Top 3 Living Room Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid them

Top Living Room Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The living room is often the heart of the home, but arranging furniture can sometimes feel like solving a puzzle. Many of us unknowingly make design mistakes that hinder the room’s potential. Here are some common living room layout errors and tips on how to avoid them, so your space can shine.

1. Pushing All the Furniture Against the Walls
While it may seem like pushing furniture to the edges of the room will create more space, it often has the opposite effect. UK designer Abigail Ahern says, "Placing furniture centrally can make a room feel more intimate and inviting." Bringing sofas and chairs inward, even by a few inches, creates a more cohesive and comfortable layout.

How to avoid it: Create a clear conversational area. Group furniture together with a coffee table or rug to anchor the space. This trick helps define zones and encourages interaction.

Here the furniture is away from the walls and creates a cosier atmosphere.

2. Ignoring the Flow of Movement
Blocking pathways with furniture can disrupt the natural flow of the room, making it hard for people to move around. As UK interior designer Kelly Hoppen notes, "Flow is key in design—if it doesn’t work, the whole room falls apart." When designing a layout, think about how you move through the space.

How to avoid it: Leave ample space for foot traffic. Ensure there’s a clear pathway from one side of the room to the other, and avoid placing furniture where it blocks doors or walkways.

Ample space to walk in front or behind furniture as well as being a cosy conversational area.

3. Forgetting About Proportion and Scale
Using oversized furniture in a small living room, or vice versa, can throw the entire balance of the space off. A large sofa in a tiny room can overwhelm, while small pieces in a large room can look lost.

How to avoid it: Measure your space before buying furniture. Opt for furniture that fits the size of your room, and balance out larger items with smaller ones, like side tables or chairs, to create a harmonious feel.

High ceilings and large spaces tend to lend themselves to larger furniture proportions

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a living room that is not only functional but also a welcoming retreat for you and your guests.

Ready to transform your living room? Get in touch to discover how I can help design a space that works for you.