to take in your favorite programs. With these impressive pieces, you can enjoy the movie theater experience in the comfort or your own living room.
• Do you have small children? If you have small children, you are familiar with the possible perils of everyday living. You can lower the chance of accidents and incidents by choosing child-friendly furnishings, such as pieces with rounded corners and/or upholstered ottomans and occasional tables. Avoid glass in most instances. You may also want to choose performance fabrics for your upholstered items, which deliver easy clean up and lower maintenance. Be sure to include a warranty program for added protection.
• Do you have pets? If you have pets, you may also want to consider performance fabrics, which are best for handling stains and animal hair.
• Don’t overlook leather! From traditional leather sofas to sleek contemporary designs, leather furniture is available in every style. Choose a high-quality leather piece, and you’ll gain both durability and unique beauty that is only enhanced with time.
• Is there a natural focal point in your room? While a beautiful sofa can certainly be a focal point, first you should consider if the room itself offers any natural points that draw the eye. Perhaps you enjoy a living room with large windows with a gorgeous view. Maybe you have a fireplace or a unique architectural element in your room. If at all possible, you should try to arrange your living room so that the eye is drawn to these focal points as you enter the room.
• Consider extra seating for entertaining. Sofas and arm chairs don’t have to be your only seating. Think about how the furnishings you have can work to provide extra seats when entertaining. Perhaps an upholstered storage ottoman can be used as a temporary seat for guests. Maybe you have stools or ottomans that nest under your sofa table. If you have an open floor layout, you can pull in chairs from other areas, such as your dining room, to create plenty of seating.
• Make sure you have sufficient lighting. Lighting is an integral part of the design. Overhead lighting can be useful, but you can add soft supplemental lighting through floor and table lamps. These lamps can also make interesting home décor pieces that complement your carefully curated living room style.
• Don’t forget your floors. Whether you have hard wood floors or carpet, an area rug can add warmth and style to your room. Choose from traditional to modern designs and select from beautiful hand knotted rugs that make a one-of-a-kind style statement in your living room. One that’s worth cherishing and showing off!
• Choose artwork that speaks to your tastes. You deserve a living room that you truly love, and a large part of that can come from beautiful artwork. Don’t rush into selecting just any painting that suits your room. Find a piece that inspires you, such as a large landscape that can be hung above your sofa. You can choose other artwork and accent pieces in the same style and/or colors for a cohesive and finished look.

Types of Living Room Furniture

• Sofa or sectional – the sectional, sofa and/or loveseat can be considered the heart of your living room design. These pieces are some of your biggest investments and, rightly so. They set the tone for your living room—from traditional to casual—and typically get the most use as well. When choosing a sofa, it’s important to measure your available space, and take into consideration the number of people you will normally be seating. You can select from traditional, transitional, casual and contemporary styles, with many custom fabric and leather options to make sure you get the sofa of your dreams.
• Additional seating – sofas aren’t the only name in the seating game. You can complete a conversation area by adding a comfortable chair, such as a power motion recliner with all the latest and greatest features, or a chaise lounge that’s as inviting as it is stylish. Accent chairs can bring a bold and exciting design element into your room as well. Don’t forget ottomans so your guests can put their feet up and relax.
• Cocktail table and occasional tables – what’s a living room without a cocktail or occasional table to set your drink and your book on while you relax. Cocktail tables and other occasional pieces make your space more functional and also help give your room a finished appearance. Choose from side tables and end tables, which serve as perfect platforms to set a lamp on as well as some decorative items. Accent tables can complement your other living room décor; and console tables can add useable space behind your sofa or against a wall. Choose individual pieces that complement your design style and come together to create a personalized look in your living room.
• Bookshelves, display cabinets and chests – these types of pieces can be placed in the living room to house items such as games, books, blankets and collectible items from your travels. Choose from beautifully carved wood pieces, which bring a timeless charm to your traditional living room, or sleek and modern items that can enhance your contemporary or urban design style. These quality pieces may even become a family heirloom, which will be treasured for years to come.

While these guidelines can help you select living room furniture and décor, they should be used more as tips than set rules. There is a lot of leeway to choose the furnishings you love best for your living room. Select living room furniture that you love, and you are sure to enjoy these pieces as you converse and relax in your home sweet home.