A well-planned living room layout makes the difference between a space that feels chaotic and one that feels genuinely restful. Whether you’re moving into a new home, rearranging after years, or starting completely from scratch — this guide walks you through every step with practical rules, real measurements, and free tools to calculate it all for you.

Step 1: Measure Your Room First

Before you buy a single thing or move any furniture, you need accurate measurements. This is where most people go wrong — they eyeball it, fall in love with a sofa online, and discover on delivery day it’s 6 inches too wide. Don’t skip this step.

Use a tape measure (not a laser — they’re great for walls but miss obstacles) and sketch your room on paper. Note every window, doorway, radiator, and fixed feature. These are your non-negotiables.

Step 2: Define Your Focal Point

Every well-designed living room has a focal point — the visual anchor the whole layout pivots around. In most homes this is a fireplace, a large window, or the TV. Identify yours before placing any furniture.

Step 3: Follow These 5 Layout Rules

• 1

  Create a conversation zone

  Seating should face each other within 8 feet so people can converse comfortably without raising their voices. This is the core of a functional living room.

• 2

  Keep 18 inches between sofa and coffee table

  Close enough to reach a drink easily. Far enough to walk past without knocking your shins. This gap is more precise than people realise.

• 3

  Maintain at least 36 inches of walkway

  Any path people walk regularly needs at minimum 36 inches of clear space. High-traffic areas like routes to the kitchen benefit from 48 inches.

• 4

  Place your TV at eye level when seated

  The centre of the TV screen should sit at seated eye height — roughly 42–48 inches from the floor. Mounting too high is the single biggest TV mistake.

• 5

  Layer your lighting into three types

  Ambient (ceiling), task (reading lamps), and accent (shelving, corners). A room with only overhead lighting will always feel flat and clinical.

Step 4: Your Pre-Layout Checklist

Before you move a single piece of furniture, run through this checklist. Tick off each item as you go — the progress bar fills up as you complete it.

Step 5: Choose the Right Rug Size

The rug is one of the most common sizing mistakes. Too small and the room looks unanchored. Too large and it fights with the walls. The golden rule: all front legs of your seating should sit on the rug.

If you’re unsure, lay out masking tape on the floor first in the shape of your shortlisted rug sizes. Live with it for a day before committing to a purchase. This tiny step prevents expensive returns.