How to Decorate a Living Room with Front Door in the Middle

How to Decorate a Living Room with Front Door in the Middle

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Last updated on July 28th, 2023 at 08:37 am

Houses and apartments are built differently, some are beautiful while others are ugly and cumbersome. Some apartments have the front door in the middle of the living room. You look at it and wonder “How will I decorate this apartment?” This is one of the challenges you face when you have a front door in the middle of your living room. The best way to solve this dilemma is to figure out how to decorate a living room with front door in the middle.

1.      Create Two Spaces

The first thing you can do is to separate your living room area into two separate spaces on either side of the door. One side can have a sectional couch facing the fireplace or TV on the wall. Decorate the other side according to your lifestyle, for example, you could have a bookcase and a single couch for you to curl up in while you read. Alternatively, a home office or game table will work well.

2.      Use a Runner Rug

Place a runner rug straight from the door to direct traffic. It automatically creates a separation between the left and right side of the door and whoever walks in, won’t step directly into the seating area. This long, rectangular rug also creates the illusion of a hallway.

How Do You Make an Illusion of Entryway?

When you open the front door to your home or apartment, you should have a transition space that says ‘welcome’. Whether you’re kicking off your shoes, dripping from the rain, or carrying groceries, your entryway should help you switch mentally from a hectic day at work to a relaxing environment at home. Unfortunately, house plans nowadays do not have this essential space catered for. So if you don’t have an entryway, how do you create an illusion of one?

1.      Sofa Placement

Position your couches perpendicular to the door so that the back of the sofa creates an entryway feel. They act as a divider and keep your living room area separate from the main door. You can do this with a pair of chairs too. You can make it even better by adding a console or thin table right behind the sofa. This will give you a spot to place mail, wallet, keys, and so on.

2.      Build a Pony Wall

Your front door might be positioned at the end of the living room area and not the middle. In this case, it would make sense to build a pony wall. This low wall will divide the living room and create a clear entryway. You can make it even more interesting with a great area rug or runner that enhances the illusion of an entryway.

3.      Use a Bookcase or Open Shelf

Bookcases or open shelves aren’t just dividers, they are also functional pieces. Everyone needs extra shelf space but remember to use an open and narrow bookcase. A closed and thick bookcase will defeat the purpose. Keep it light with only a few books and other decorative items like figurines, photo frames, and vases. An open shelf against the wall next to the door will create the illusion of an entryway and double as a spot to place handbags or keys.

4.      Use a Console

Place a console right next to your door such that when you swing it open, it’s the first thing you see against the wall. It acts like a mini reception desk and is functional too for keys, lampstands, figurines, vases, and so on. Whether you choose glass or wood, your console will create a subtle but impressive entryway. Add a mirror or artwork above it for a more impactful look.

5.      Hang Up a Mirror

Mirrors are known to make any space appear bigger, however, they are also a perfect element for the entrance of your living room right after your door. A large mirror will visually extend that small space into the living room area. Plus, you can check your makeup and hair to make sure you’re looking great right before stepping out.

How Do You Arrange Furniture in an Awkward Living Room?

How Do You Arrange Furniture in an Awkward Living Room?

Whether it’s a sloping ceiling, tiny space, strange angle, or slanted wall, if you’re scratching your head wondering how to place furniture in your oddly shaped living room, worry no more. The good news is that you can work with the space you have, and you don’t need a professional.

  1. Pick a focal point and decorate around it.
  2. Place a comfy sectional sofa in a long and narrow space to curl up with a book.
  3. Place two single sofas and two side tables in a tiny living room space.
  4. Use elements like potted plants or a work desk to detract from weird angles.

How Do You Layout a Living Room with a Fireplace?

A fireplace will make your living room cozy and relaxing for your family and guests. It will keep you warm during winter and sometimes it will simply act as an aesthetic backdrop for your space. Whatever, the purpose, you have to figure out an appropriate layout so that your space is comfortable. Here are a few ways you can do that:

1.      Formal Fireplace Layout

With this layout, the furniture placement is more at the center of the room (floating furniture), away from the walls making the fireplace a centerpiece (but not focal point) of the room. The space between the furniture and the walls can be used for other purposes like an office desk, bar cart, or reading nook.

This layout is the perfect cozy setting. It’s great for entertaining and enhances conversation. You can add more seating like comfortable stools in case you’re hosting more guests than can fit in your sofas. You can also have the stools on any side of the setting, either by the fireplace or away from it if you’re feeling warm enough.

2.      Conversational Layout

This layout is the definition of eye contact and conversation. With your sofa facing the fireplace and a pair of accent chairs facing the sofa, it’s the perfect setup for heart-to-heart conversations. It’s the go-to layout for curling up with a book or game night with the family. The layout is almost like floating furniture except that in this case, a large area rug gives it symmetry and a well-collected look.

A pouf is a great additional element to this layout for seating or a footstool. If you want to open up the conversation circle or keep the layout light, move the accent chairs to face the fireplace too. A bookcase, study space, or reading nook are a great addition to the space.

3.      Corner Fireplace Layout

When the fireplace is in the corner, the layout may be a tricky challenge but it’s not impossible. One way to layout your living room would be to place the TV on the wall as the focal point next to the fireplace then a sectional sofa facing the TV with a rocking chair by the fireplace.

Alternatively, you could make the fireplace the focal point. Arrange the sofa to face the fireplace directly and then place armchairs on the sides. This layout is great if your home has a separate TV area. You could also arrange different types of furniture (sofas and armchairs) away from the fireplace to open up the living room.

4.      Sofa Facing Out of the Fireplace

This is appropriate if you don’t use your fireplace. The sofa faces away from the fireplace, leaving it as a stylish backdrop rather than a source of warmth. This layout maximizes the living room space and keeps the fireplace out of your view and conversation.

A luxurious chaise sectional would be great for this layout. Make the room more functional with an office area. This living room layout offers a dramatic and unique lounge style where you can have cocktails with your friends.

5.      Cozy Nook Layout

How Do You Make an Illusion of Entryway?

This is another layout for homeowners that prefer to use their fireplace for aesthetics and not functional purposes. You can have a small shelf in the hearth with a few books and décor elements. This layout is great with poufs, stools, or accent chairs because they create a casual feel.

It looks even better when your dining space is open so that both areas are in the same space. This living room layout is inviting and relaxed.

Should TV Be Centered with Couch?

Most traditional living room layouts dictated that the TV be centered with the couch. However, there’s no need for that kind of layout as the living room is now used for more than just watching TV. It’s a great idea to have a comfortable spot from which you can watch TV but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you love entertaining, you can layout your living room in such a way that it’s cozy and conversation-friendly.

Set up your couches and chairs to face each other. Your seating can also face the window or some beautiful artwork. If your TV is centered with your couch, the distraction will take away from the conversation. It helps to put your TV on a swivel mount. This type of mount is flexible to maximize your viewing when you need it. It can extend out from the wall and rotate right or left, and up or down.

How Do You Layout Living Room Furniture?

Imagine that you’re standing in an empty living room trying to figure out where to place your furniture for the perfect look. Quite overwhelming, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be. Stylists and designers around the world use some tried and tested tips and tricks to get a living room from bare and boring to stylish and comfortable.

1.      Determine the Focal Point

Your living room layout starts with choosing a focal point. While some spaces come with a prominent focal point like a fireplace, other spaces will require you to create your own with a TV or media unit. Place your main seating piece facing the focal point and set up the other seating pieces around it. If your living room has prominent windows or French doors, these could be your focal point during summer.

2.      Keep Furniture Away From Walls

Even with small living rooms, it’s never a good idea to push your furniture against the wall. This layout leaves an awkward space at the center. Depending on the size of your living room, you need to give your pieces breathing room from the walls by a couple of inches or several feet. For smaller spaces, this layout makes your room look even bigger and more open.

3.      Arrange Furniture for Easy Conversation

Are you into hosting and entertaining? Ensure that your layout eases conversation with friends and family where none of you has to raise your voice or turn your neck uncomfortably. Place your seating pieces in the middle, facing each other. In a large living room, you can create more than one conversational area. Don’t forget a large coffee table that’s within everyone’s reach for their drink or snack.

4.      Position Tables Close By

Whether it’s a side table or coffee table, it should be at arm’s length for easy access by everyone. Your guests or family shouldn’t need to get up from their seats to pick up r set down their drinks. The side tables should be the same height or a bit lower than the arm of the chair close to it while the coffee table should be as high as or a bit lower than the sofa/chair seat.

5.      Use a Large Area Rug

Your area rug plays the role of unifying the seating area. Standard rules suggest that all main furniture must fit on the rug. Ideally, the rug should extend a couple of inches beyond the furniture. However, if it’s not large enough, you should be able to have the front legs of all the chairs on the rug. If your living room is fully carpeted already, make it cozier by adding a thicker accent rug on top.

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