Living Room Furniture Arrangement - Creating a Comfortable Conversation Area

Creating a comfortable conversation area in the living room is important so that people can face each other and can speak without raising their voices. Also, everyone should be able to comfortably reach the coffee table, or at least have an accessible side table.

A conversation area can also help to establish a focal point in a room such as a fireplace. The furniture set up of the conversation area should also eliminate traffic flow through it so that conversation is not interrupted.

The simple "ingredients" for a good conversation area are:

1. A sofa (or two loveseats)
2. Two upholstered chairs
3. A coffee table or large ottoman
4. End tables
5. Table lamps

OR two reading lamps in lieu of the end tables if everyone seated can reach the coffee table/ottoman.

So, let's imaging this effective layout:

1. Place a sofa facing the fireplace, leaving at least 8 to 10 feet between the front edge of the sofa and the fireplace.
2. Place a coffee table or large ottoman in front of the sofa
3. Place two upholstered chairs facing each other to the left and right of the sofa in front of the fireplace.
4. Place the end tables and table lamps next to the left arm of the chair on the left and next to the right arm of the chair on the right.

In this layout, you will also notice that the arrangement highlights the focal point, the fireplace. Also, make sure there is no traffic flow through the area from an entryway or door to another entryway or door.

If you are lucky enough to have a large space:

1. Creating a conversation area frees up space in the room for other functions such as a separate reading area consisting of a club chair, ottoman, table and lamp or a working area consisting of a desk and chair.

2. Two sofas can be placed back-to-back with their own set of chairs and coffee table to create two distinct conversation areas.