Our own living room (above) went through a few different variations until we landed on this layout–see the somewhat comical evolution here. In the end, this sofa with these two oversized leather chairs across from it worked so well with our large, open layout, defined the living room and allowed for lots of different kinds of conversation and hanging out. If you’re living room isn’t feeling just right–I’ve been there!–and often times it can be resolved with just a little rearranging (my favorite kind of free decorating!) or tweaking the furniture. For us, it was both!
Before we get to some amazing budget-friendly accent chairs (scroll down to see those!), I’ve put together a cheat sheet to make your living room rearranging a little more productive and maybe a little less labor intensive.
In the above renderings, I simplified it by just laying out sofas and chairs. Some chairs are smaller, some are larger, and some are even different in the same space–a tip I observed while gathering a few real-life examples of these layouts.
#1 is definitely the most popular layout I think, it’s our living room layout. (At the cabin, too!)
Alternatively, if your chairs are a little smaller and you want to keep a walkway between the chairs, go for a #11 like Simply Suzy’s home below.
I could look at living room layouts all day because the right, ideal layout will maximize the function of the space and look effortless. Not one of the other. Both! As I’ve started to put together some living room designs at smaller price points (similar to our bedroom post from last week), I realized a layout post is precursor. And I also noticed that often times getting 2 good chairs to complete your living room is more expensive than getting another sofa! So, I went down a rabbit hole of gathering up good accent chairs at a great price, too.
The 16 below can be doubled up in a room, or stand alone. Some are wider and substantial and others are smaller, but all of them are under $600 (all but 1 are under $500) and start at just $175! These, and a good sofa, are the building blocks to your future living room.
1. Bedford Rustic Wood Arm Chair: $175
2. Soriano Channel Tufted Chair Gray Velvet: $248
3. Jakarta Modern Arm Accent Chair: $254
4. Peacemaker Accent Chair: $319
5. Auburn Chair in navy: $349
6. Auburn Chair in gray: $349
7. Slope Leather Lounge Chair: $349
8. Howell Canvas Arm Chair: $349
9. Auburn Chair in green: $349
10. Mid Century Huxley Chair: $429
11. Hanna Chair: $479
12. Copenhagen Industrial Upholstered Accent Chair: $484
13. Fluted Petite Accent Chair: $498
14. Velvet Hillside Accent Chair: $499
15. Cue White Chair: $499
16. Classic Cigar-style Vintage Leather Club Chair: $613
And just because I’m curious, which layout design are you currently rocking? Is #1 the most popular like I think?
Our small living room is very much like layout #2, except that the TV/TV cabinet replace the love seat. The two chairs across from the TV are recliners, which I said I would never have in my living room! Well, “never say never.” My husband and I have accumulated some years, and find sometimes we need to sleep in a more upright position. We haven’t gotten an adjustable bed (yet), so we purchased two recliners for occasional sleeping. We searched local furniture stores, but settled on ordering high-leg, wing-back recliners online.
Our living room layout seems to be working for now, although I am planning on replacing the coffee table and adding a different end table between the recliners. The room is very small, and it’s in a real 100+year-old farmhouse, so we try to maximize what we have.
My living room has the weirdest layout and we have moved our furniture around 3 times since moving in 5 years ago. We have one long wall with windows framed by a short wall and another that has a big open doorway, and the other side of the room is half-wall and half-open to the dining room. I need a designer’s help!
Our layout is like #14 but with neither sofa across from the sofa that’s there, kind of like #7 but with the rug the other way and small accent chairs on one side.
We have a small family room that is a little more long and narrow and the fireplace is at the far end. Because the room is not wide I feel like a sofa facing the fireplace would cut off the view and flow of the room. And a sofa and/or chairs on either wall would leave no place for a tv. We’ve lived here 8 years and I still haven’t figured out a good layout.
On another note, I’d love to see a roundup of budget friendly and stylish recliner chairs!
#3 : )