I had a similar setup that always felt awkward and I finally figured out how to fix it over the past couple of months. My room isn’t exactly like this but the general advice should remain the same. Get a straight couch (not L shaped) and pull it away from the wall a bit. It feels counterintuitive but leaving even just a few inches of space behind a couch can really open up a space. It’ll also give your curtains some room to breathe so they don’t look like the couch is crushing them so much. It’s hard to tell from these photos but if you have space I’d get a small cute chair in a different fabric from the couch. I’d either put it where the ottoman is now or on the opposite side of the room if it’ll leave you enough space to walk between the doorways. I’d also put a side table next to the couch. Maybe a cute vase and some coasters on it. This isn’t layout related but I’d also recommend replacing those cube shelves with a proper TV unit. It’ll look a lot cleaner. I recently bought a few IKEA Besta units and I’m very happy with them. They’re simple, clean, customizable, and most importantly very affordable. They were on sale when I bought them and I did a full 12’ wall of Besta units for about $300 IIRC. Answer from itsnottommy on reddit.com
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › remodelaholic › living-rooms
Living Rooms
Modern and Inspirational Interior Design, Decor Ideas and Trends, for the Living Room.
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Martha Stewart
marthastewart.com › living-room-trends-2026-11860104
9 Living Room Trends That Will Define 2026, According to Designers
1 week ago - The look resembles the floral Laura Ashley sofas of the 1990s, or the geometric designs of the 1970s, but in a fresher, more playful style. "Large-scale, upholstered pieces like sofas are showing up with more pattern, setting the tone and foundation for the living room's color palette and aesthetic," says Dusti Jones, founder and principal interior designer at Dusti J Design.
Discussions

Small Living Room Ideas?
I had a similar setup that always felt awkward and I finally figured out how to fix it over the past couple of months. My room isn’t exactly like this but the general advice should remain the same. Get a straight couch (not L shaped) and pull it away from the wall a bit. It feels counterintuitive but leaving even just a few inches of space behind a couch can really open up a space. It’ll also give your curtains some room to breathe so they don’t look like the couch is crushing them so much. It’s hard to tell from these photos but if you have space I’d get a small cute chair in a different fabric from the couch. I’d either put it where the ottoman is now or on the opposite side of the room if it’ll leave you enough space to walk between the doorways. I’d also put a side table next to the couch. Maybe a cute vase and some coasters on it. This isn’t layout related but I’d also recommend replacing those cube shelves with a proper TV unit. It’ll look a lot cleaner. I recently bought a few IKEA Besta units and I’m very happy with them. They’re simple, clean, customizable, and most importantly very affordable. They were on sale when I bought them and I did a full 12’ wall of Besta units for about $300 IIRC. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/DesignMyRoom
17
44
December 12, 2024
How would you design my living room?
I think the couch blocking the stairs is a weird vibe. I’d go couch under the window next to fireplace,tv on stand by stair wall and then a second seating area by the fireplace that is still not blocking the stair. If you truly never plan to come down those stairs, then I’d be saving up to someday close that off so you get all that wall space back. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/DesignMyRoom
50
13
November 21, 2024
Living room + office combo design feedback/ideas : InteriorDesign
Hi, I'm moving into an apartment with a 171" x 214" living room. This is the space I'll have to use for both dining, living, and office space for... More on old.reddit.com
🌐 r/InteriorDesign
Help me design my living room so that my couch faces the TV : DesignMyRoom
As much as I like our living room, I'd like to make it more movie-watching friendly by having a couch that faces the TV. Even though it's mounted... More on old.reddit.com
🌐 r/DesignMyRoom
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Houzz
houzz.com › living photos › living room
75 Living Room Ideas You'll Love - December, 2025 | Houzz
The project aimed to design a modern living space for adults to relax and lounge. The room underwent a complete transformation with new wall colors, flooring, furnishings, and a custom bookshelf installation. The walls were painted in a deep blue color to create a sense of calm and sophistication while the custom-designed bookshelf provided plenty of space for books.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › things-that-make-your-living-room-look-small-11859617
Designers Agree: These 6 Things Instantly Make Your Living Room Look Smaller
3 days ago - Gatewood suggests centering the seating area, leaving room for movement around the area. To avoid having furniture look too symmetrical, Van Daley recommends using an offset chair and ottoman to break up the visual. ... Don't be mistaken—layers are not clutter. Layers are thoughtful design choices that build on each other: wall colors that complement fabric patterns, rugs that complement flooring, wall art and decorative pieces that complement everything.
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Pottery Barn
potterybarn.com › shop › shop-by-room › living-rooms
Living Room: Ideas, Furniture & Decor | Pottery Barn
Updating your living room? Shop Pottery Barn for modern and classic living room ideas. Find living room furniture and decor and create the ultimate space.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › outdated-living-room-styles-designers-miss-11847276
We Asked Designers Which Living Room Styles They Wish Would Come Back, and We Agree
3 weeks ago - Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, misses the transitional style that peaked during the mid-2000s. These rooms held darker woods and incorporated warmer color palettes. They also had layers of drapery and furniture with tailored upholstery. "Those rooms had soul," she says. "Every detail from the trim work to the fabric choices added a layer of personality. They felt lived-in and intentionally designed, not just styled for a photo.
Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/designmyroom › small living room ideas?
r/DesignMyRoom on Reddit: Small Living Room Ideas?
December 12, 2024 - I would move the couch away from the wall and float it as a room divider of its small enough. Then shift the TV to smaller wall. I would buy darker curtains and hang them slightly higher so the window is a statement piece. If you’re putting something in front of the windows keep it small like a chair or bench seating.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › ways-to-fix-an-outdated-living-room-on-a-budget-11859097
7 Ways to Update Your Outdated Living Room Like a Designer Without Spending a Ton
3 days ago - You can also give a living room a new feel without having to spend any money at all—just by putting your old things in new places. Elizabeth Bennett, a partner at Kobel + Co design studio, says “a thoughtful reconfiguration—such as floating a sofa, reworking a conversation area, or clearing a visual pathway—can make the entire space feel new without spending a dime.”
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Havenly
havenly.com › exp › living-room-design-ideas
25+ Living Room Interior Design Ideas | Havenly
Browse Living Room designs and interior decorating ideas. Discover beautiful designs and inspiration from a variety of Living Rooms designed by Havenly's talented online designers.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › things-that-make-living-room-look-cheap-11859542
7 Things That Are Making Your Living Room Look Bad, Designers Say—and How to Fix It
1 week ago - She encourages those who wish to add trim work, paint, or wallpaper to their living room to do so to all four walls for a more complete, elevated look. ... Forgoing layers will instead result in an inexpensive-looking space, according to Anais Chaumien, the founder of Design by Anais.
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Plan Your Room
planyourroom.com
Online Room Planner - Design Your Room
Planyourroom.com is a wonderful website to redesign each room in your house by picking out perfect furniture options to fit your unique space.
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Room & Board
roomandboard.com › ideas-advice › get-inspired › living-room-ideas
Living Room Ideas – Ideas & Advice – Room & Board
Plus, you'll never run out of comfy spots to sit.This assortment of lounge furniture provides plenty of places to lounge throughout the room.Soothing umber tones in the rug, wood and decor give this living room a coordinated modern look.With lounge-worthy seating and a tight color palette, this living room invites relaxation.This room's decor takes cues from the beautiful blue-green rug, while the ample seating room invites socializing.Create a functional focal point by using multiple bookcases.
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House Beautiful
housebeautiful.com › room ideas › living + family rooms › 62 clever small sitting room ideas that designers swear by
Designers Say This Is the "Perfect" Seating Arrangement for Small Rooms
1 month ago - Let a standout window in the room become the focal point, where natural light floods in and the views beyond double as art. Keep the color palette neutral and introduce various textures, like faux fur throws and a lantern pendant, as designer Sam Sacks did in this living room for enduring comfort.
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YouTube
youtube.com › playlist
Living Room Design Basics - YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
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Planner 5D
planner5d.com › home › use cases › room planner tool
Online Room Planner & 3D Room Design
The Planner 5D room planner design software is a great way to quickly and easily create a floor plan for your home. Input the room shape, then add furniture, fixtures and other elements to create a realistic 3D representation of your space.
Address   A. Goštauto St. 12A, 01108, Vilnius
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › living-room-red-flags-guests-immediately-notice-11841904
5 Living Room Red Flags That Guests Immediately Notice, According to Designers
November 5, 2025 - The type of art on display in your living room matters too, Hall says, and if done incorrectly, may set the wrong tone. "If I walk into a living room and only see generic, store bought art on the walls, I disconnect from the space," she says. The designer prefers to see pieces that reflect the homeowners' personality.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › living-room-styles-on-their-way-out-11848304
5 Living Room Styles That Are Going Out of Style, According to Designers
3 weeks ago - All-gray and neutral living rooms are fading as warmer, moodier tones add more personality and depth. Overused styles like midcentury modern and exaggerated farmhouse now feel formulaic or outdated. Designers favor eclectic, lived-in spaces over overly curated looks that chase fleeting trends.
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ELLE Decor
elledecor.com › design + decorate › room ideas › 85 modern living room design ideas that are perfectly on trend
Looking to Redo Your Living Room? Start with These Designer-Approved Ideas
October 9, 2024 - Anyone can make a sleek living room appear warm and welcoming—all it takes are some thoughtful accessories. In this Brooklyn townhouse, Ishka Designs packed on the charm with intriguing ceramics and eye-catching artwork. The result? A living room that hits that sweet spot between luxe and lived-in.