We Asked Designers How to Arrange Furniture for Maximum Space Without Sacrificing Style

Redecorating and rearranging the living room is an exciting way to spend a weekend—in theory. The reality of moving furniture in and out or listing the items cramping your space for resale can quickly take the fun out.

Whether your living room is feeling crowded or you’re just ready for a change, our experts are sharing how to arrange furniture in a way that maximizes space and feels intentionally styled—all without having to add or remove a single piece.

Float Your Furniture

When maximum floor space is the goal, it’s tempting to push the sofa and media unit up against the wall. Doing this will actually make the walls feel more defined, and can even give the illusion of a smaller room. Instead, start by floating your furniture to leave a small gap.

“The easiest way to make your living room feel more open is by pulling your furniture away from the walls,” designer Elizabeth Vergara says. “Even a few inches can help the room feel more intentional and less crowded. It creates breathing room that makes the space feel bigger.”

Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!

Create Clear Zones

Establishing clear zones makes any room feel more spacious; you can do this by building around the room’s focal points and the main activities of the space; this could look like setting up a cozy reading nook by a bay window or a defined dining area in open plan layouts.

“Start with the most grounding piece, usually the sofa, and align it with the room’s strongest feature,” interior designer Lauren Saab says. “That could be a fireplace, a window wall, or the best natural light.  When each zone has a purpose and one piece sets the tone, the room feels larger and more resolved.”

Stay Symmetrical

If you’re looking for a foolproof way to lay out your living room—both in terms of spacing and style—consider setting up furniture pieces symmetrically in line with feng shui rules for an instantly soothing and intentional feel.

“Balance helps everything feel polished, even if your space is small,” Vergara explains. “That could mean placing matching chairs across from each other, or lining up your coffee table with the center of your sofa.”

Try Using Odd Numbers

Symmetry is a calming way to appeal to the eye, but for added visual interest and another way to zone and free up walking space, interior designer Craig Gritzen recommends setting up furniture and any coordinating decor grouped into an odd number of items.

“Grouping objects in sets of three, five, or seven is more visually appealing,” he says. “Vary the depth, height, texture, and proportion of the groupings to create interest and enhance the feeling of openness.”

Pay Attention to Pathways

Although a well-designed and stylish living room is nice to have, practicality needs to take priority when deciding where to place your furniture. So as you start shifting things around, remember to leave plenty of room for pathways to your couch, coffee table, and storage areas.

“Before you commit to a layout, walk the space,” Saab says. “If you have to sidestep or shuffle between pieces, the layout is working against you.”

This not only inhibits your ability to move around the room, but also makes it feel smaller and more cluttered.

“Place bulky furnishings away from paths used to move around the space,” Gritzen says. “If a sofa or sectional blocks the natural flow, the space will feel closed off and smaller.”

Experiment With Angles

Even if a complete furniture rearranging session isn’t on the cards, our experts say making small shifts to angles to open up the main seating and conversational area can make a big difference.

“Try turning your furniture on a slight angle or rotating your living room rug to shift the visual flow,” Vergara says. “Working with what you already own just takes a bit of creativity and a fresh perspective.”