5 Tips To Place Living Room Furniture for a Space that Works for Real Life
The holidays are over and you’ve nursed your credit card back to health, now what? Now it’s time to think about your home. The recent temps don’t indicate it, but spring will be here soon and with spring comes rebirth and renewal both outside and in. With that thought in mind, I wanted to arm you with a few tips on how to arrange living room furniture. Accompanying these tips are pictures from one of my favorite L.A. designers, Amber Interiors. In each picture of her work, you will see how she masterfully uses these design rules.
1. Balance the Space
This is particularly important if you have a long narrow room like those in Old Town townhouses. All the furniture on one side of the room will feel lopsided. Instead, evenly distribute the furniture throughout the room. Here she floats two Cisco Brothers Stewart Sofas in the middle of the room and places a heavy antique dresser to the left of the fireplace. She then further balances the room with full curtains, the trunk and mirror vignette to the right of the doors, and the fiddle leaf fig to the left.
2. Consider the Traffic Flow
When creating balance, be mindful of the traffic flow. Ideally, you want to have 30-36 inches of clear space around the furniture so you can move freely without bumping into anything. I love how she did it here with two Cisco Brothers Louis Sofas (I also love that she changed the two cushions to one bench seat!). Again, she floats the two sofas in the middle of the room, giving you plenty of clearance around them to get outside and to create another focal point on the big wall, where she placed the bench and oversized art (again with the balance!). She also allows for plenty of space between the chairs and sofas. One rule of thumb to remember is there should be 14-18 inches between the sofa and the coffee table. 
3. Pick a Focal Point
Often this is a fireplace, large windows, or television. Sometimes it’s a combination of the three. If there are more than two and you can pick one, then do. I like how she used this Cisco Brothers Agosto Sectional to focus on the fireplace and the TV. The folks on one side of the sectional also get a window focal point. So good.
4. Mind the Function of the Room
First consider how you live in the room then consider what you will need. Do you need a space for a television and if so, where will it go (ideally facing away from a window and 8-12 feet from the viewing space)? Do you entertain in there and if so, where will your guests set their drinks and do you have enough seating? Remember to add side tables and coffee tables as well as easily moveable seating like the poufs in the first picture of the sectional. As you live in a space, you will start to figure out just what you need and add accordingly. 
5. Add a Little – or a Lot – of Symmetry
I love the look of a collected space where nothing matches. It’s so personal because it’s a reflection of all the work it takes to build a home over time. While I love this mismatched style, I like to inject some symmetry. You’ll notice in all of these pictures, they feel collected, but there are always two of something. Two identical sofas facing each other, two identical chairs sitting next to each other, and my favorite, the windows and art choices and placement in the picture with the two white Louis Sofas. The art is different, but related by size and shape. It’s collected, but it’s also symmetrical! Finally, I want to leave you with these two, helpful pieces of information. If you get stuck and need a little help, then we are here for you. Our interior design services are affordable and top-notch! And, February starts our semi-annual upholstery sale. All the Cisco Brothers upholstery pieces mentioned in this post are on sale! Every day we mark down our upholstery by 20 percent, but this month we are taking another 10 percent off. That’s enough to add a side table or pillows to your new space! To inquire about design services or Cisco Brothers upholstery, please contact us at customerservice@redbarnmercantile.com.