9 Awkward Living Room Layout Ideas for All Sorts of Shapes
• Will Norcross
Being the most communal room in the house, living room furniture can be difficult to get right. Whether you have an odd alcove or a sloped wall, these unique features in your room shouldn’t stop you from having a well-furnished room with an open feel.
Read this article for inspiration on incorporating these “awkward” features, instead of ignoring them.
Make the most of an unused corner
When it comes to furnishing an awkwardly shaped living room, there is a chance you will have a corner that gets neglected compared to the rest of the room. For spaces like these, it is usually best to fill them with finishing touch items, such as potted plants or ornamental pieces.
Create zones in long, rectangular rooms
With rooms that are much longer than they are wide, creating separated zones is a great way to get more use out of the space. By using furnishings, such as wide bookshelves or low-standing tables, you can separate and enclose different areas in your living room.
Perhaps you have a reading corner closed off by bookcases or a designated gaming area towards the back of the room? Finding the perfect furnishing to start the new zones is a great way to introduce separation without building a wall.
Work with sloping walls and ceilings
Areas with sloped walls and ceilings can easily feel smaller when not furnished properly. To get the most out of this type of space, it is best to look for low-standing furnishings.
By using low furnishings, you will keep a good level of light moving throughout the room, giving the appearance of more overall space.
Instead of using a tall wardrobe for storing your clothes, try using a chest of drawers, for example.
Add shelves to tall, high-ceiling rooms
Rooms with higher ceilings give you a lot of vertical room to work with. Make the most of this by adding some shelves.
Either in the form of floating shelves or a shelving unit, a well-placed shelf will give you more storage, without taking up more floor space.
Float furniture away from the walls
Though the concept might sound a bit strange at first, moving certain furniture pieces away from the walls of your space to free-stand can actually be a great way to add some character to your living room.
Whether it’s a simple coffee table in the center of the room, or a well-placed bookcase to create a walkway within the living room, finding ways to use the floor space in the center of the room is a great way to get the most out of your awkward living room.
Lightweight furniture in small spaces
For those smaller floor spaces, it is best not to use bulky, harsh furnishings. Use instead, airy, lightweight furniture that allows light to move through the space and doesn’t restrict walking room.
Some possible furnishing options include ladder shelves, to replace solid wood shelving units, and canvas storage solutions, instead of more rigid crates.
Plan your largest furniture items first
When you’re refurnishing the whole living room, the best way to make sure you are utilising the space is to first place your largest, or most difficultly shaped, furnishings.
A dining table, a TV stand, or a sideboard may be some of the furnishings you struggle to find room for. By placing these first, you ensure they are placed in the best possible spot for their overall size.
Balance or focus on your fireplace
In most living rooms, the fireplace is the focal point of the room. However, this can be more difficult to achieve when the room is an unconventional shape or size. By centralising the communal areas of the room around the fireplace, you will automatically draw focus to it, no matter what shape your living space is.
Alternatively, you can get a similar outcome by decorating your mantel with ornamental pieces, such as candle sticks.
Use mirrors, lighting, and decoration
An easy way to make your living space feel lighter and more open is by properly using mirrors, lighting, and decorative details.
For the use of mirrors, placing a large mirror on the darkest wall in the room will brighten the room without using any extra lights, as well as filling a wall that perhaps would have been unused.
Getting creative with the lighting of your room is a unique way to completely change the overall vibe of the room. If you choose white over headlights, the outcome can be harsh for living areas but good areas such as offices or kitchens. Instead of this, you can instead experiment with the installation of softer lighting, with lamps, LED light strips, or overhead lighting with a dimmer switch.
Finally, the use of decorations such as rugs, curtains, and table runners is a great way to tie the whole room together, especially for living rooms with an unconventional shape.
FAQs
What kind of furniture is best for an odd-shaped living room?
When it comes to picking the right furniture for an odd-shaped room, it is best to consider furniture that is easily moved around your space. Instead of bulky three-seater suites, consider buying smaller seating options, such as armchairs. Also, consider using furniture that allows light to move through the room, such as shelving units with an open back.
How do I plan furniture around a split-level living room?
For living areas that have a split-level element, consider the use of furniture to make the adjustment between levels less harsh. Sofas, sideboards, and console tables are all good options for creating a definite line between levels in your space without blocking off the higher level.
What is the best furniture for a tiny living room?
If your living space is on the smaller side, there are still plenty of furnishing options available to you that don’t make the room feel small. Low-standing tables, sink-in sofas, and patterned rugs are all great options for drawing the eye downwards and keeping the light moving throughout the room.
How do I plan furniture around curved or diagonal walls?
For rooms with curved or diagonal walls, the use of furnishings with rounded sides allows you to completely utilise the space without it looking too forced. Design ideas like a round dining table in a bay window, and creating a reading area with bean bag seating instead of fixed furniture, allow you to fully use the space available to you.
Furnish your awkward space with Big Furniture Warehouse
If you’re searching for furniture for your awkward living room, Big Furniture Warehouse can help. Shop our full range of living room furniture today to get started with refurbishing your living space.