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12 Sofa Arrangement Ideas From Indian Homes
Get creative with your living room seating with these ideas
Vinita Kunnath
11 October 2019
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
When it comes to decorating the living room, the best way to start is with the big-ticket items, namely the sofas and the accompanying seating. While the room’s features and your lifestyle would primarily dictate their placement, we have compiled a few ideas that have been tried and tested in Indian homes. So, whether your living room is large or small, has a view or not, you will find at least one of these ideas fit your requirements.
1. Face to face
The classic arrangement is to have the seating pieces face each other across a coffee table – this makes conversation easy and the drinks handy.
Browse through Houzz photos for living room design ideas
The classic arrangement is to have the seating pieces face each other across a coffee table – this makes conversation easy and the drinks handy.
Browse through Houzz photos for living room design ideas
2. Focused on the view
An ideal room arrangement starts with the focal element. Place the main sofa facing the focal point, (in this case the view outside the French doors), and arrange the secondary pieces around the main one.
Tip: If the living room is mostly used to watch TV, make that the focal element.
An ideal room arrangement starts with the focal element. Place the main sofa facing the focal point, (in this case the view outside the French doors), and arrange the secondary pieces around the main one.
Tip: If the living room is mostly used to watch TV, make that the focal element.
3. Unified with a rug
In a larger space, unify the various seating arrangements by laying an area rug underneath. If the rug isn’t large enough to contain all of the seating furniture, make sure that at least the front two legs of each seating furniture are on it, so the rug anchors the set up.
Find an interior designer to design your living room
In a larger space, unify the various seating arrangements by laying an area rug underneath. If the rug isn’t large enough to contain all of the seating furniture, make sure that at least the front two legs of each seating furniture are on it, so the rug anchors the set up.
Find an interior designer to design your living room
4. Divided but connected
If your living room is large enough to hold sizeable parties, break up the space into two distinct conversational groupings. This brings intimacy to each space and a sense of scale, yet allows for cross conversations thanks to the unobstructed sight lines between the two areas.
Tip: Placing a sofa with its back to the path between the two zones makes for a more distinct separation between the two groups and affords more privacy.
If your living room is large enough to hold sizeable parties, break up the space into two distinct conversational groupings. This brings intimacy to each space and a sense of scale, yet allows for cross conversations thanks to the unobstructed sight lines between the two areas.
Tip: Placing a sofa with its back to the path between the two zones makes for a more distinct separation between the two groups and affords more privacy.
5. Symmetrical
There is something to be said for symmetry – it imparts a sense of order to the space. This living room has identically paired sofas, side tables and armchairs that strike a perfect balance in terms of colour and design.
Search for living room furniture in Houzz products
There is something to be said for symmetry – it imparts a sense of order to the space. This living room has identically paired sofas, side tables and armchairs that strike a perfect balance in terms of colour and design.
Search for living room furniture in Houzz products
6. Zoned open-plan room
Demarcate an open-plan setting, such as this large living and dining space, into separate zones with furniture placement. The yellow sofa facing away from the dining room defines the entertainment area from the rest of this open layout.
Know your sofa options
Demarcate an open-plan setting, such as this large living and dining space, into separate zones with furniture placement. The yellow sofa facing away from the dining room defines the entertainment area from the rest of this open layout.
Know your sofa options
7. Slim and airy
In a small living room, create a sense of greater space and openness with leggy and slimline seating pieces, instead of using heavily upholstered sofas, which are chunkier in appearance. The curvature of the slim sofa and the leggy armchairs fit neatly in this linear living room while imparting a light and airy vibe to the space.
In a small living room, create a sense of greater space and openness with leggy and slimline seating pieces, instead of using heavily upholstered sofas, which are chunkier in appearance. The curvature of the slim sofa and the leggy armchairs fit neatly in this linear living room while imparting a light and airy vibe to the space.
8. Light (and moveable)
In this living room, while large sectionals make up most of the seating, there is a healthy smattering of ottomans (and floor cushions) for extra guests. Ottomans are easy to move where you need them, and double as seating or as side tables. Even the coffee tables are ottoman-like – albeit in wood – and, at a pinch, can be used for seating.
In this living room, while large sectionals make up most of the seating, there is a healthy smattering of ottomans (and floor cushions) for extra guests. Ottomans are easy to move where you need them, and double as seating or as side tables. Even the coffee tables are ottoman-like – albeit in wood – and, at a pinch, can be used for seating.
9. Round the table
Create an oasis of warmth in a large space with modular sofas that form a circle – you can choose the circumference as per the number of seats you wish to accommodate. A circular set up works best for hosting intimate gatherings and becomes the focal point in an expansive living room.
Create an oasis of warmth in a large space with modular sofas that form a circle – you can choose the circumference as per the number of seats you wish to accommodate. A circular set up works best for hosting intimate gatherings and becomes the focal point in an expansive living room.
10. Mix ’n’ match
If you have a TV at one end of the room, maximise space on the opposite side by coupling the main sofa with an armless sectional. The large sofa gives you space to spread out when alone, or pack in numerous guests during a party. The armchair can be moved in front of the TV when needed.
Tip: You could use different fabrics for all three seats for an eclectic touch. Add matching cushions if you want to bring a little more harmony.
If you have a TV at one end of the room, maximise space on the opposite side by coupling the main sofa with an armless sectional. The large sofa gives you space to spread out when alone, or pack in numerous guests during a party. The armchair can be moved in front of the TV when needed.
Tip: You could use different fabrics for all three seats for an eclectic touch. Add matching cushions if you want to bring a little more harmony.
11. Two L-shaped sofas
Given the space, go against the norm and opt for two L-shaped sofas. Here, the two sofas fill up the space neatly, imparting an air of cosiness. The red lounge chairs can be easily pulled up closer for a more intimate vibe.
Given the space, go against the norm and opt for two L-shaped sofas. Here, the two sofas fill up the space neatly, imparting an air of cosiness. The red lounge chairs can be easily pulled up closer for a more intimate vibe.
12. Varied seating
An extra-large chaise longue, a sofa and an armchair make for mismatched companions in this pale-blue living room, but it’s a winning combination for creating a relaxed vibe and offers ample seating for a gathering of friends.
Read more:
How to Mix & Match Sofas and Chairs
9 Seating Arrangement Ideas for Small Living Rooms
Tell us:
Which arrangement would you pick for your living room? Do tell us in the Comments section.
An extra-large chaise longue, a sofa and an armchair make for mismatched companions in this pale-blue living room, but it’s a winning combination for creating a relaxed vibe and offers ample seating for a gathering of friends.
Read more:
How to Mix & Match Sofas and Chairs
9 Seating Arrangement Ideas for Small Living Rooms
Tell us:
Which arrangement would you pick for your living room? Do tell us in the Comments section.
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