Arranging your living room furniture seems like it should be easy, but it's not. Not only do you have to consider your furniture pieces, you also have to consider the form and function of the room. Great furniture won't do you any good if your guests are falling over one another trying to find a spot to sit. And, if your placement is off, your guests might have to turn their chair or get a kink in their neck just to be part of the conversation. If you're trying to figure out the best way to arrange your furniture, follow these tips. 

Identify Your Focal Point

Every living room has a focal point. Common focal points include a fireplace, a beautiful window with a view of the lawn, the television and certain dramatic architectural details. To arrange your furniture properly, you first have to identify your focal point. If you have several of the mentioned features, you have to decide which one you want to stand out. If you like to watch a lot of TV, using this as your focal point might be your best bet. Arrange your furniture in a way that everyone in the room will be facing or angled toward the focal point. For most people, this means placing a sofa directly in front of the focal point and placing a couple of angled side chairs on either side. 

Create Passageways

While placing your furniture, you must also consider the natural flow of the room. Draw imaginary lines from your furniture to the door, or doors if you have more than one, of your living room. These are your walkways. Do not place additional furniture, tables or decorative items in these walkways. Also, take a moment to sit in each seat and visualize the path to exit the room. Make sure that everyone can move about freely in the space, regardless of where they're sitting.  

Encourage Intimacy

Most people like to see who they're talking to. To encourage intimacy and conversation, take care to make sure your furniture is arranged so that everyone can see each other. Do not place plants or lamps in the sight lines between your guests either. 

As you can see, there are many things to consider when you're arranging your living room furniture. Not only do you have to make sure you have enough seating, you have to make sure the room has proper flow and that your guests can converse freely with each other. If you find you need more seating or pieces to make your room complete, contact a furniture store, like Heary Art & Sons Furniture Inc. If you pay attention to these things, you will always love the way your living room is set up.