How to Arrage a Sofa

Arranging a Sofa and a love seat in a long room presents a challenge when you need to provide a comfortable seating area for multiple purposes: having conversations, viewing television or just relaxing. You must plan for traffic flow, and the seating arrangement must relate to the focal point in the room. The placement of doors and windows contributes to the ultimate success of any arrangement.

Establish a Focal Point

Every room needs a focal point, something to draw the eye. In a traditional living room, the fireplace wall typically becomes the focal point. In today's homes, however, a television screen or an entertainment center may challenge the fireplace for attention. In some rooms, these two elements compete with each other, making it necessary to neutralize the competition by combining them on one wall, so that seating addresses both focal points.

The L-Shaped Arrangement

Place the two largest seating pieces perpendicular to each other and facing the focal point -- the fireplace or entertainment center -- with the longer piece parallel to the fireplace. Allow at least an 18-inch-wide passageway to enter the seating area. If possible, have the love seat face the entryway to the room so that it creates an inviting impression. A second L-shaped arrangement places the sofa parallel to the end wall of the space facing the door and the love seat along the long wall. Add end tables flanking the love seat for lamps and convenience or a Coffee Table to relate the two seating pieces. Floor lamps or recessed lighting provide adequate lighting without using up floor space.

The H-Shaped Arrangement

The H-shaped arrangement is possible if the room is wide enough to place the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace or entertainment center wall. Place the love seat facing the sofa and parallel to it. A coffee table between the two large seating pieces provides convenience and makes them relate to each other. Allow 18-inch clearances between the seating and the table. An occasional chair or an upholstered hassock placed beside the loveseat adds seating or an optional footrest.

Parallel to Wall Arrangment

For an arrangement parallel to the walls, center the loveseat on the shorter wall in the room and the sofa on the long wall. Add chairs angled toward the sofa and away from the fireplace or entertainment wall. Add coffee tables in front of each of the larger seating pieces. An upholstered hassock and an occasional chair can add seating possibilities around either coffee table.