Playing around with furniture arrangements can be a décor lover’s dream. But that’s only if you have enough space to play. If you have a cramped living room (such as 200 square feet or less), you may find yourself having a hard time finding enough furniture to do a lot of living indoors. Room. To help with this design dilemma, here are my top furniture arrangements for compact lounge areas, as well as some general tips you can use to make the most of any room shape.
In a compact space, my first approach to providing maximum seating flexibility is to use a large sectional sofa and a compact European-sized chair (such as a lightweight, compact mid-century modern chair). The large sofa gives you room to stretch out when you’re alone, or to accommodate a large number of guests when you’re partying. Additional chairs can be used if desired, without taking up too much space, and they add some pleasing visual contrast.
Of course, not every narrow living area is conveniently open on one or both sides, as shown in the first example. In particularly cramped rooms, armless combination seats can give you the truly largest seats without looking cramped.
Use the largest modern corner unit possible, preferably from wall to wall, for an almost built-in look. It’s much more stylish than the armrests of a traditional sofa hitting the wall, which looks more cramped.
Instead of placing side chairs in the room, choose dining chairs that harmonize with the look of the living room and pull them in when guests need them, leaving more free space for the rest of the time.
Another option – especially if you don’t have a TV in your living room – is to use two loveseat sofas facing each other, with a chair or two next to them if there’s space. This way, two people can lie down alone (for couples who don’t want to always cuddle on the couch), or four or more people can talk face-to-face or play board games.
In a tunnel-like room (with circulation on one side of the space), it’s best to ditch any side chairs opposite the couch and let the ottoman be your entertainment solution.
On movie night, a plush footstool is the perfect place to put down a popcorn bowl and lift your feet. In large gatherings, pull the footstool against the wall, and all of a sudden, you’re ready to accommodate as many close friends as you want.
Choose a tufted ottoman with tight cushions (instead of a fluffy one) that can serve as a comfortable seat and has a surface firm enough to accommodate a cocktail tray.
If you choose a pair of footstools instead of a large one, you will have more flexibility in several ways: you can always use one as a seat and one as a table, or you can pull them out from different directions (which can be more convenient for transportation). The trade-off is that you won’t necessarily be able to fit as many people (or as many snacks or games) on individual cubes as you would on a full surface. If you want maximum extra seating and surface space, choose a footrest; If you want more loops, choose two or three.
If your compact living room is also your occasional dining room, consider replacing the coffee table with a small dining table (24 to 30 inches in diameter) and stuffing some stools or stools underneath. The dining table doesn’t take up the entire width of the sofa, so you don’t feel too closed when you’re lounging, but when you do want to eat (with friends or watching TV), you can dine indoors in complete comfort rather than hunched over.
For a conversational living room without a TV, using a straight sofa with two chairs (instead of a modular one) is a great solution. It also gives you the opportunity to mix and match your upholstery fabrics in a small space for variety. Try using different fabrics for all three seats. If you want to bring more harmony later, you can always add a matching pillow.
Sometimes, a coffee table isn’t worth losing space, especially since a deeper TV cabinet can provide more functional storage space, which may be more important in your small space than leaving enough space on your coffee table for books.
The slender side tables at either end of the sofa are enough for drinks, or you can put a small stool in front of you that you can put away when you don’t need it.
Remember, no matter what furniture arrangement you choose, the more room you leave for your feet, the more comfortable the space will be. Long-legged, open-plan furniture (especially a coffee table) will make it easier for you to get into the couch and stretch your legs once you’re in so you don’t feel trapped and irritated in what should be a comfortable seat.
If possible, find a way to eliminate furniture from the floor. Wall-mounted lights can save valuable space, as can cantilevered side tables and shelves. The wires of the plug-in wall lamps installed behind the sofa are hidden in the base, giving them a neat appearance and no need for any complicated electrical work.
In addition to the physical space, you can also use light colors for heavier units such as TV cabinets or coffee tables to keep the visual space open. The introduction of white or light-colored pillows can also break the seat. That way, when you’re in your seat, it doesn’t feel like the room is closing in on you.
Just because your living space is cramped doesn’t mean you have to be stingy with your décor. Feel free to add some bold art or use some eye-catching colors. Making each accessory smaller will create the look of a dollhouse, but it doesn’t necessarily make the space look bigger, and large artwork can actually make the walls look more floaty.
Also, the best thing about a small room is that it can be made super luxurious in an instant with just a few small finishing touches. Treat yourself to a sculptural side table, a gorgeous accessory, or a few flowers, and the whole space will feel like a big budget.
