12 Living Room Furniture Ideas for a Refreshed Space
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If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the living room is the soul. It’s the spot where your family goes to relax at the end of a long day, connect, and binge your favorite streaming shows. It’s the backdrop to so many memories—and it should look the part. From plush armchairs where you can tackle your TBR pile to cozy sectionals that can fit the whole crew for movie night, comfortable living room furniture ideas will go a long way towards how you live in and enjoy your space.
Designing a great living room is about choosing stylish furniture, sure—but it’s also about selecting pieces that function for your lifestyle and are comfortable enough to beckon you into the space and invite you to stay a while. Below, we’re rounding up 12 of the best living room furniture ideas on the market, including sleek sofas, smart storage, and versatile accessories that will make it your favorite room in the house (as if it wasn’t already!).
What Furniture to Have in a Living Room
- A cozy couch or sofa: Choose a style that suits your design scheme and can seat as many people as possible without overwhelming your space. If you have pets or children at home, consider looking for a style made out of performance fabric or anything that boasts a slip cover.
- Occasional chairs: The size and number of chairs you choose will depend on how large your living room is. Swivel chairs can offer good flexibility with your layout, while more traditional designs, like a recliner, are geared towards anyone who loves to lounge. In a pinch, you can replace chairs with comfy poufs or ground cushions if space is at a premium.
- Coffee table: Look for a style that feels proportional to your largest piece of furniture (likely your couch). Hard surfaces are great if you plan to eat or work on them often; softer versions, like an oversized ottoman, are comfortable for kicking up your feet on. Need extra storage? Look for a coffee table with a lift top where you can stash things inside.
- Side table: Designs to double your available surface area and act as a spot to sit a lamp, candle, or vase, side tables aren’t a must, but they’ll go a long way toward making your living room feel complete. Look for a style with a drawer or two for storage if you need the extra organization.
How to Arrange Living Room Furniture
- Promote conversation: Make sure your furniture is oriented towards each other and that, when seated, guests can easily converse.
- Pick a focal point: Generally, you’ll want to center your living room furniture arrangement around a central focal point, whether that’s a media console, built-in entertainment unit, fireplace, or a great view out a set of picture windows.
- Leave room for mingling: Avoid placing your furniture so close together that guests can’t get out of a chair or off of the couch without bumping into another piece of furniture (or each other). When in doubt, dial back the number of pieces you have in the space rather than squeeze too many in.
Tips for Small Space Living Rooms
- Look for proportional pieces: Many furniture brands have silhouettes and sizes specifically geared towards smaller spaces. Always shop with proportion and size in mind (and always measure your space before you buy!). You’ll be able to fit more if you’re mindful of the overall silhouette and footprint of each piece.
- Stick to neutrals: Small spaces can get cluttered quickly, even if just visually. To ensure a calm and cohesive palette in a small living room, stick to neutral furniture that fades into the backdrop rather than overwhelms the senses.
- Trial different arrangements: Small spaces can be particularly hard to lay out, and you may not get it right the first time. Try out a variety of different furniture arrangements to find the one best-suited to your space. If you’re starting from scratch with your furniture, you can even tape sizes on the floor before buying to ensure you’re not making your space too cramped with your selections.
01
York Slope Arm Deep Seat Slipcovered Sofa
Pottery Barn
$1899.00
Love the look of a white sofa? It can still be within reach, even if you have young kids or pets. The trick? Just opt for a slipcover. You’ll get all the appeal of a crisp white piece, with none of the stress, thanks to a cover that can be removed and laundered anytime there’s a spill or stain. This Pottery Barn version is one of the most practical picks on the market, with an elegant shape and dozens of performance fabric slipcovers to choose from.
02
Industrial Storage Pop-Up Coffee Table
West Elm
$699.00
A great storage coffee table is a must-have for a living room of any size, but especially snug spaces that could use a bit of extra organizational help. This industrial-style version from West Elm boasts an interior storage compartment, as well as a lift-top that can double as a spot to work on your laptop or eat your favorite takeout during moving night.
03
Birch Lane Cal End Table
Wayfair
$269.00
Classic and elegant, a small-scale drinks table is an incredibly versatile addition to any living room. It’s a great thing to pull out any time you have guests over, and it can help those not sitting within reach of a coffee or side table still have a spot to set their drink or plate. This gilded version would even look great holding a vase full of flowers when not in use.
04
Montecito 5-Piece Sectional
Raymour & Flanigan
$5999.90
Is there anything comfier than a plush, nubby sectional? If your goal is to be the house for hangouts, movie nights, and book club, then you’re going to want an expansive couch for everyone to sit on comfortable no one ends up on the ground. This low-slug version from Drew & Jonathan Home spans an impressive 147 inches wide, making you a shoo-in for hosting the next Sunday football get-together.
05
Amoret Swivel Chair
Anthropologie
$1498.00
If you have the room, an accent chair can be a great addition to your main seating arrangement alongside a couch or sofa. When buying one, consider how you’re most likely to use the space. A swivel design, like this citron find from Anthropologie, is a good option for rooms with multiple points of interest, so someone can easily switch between watching the big game and enjoying the nearby fireplace or conversation.
06
Joy Reading Vintage Glass Display Cabinet Bookcase
Wayfair
$1899.99
One piece of classic furniture you don’t want to skip is a bookshelf. It’s a place for you to display meaningful items, whether that’s photo frames, books, plants, or other collectibles. It never hurts to choose one with a little charm, too. This version from Wayfair packs a lot of style into a small footprint, with a bottom shelf that can house baskets full of blankets or toys, and three shelves inside the glass cabinet to display your favorite memorabilia.
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07
Mercury Row Perdue Velvet Convertible Sleeper
Wayfair
$879.00
Sometimes, our living rooms need to pull double or even triple duty, existing as both a place to entertain and a spot to snooze for overnight guests. A sleeper sofa will help you bridge that gap perfectly, offering comfort during the day but opening to reveal a concealed sleeping spot any time you have friends or family in town. This version from Mercury Row has the added benefit of being supremely stylish, with button tufting and a luxe velvet finish that comes in a myriad of candy-colored hues.
08
Pierce & Ward Wood Tiered Side Table
West Elm
$279.00
For a piece that marries beauty and functionality, look no further than a tiered side table, like this stunner from Pierce & Ward. The tiered levels will give you ample styling and storage opportunities, allowing you to keep prettier selects up top, like a picture frame or vase, with more practical pursuits below, like a basket for remotes or even your internet router.
09
Maribo Sandstone Wool Bouclé Storage Ottoman
Article
$399.00
Since the living room is often where life happens, chances are good that yours is overflowing with stuff, from sports gear and slippers to extra blankets. For a spot to stash everything out of sight, consider adding a storage ottoman to your living room furniture scheme. Not only will it be a comfortable place to put your feet up during your next movie night, but this one from Article also has a hinged top that opens to reveal a generous cavity where you can put everything from extra blankets to your favorite board games.
10
Upholstered Mid Century Modern Accent Chairs, Set of 2
Amazon
$349.00
If space is at a premium in your living room, you may want to skip the overstuffed armchairs and opt instead for something a little more streamlined and unobtrusive. Wood-frame chairs, like this pair from Amazon, can be a streamlined and stylish way to bring extra seating to your living room, all without taking up too much of a footprint. This duo is even light enough to move out of the way on the off chance that an extra-rowdy game of charades breaks out.
11
Andover Mills Accent Cabinet
Wayfair
$189.99
Stylish storage is vital to a successful living room furniture lineup, whether you’re looking for a place to stash your book collection or need to hide away all your video games. A cabinet like this—which is slim and features glass-front doors—can hold books, candles, and even baskets inside while still offering display opportunities for vases or other decor on top.
12
Gracie Oaks Neelon Media Console
Wayfair
$635.00
A media console acts as a great focal point in your living room, especially if you don’t have a fireplace or other natural point of interest. Besides drawing the eye, a style like this Gracie Oaks media console will act as a hub for all your entertainment needs, with plenty of room for your television up top and places to stash toys and accessories below. Just make sure to choose a style and size that complements the width of your television and has a mix of open and closed storage. That way, you can stow away extra cords or plugs and show off your favorite tchotchkes at the same time.
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Alyssa Longobucco
Alyssa is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in interior, food, and lifestyle content. The recent recipient of an interior design certification, she has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry helping readers digest design trends and providing actionable expert advice for creating a home and life they love.
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