The living room is where many spend of us most our time, especially when we have people over. Every room presents its own design challenges, especially communal areas like the living room. In this article, I will guide you on how to set up couches in a small living room. The seating is the main focus of the living room, so you want to make sure the placement is comfortable and creates a good flow. Maybe you have a living room that’s an odd shape or is crammed with other furnishings. Whatever the reason, there is always a way to carefully target the seating arrangement in your living room.
The Furniture
Before I give you tips on how to set up couches in a small living room, let us think about the type of couches you will be placed in the room. As much as you want a squashy sofa or some hardwood furnishings, you have to consider how that affects the space. Pay attention not just to the actual size of the chairs and other living area furnishings, but their visual weights as well.
For example, even the most cramped area will look more easy-going if it is all-white compared to drenching it in dark colors. Chairs and a coffee table with slim legs would look lighter than upholstered pieces, even if those upholstered pieces actually weighed or measured a lot smaller.
You also want to think about the materials of your furnishings. Compared to wood, metal, and glass create a larger visual space. Both materials reflect light, which is also a plus in any tight space.
Cheat #1: Mirrors and Wallpapers
Just because your living room is a tight fit does not mean you should avoid “busy” walls. You can certainly still go for fun, printed wallpaper. The key is making the walls the focal point to draw attention from the limited space. Hang a mirror against the wall. This increases light and creates the illusion of a larger space. If possible, position the mirror opposite the window so that it reflects the outside and gives the impression of an extra window.
Place your sofa or loveseat against the wall, just below the mirror. Matching side tables or lamps on either side will create a neat frame. In front of the sofa can be an ottoman that will serve as a coffee table or an extra seat.
Cheat #2: Corners and Ceilings
If you are tired of looking around for extra space, try looking up! You may be lucky enough to have a living room with high ceilings. Take advantage of this. That does not necessarily mean you can get extra seating, but you can use those tall walls for installing storage, light fixtures, and art pieces.
Meanwhile, filling up a corner with your main seating furniture can actually free up a ton of space. You may think you large sectional sofa has no room in your living area, but you wisely stick it against a corner and carefully arrange the rest of your furnishings, you’ll have a room that feels less cluttered. Choose a sectional with clean lines. You can have fun with the rest of your furnishings, such as the throw pillows and the ottoman that can also serve as your coffee table. Small stools can be placed around the room as extra seating.
Cheat #3: Built-In Storage
Instead of scattering your storage all over the room, why not place it all in one area? A floor-to-ceiling unit of shelves and cupboards will save up plenty of space. You could even customize the set-up to perfectly frame your TV and to have a pull-down desk. If you still need extra storage, you can turn a trunk into an ottoman or a coffee table. Antique shops are good places to search for such pieces, which are usually small.
This is how to set up couches in a small living room with a floor-to-ceiling storage unit. Opposite the storage, position the loveseat a good distance away. In the middle or against the storage wall, place one or two wooden seats without blocking the storage.
Cheat #4: Invisible Furniture
We already quickly went over how glass can create more space, but other materials like acrylic and Lucite work wonderfully as well. A coffee table made of pure, clear Lucite would, visually, free up a lot of space. Plus, your plants or coffee table looking like they are floating in the middle of the room is a cool effect.
Related to that, you can try chairs or sofas that do not have backs. You could place a backless sofa in the middle of the room, and it creates more seating options. A backless sofa or a couple of backless stools could also divide a room.
Alternatively, you can skip a couch entirely if you have a circular ottoman or coffee table, position three or four varying armchairs around it.
Conclusion
There are plenty of life hacks for how to set up couches in a small living room. All you have to be is wise about your choices in furnishings and to take advantage of every corner of your cramped living area. Our living rooms are usually the first things us and our guests see when they enter our homes, so it’s understandable when we put a lot of thought and pressure on creating the perfect living space. Ultimately, you want to have a living room that inspires you and others to relax. Know more about couches.