4 Layouts That Make Open Concept Living Rooms Actually Work, According to Designers

Written by

Kelly DawsonDeputy Editor
Kelly DawsonDeputy Editor
Kelly Dawson is a writer, editor, and media consultant. Her writing has appeared in almost every major American design publication, most notably as a longtime contributor to Architectural Digest and Dwell, and she's also been published in places like The New York Times, AFAR,…read more
published Dec 27, 2024
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A living room can be a seriously versatile space — once everything is in order. But when you’ve either just moved into a space or you’re looking to shake things up with a fresh setup, the prospect of getting your furniture layout right can be daunting. And that feeling only grows in an open-concept living room, where the lack of wall space can make placing staples like your sofa, chairs, and tables tricky.

“The biggest challenge of an open-concept living room is creating a sense of warmth and intimacy,” says designer Linette Dai. “Because there are no walls, it can be harder to create an inviting atmosphere.”

Thankfully, there are still ways to make this happen; it just comes down to finding a layout that flows and works best for you. “In a sense, you are trying to visually bring the open-concept space inwards through pattern, texture, and furniture placement,” adds designer Piper Skillman. “By demarking a zone or zones that pay attention to the space’s natural circulation, you can create intimacy.”

Below, four designers are sharing their layout ideas for fostering coziness and providing solutions for relatable issues that may arise in an open-concept living room. With their tips in mind, your space will be your favorite place to relax and kick back in no time.

Credit: Design: Apartment Therapy
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Make the Fireplace the Focal Point

A living room with a fireplace has an easy center to build a cozy layout around. Designers suggest using this architectural feature as a focal point and filling in around it. 

Credit: Photo: Armando Rafael; Stylist: Margaret Ward

“I love to be able to make it so everyone can enjoy the fireplace,” says designer Christine Vroom. “So that would mean keeping the sofa and chairs across from each other, with a coffee table in between, to allow the fireplace to be the visual point. Alternatively, depending on the size, I would face the sofa toward the fireplace and use smaller-scale swivels in front of or at an angle to the fireplace.”

Credit: Design: Apartment Therapy

Create Zones in a Long Rectangular Room

A long rectangular living room can feel more intimate by creating “zones” to break up the space. “It needs to have a focal point, or two distinctive focal points, so that your eye has a place to land,” Skillman says. “Make sure there is visual interest on or against the far walls of the room to carry your eye all the way to the back.”

To do this, designer Debraly Delgado of Sagrada Studio says you should create two seating areas. “One end can be two sofas facing each other with a coffee table in the center,” she notes. “The other end can be two swivel chairs with a drink table in between.” Use two area rugs to mark your zones, and keep the pair cohesive by picking shades within the same color palette. 

Credit: Design: Apartment Therapy

Furniture Can Mark the Walkway

If you have an open-concept layout that doesn’t have a clear walkway, you can create one using your furniture. “Position the sofa parallel to the windows or wall on one side, leaving space for circulation along the walkway,” Vroom says. “Add a chaise or armchairs on the opposite side for balance.” 

Credit: Shea Keating

As a secondary option, Dai suggests having two chairs instead of a chaise with a coffee table in between.

Credit: Design: Apartment Therapy

Create Some Separation from the Kitchen 

In a scenario where a kitchen peninsula and a back wall of windows is part of your open-concept layout, don’t be afraid to visually distinguish the two. “I like to place two accent chairs facing away from the kitchen with a sofa adjacent to the chairs,” Dai says. “It creates a separation between the two spaces but maintains the openness. In front of the windows can be two more chairs, or if that’s too stuffy, make the sofa an L-shaped sectional. But make sure to keep the sofa or chairs at least a foot away from the windows.” 

Credit: Lula Poggi

Having that buffer zone will allow you to access the windows easily and still get as much natural light as possible from them. 

4 Common Open-Concept Layout Issues Solved

Striking a balance between airiness and coziness within an open-concept living room is perhaps the top objective when devising an ideal layout. But don’t worry too much about it! These four solutions to common problems will help you make that give-and-take seem easy, while each of the setups you’ll see below provide inspiration for getting it right

Too Much Noise 

Because an open-concept living room is, well, open, it can unintentionally create a lot of noise. “Open spaces tend to have more echo and can feel acoustically empty, especially when the space has a high ceiling or tall windows,” Dai says. “Adding soft elements such as curtains and upholstered furniture can reduce that echo and make the space feel cozier.” Area rugs will bring in more color and texture while softening any noises, too.

Too Much Clutter 

One downside to having an open-concept living space is that everything can be seen, which presents the possibility of too much visual clutter (even in a more minimalist-minded space). To combat this, take advantage of decorative bins and baskets, which can be tucked within consoles and bookshelves. It’s also a good idea to look out for double-duty furniture like coffee tables with shelves and sectionals with under-cushion storage compartments. 

Credit: Lula Poggi

Too Small Furniture 

In an effort to make your open-concept living space feel more manageable, you might be tempted to buy smaller furniture. But that could end up making the room feel even larger and emptier than intended. “Always focus on the scale of the room,” Vroom says. “If it’s too large, small furniture feels really out of place. On the flip side, if it’s a small open-concept living room, and you use larger pieces, they can make the room feel more claustrophobic.” By scaling your furniture to fit the room, you’ll create an ideal layout that feels naturally cozy. 

Too Much Together Time

An open-concept layout can bring everyone together, but sometimes you might prefer more privacy. To create more intimacy beyond zones, consider breaking up the room with room dividers, screens, or bookcases that are open on both sides.

To finish off your bookcase, you can make use of Delgado’s styling advice. “Be sure to layer in textures, and add pieces that reflect your personality and lifestyle,” she says. “Choose vintage pieces and art that express your point of view.”