5 Ideas for an Awkward Living Room Layout

Fireplaces, big windows, and angled walls are all beautiful features of a room, but they can make it difficult to arrange furniture in a way that makes sense. If you're struggling to come up with awkward living room layout ideas, we're sharing five tips to help you create a beautiful, relaxing space, even if the room is small, oddly shaped, or has challenging elements.

What Will the Living Room's Main Function Be?

Before you begin arranging your furniture, consider what it will primarily be used for. Do you have a separate living area that will most likely be used for watching television and informal family gathering, making this space more for formal gatherings and entertaining? Is it a multi-purpose space that needs an area for a desk and workspace as well as a place to stretch out and read a book? Once you know how you'll use the space, this can help you determine the best furniture layout to meet your needs. For example, if this room is for informal family relaxing, you could structure the furniture with the television as the focal point. On the other hand, if it's a formal space, the windows or fireplace would make a more attractive anchor to place furniture around.

Start with Your Largest Piece

If you have a large piece of furniture, such as a sofa, determine the best spot for it first. Most likely, there are only a few spaces a large piece will fit, especially if the room is small, narrow, or has multiple doorways or large windows. Find the right space for it first, then arrange the rest of the room around it. If you have two large pieces, such as an entertainment center and a sofa, consider that the electronics will need to be near an outlet while a couch doesn't necessarily need to be against a wall, so you'll want to start with the more challenging piece and go from there.

Float Your Furniture Away from the Walls

Most people immediately look for how they can put their couches, chairs, and other seating against the walls, but angled walls, irregular-shaped rooms, open layouts, and fireplaces can make it very challenging to do. Instead of trying to put everything against the wall, design your furniture into a square or rectangle shape around the focal point, such as your fireplace or entertainment center. This can be made easier if you lay down a large area rug in the center of the space and arrange your furniture around it. Floating your furniture toward the center can have the added benefit of making small spaces seem larger.

Designate Different Spaces for Different Uses

One of the challenges of an awkward living room layout is determining how to use the square footage most effectively. Open spaces under stairs and small alcoves are particularly difficult, especially when they don't fit into your central seating arrangement. However, you can think of these spaces as their own areas rather than part of the main living room which can open up the possibilities of functionality. A small, cozy chair, side table, and reading lamp can turn a recessed space into a cozy reading nook while a compact desk and chair can transform it into an efficient home office setup. Even small recessed areas can be made functional with a stylish bar cart or with shelving to create a floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelf.

Try Out Different Furnishings to Work for an Awkward Living Room Layout

Renting furniture may help you determine the best way to arrange an awkward living room layout. This gives you the opportunity to try different pieces in different sizes to find out what works best in your unique space without the investment of buying furniture only to realize it doesn't work. For example, you can rent a living room set with a sectional sofa, entertainment center, and end tables, see how they fit both your living room and your lifestyle, and if you don't like them after a few months, you can try a different setup that may work better, such as a sofa and two chairs with a wall-mounted television.

Get a Free Quote for Furniture Rental in North Carolina

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