A Step-by-Step Guide to Essential Dimensions in Your Living Room
Here are nine steps to maximise space, style and practicality in your living room, with your need-to-know measurements
Furnishing any room from scratch can be daunting, and you’ll certainly want to get it right in your living room. But where to begin? Here’s a guide to choosing the correct pieces to create the layout that’s perfect for your home, with sizes that suit your space.
The depth of your sofa will depend on the individual design, though factor in between 800 and 1000 millimetres from front to back.
Think of the room as a whole when making your choice. A three-seater sofa may seem irresistibly indulgent, but an extremely large sofa can overwhelm the average living room and limit the scope for adding other seating.
A 2.5-seater fits three people, so this is a reliable choice as your primary sofa, unless you happen to have an exceptionally small – or large – room. Bear in mind, though, that in reality only two people are probably comfortable sharing a sofa at one time.
Not all sofas are rectilinear, and curved designs have grown in popularity recently, with most models having their own distinct dimensions.
Think of the room as a whole when making your choice. A three-seater sofa may seem irresistibly indulgent, but an extremely large sofa can overwhelm the average living room and limit the scope for adding other seating.
A 2.5-seater fits three people, so this is a reliable choice as your primary sofa, unless you happen to have an exceptionally small – or large – room. Bear in mind, though, that in reality only two people are probably comfortable sharing a sofa at one time.
Not all sofas are rectilinear, and curved designs have grown in popularity recently, with most models having their own distinct dimensions.
An L-shaped sofa or modular designs will work well in a large, open-plan room, where it can help define the seating area. Choose the length of your main arm first, then the secondary arm, bearing in mind the need for movement and access around the sofa.
Many architects and interior designers recommend leaving some room between your sofa and wall to create a sense of spaciousness – you might even site it in the centre of your living room if it’s very large or open-plan – though there’s nothing stopping you from moving your sofa’s back against the wall.
Redesigning your living room? Find an interior designer or decorator near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Many architects and interior designers recommend leaving some room between your sofa and wall to create a sense of spaciousness – you might even site it in the centre of your living room if it’s very large or open-plan – though there’s nothing stopping you from moving your sofa’s back against the wall.
Redesigning your living room? Find an interior designer or decorator near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
2. Add chairs
Having chosen the perfect sofa, you can now add additional sofas or individual chairs to create a welcoming seating arrangement.
There are no standard sizes for individual chairs, so you’ll need to work with your overall room size and configuration to find what works best. As a basic guide, smaller armchairs will take up around 700 x 700 millimetres of floor space, while larger more enveloping designs can be about 1000 x 1000 millimetres or more.
There are an infinite variety of heights, shapes, materials and styles to choose from, including tub chairs, arm-less chairs, swivel chairs, hanging pod chairs and rocking chairs. One zany chair can provide a great focal point.
Having chosen the perfect sofa, you can now add additional sofas or individual chairs to create a welcoming seating arrangement.
There are no standard sizes for individual chairs, so you’ll need to work with your overall room size and configuration to find what works best. As a basic guide, smaller armchairs will take up around 700 x 700 millimetres of floor space, while larger more enveloping designs can be about 1000 x 1000 millimetres or more.
There are an infinite variety of heights, shapes, materials and styles to choose from, including tub chairs, arm-less chairs, swivel chairs, hanging pod chairs and rocking chairs. One zany chair can provide a great focal point.
3. Create a window seat
Window seats offer an alternative way of completing your seating arrangement and won’t infringe on the main living area.
There are no rules about the dimensions for a window seat, but it will typically be between 400 and 500 millimetres high, with an average depth between 400 and 550 millimetres.
Window seats offer an alternative way of completing your seating arrangement and won’t infringe on the main living area.
There are no rules about the dimensions for a window seat, but it will typically be between 400 and 500 millimetres high, with an average depth between 400 and 550 millimetres.
4. Build a bench
Adding a low built-in bench (or two), say along a fireplace wall, can be a great multi-tasking addition to any living room.
A height of 450 millimetres can work well for both additional seating and, if your bench is not upholstered, a low-level home for the TV. You can also pack in useful storage below for logs or any other items you may wish to keep on hand but out of sight, in order to increase the sense of space.
Adding a low built-in bench (or two), say along a fireplace wall, can be a great multi-tasking addition to any living room.
A height of 450 millimetres can work well for both additional seating and, if your bench is not upholstered, a low-level home for the TV. You can also pack in useful storage below for logs or any other items you may wish to keep on hand but out of sight, in order to increase the sense of space.
5. Be generous with your rug
A large rug will add a powerful focal point to your living room. Pick a rug size that allows everybody to have their feet on the rug when seated. Ideally, your rug should be large enough so the feet of your furniture can sit on it as well. There is really no maximum size for a rug; just ensure the dimensions and shape suit the layout and size of your room.
A large rug will add a powerful focal point to your living room. Pick a rug size that allows everybody to have their feet on the rug when seated. Ideally, your rug should be large enough so the feet of your furniture can sit on it as well. There is really no maximum size for a rug; just ensure the dimensions and shape suit the layout and size of your room.
6. Choose the right coffee table
A coffee table will reinforce the rug as a focal point and provide a useful surface for books, drinks and nibbles. As a rule of thumb, it should be roughly the same height as the seat cushions of your main sofa, or a little lower.
The overall dimensions of the coffee table will depend on your room, but allow for a space of 300 to 450 millimetres between your coffee table and any seating around it. Much more will make it difficult to reach for your drink or book without standing; much less will make it difficult to move around your furniture.
A coffee table will reinforce the rug as a focal point and provide a useful surface for books, drinks and nibbles. As a rule of thumb, it should be roughly the same height as the seat cushions of your main sofa, or a little lower.
The overall dimensions of the coffee table will depend on your room, but allow for a space of 300 to 450 millimetres between your coffee table and any seating around it. Much more will make it difficult to reach for your drink or book without standing; much less will make it difficult to move around your furniture.
7. Size up a side table
Having pinned down your essential and largest items, you can now add those small pieces that complete the look and feel of your room.
Low side tables are handy for lamps and that cup of tea while you read the papers. Choose side tables of a height that’s easy to reach from your sofa or armchair. And remember, there’s no rule that says you can’t mix and match different heights with complementary side tables.
Another popular option is to forego your coffee table altogether in favour of two or more side tables clustered together or scattered around your living room.
Having pinned down your essential and largest items, you can now add those small pieces that complete the look and feel of your room.
Low side tables are handy for lamps and that cup of tea while you read the papers. Choose side tables of a height that’s easy to reach from your sofa or armchair. And remember, there’s no rule that says you can’t mix and match different heights with complementary side tables.
Another popular option is to forego your coffee table altogether in favour of two or more side tables clustered together or scattered around your living room.
8. Tackle the TV…
You’ll have to decide whether your living room is more a place for gathering or somewhere to relax and watch television.
If a large television isn’t your priority, locate it with this in mind. A low credenza, joinery unit or bench, say 450 millimetres high, will place your TV at a height that is comfortable for viewing, without letting the screen dominate the room.
The bench could be placed alongside the fireplace, thereby resolving the battle between these two competing focal points, if you choose to include them in your living room layout.
Browse Australian living rooms with freestanding TVs for inspiration
You’ll have to decide whether your living room is more a place for gathering or somewhere to relax and watch television.
If a large television isn’t your priority, locate it with this in mind. A low credenza, joinery unit or bench, say 450 millimetres high, will place your TV at a height that is comfortable for viewing, without letting the screen dominate the room.
The bench could be placed alongside the fireplace, thereby resolving the battle between these two competing focal points, if you choose to include them in your living room layout.
Browse Australian living rooms with freestanding TVs for inspiration
… Or screen your ‘small’ screen
Can’t live without a supersized screen? You may wish to invest in a clever system such as this one, which allows the TV to be out of view when gathering with friends and family, smartly hidden behind cupboard doors.
Hiding the TV within a run of joinery is a clever move and the options are almost endless: it can swivel into your wall by rotating 180 degrees, retract down into a joinery unit then rise when in use, or be hidden by sliding panels.
Alternatively, you may choose to conceal your TV in plain sight with Samsung’s The Frame TV, which resembles an artwork when switched off.
Can’t live without a supersized screen? You may wish to invest in a clever system such as this one, which allows the TV to be out of view when gathering with friends and family, smartly hidden behind cupboard doors.
Hiding the TV within a run of joinery is a clever move and the options are almost endless: it can swivel into your wall by rotating 180 degrees, retract down into a joinery unit then rise when in use, or be hidden by sliding panels.
Alternatively, you may choose to conceal your TV in plain sight with Samsung’s The Frame TV, which resembles an artwork when switched off.
9. Add some art
Art is a great way to create an engaging, complete living space. And how you hang art is just as important as what you hang. You will want to position pieces at average eye level.
A useful rule of thumb is to hang art with the centre of the artwork at standard eye level, which is approximately 1500 millimetres above the floor.
Your turn
How have you designed your own living room? Share your tips in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save the photos and join the conversation.
More
Get your next set of key design dimensions here with Key Measurements for a Dream Bedroom
Art is a great way to create an engaging, complete living space. And how you hang art is just as important as what you hang. You will want to position pieces at average eye level.
A useful rule of thumb is to hang art with the centre of the artwork at standard eye level, which is approximately 1500 millimetres above the floor.
Your turn
How have you designed your own living room? Share your tips in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save the photos and join the conversation.
More
Get your next set of key design dimensions here with Key Measurements for a Dream Bedroom
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Your main sofa will probably be the largest single outlay in your living room and you may well need to get it made to order, so there’s little scope for error in your selection.
For a regular sofa, you can usually choose between a two-seater (typically 1500 millimetres long), a 2.5-seater (approximately 1800 millimetres long) and a three-seater (about 2100 millimetres long). Some designs are even longer, and by using modular sofas you may be able to customise the dimensions.