Disclosure: This post contains paid affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Are you looking for ideas to furnish and decorate your open concept living room? It can be overwhelming to design a space that is essentially a blank canvas and serves many purposes in the home. In this post, I am sharing 5 furniture ideas for an open-concept living room to give your space a cohesive look.
What is an Open Floor Plan?
An open floor plan means the combination of 2 or 3 individual rooms, like a living room, kitchen, and dining room, in one multifunctional space. Traditionally, these rooms are separated by walls, but in an open floor plan, they all share the same space.
Open-concept floor plans gained popularity in the 1990s and are now the norm for new home construction. They allow for more natural light, easier entertaining, and more usable space, however, they can also contribute to an overall lack of privacy and fewer design choices.
How Do You Arrange Furniture in an Open Concept Living Room?
When designing an open floor plan, it is important to determine how separate spaces will function. The easiest way to distinguish rooms in an open floor plan is with furniture and area rugs. These can serve as dividers to create different spaces.
Even though you may think placing furniture against walls will create more space, interior designers recommend keeping furniture away from walls to allow more natural light and a larger space for walkways and traffic flow. This furniture placement also gives the illusion that a room is more spacious than it is without appearing overcrowded.
Consider the size of the space and the size of the furniture. I highly recommend measuring and taping where pieces will go in your space before purchasing. The wrong size can make a room look too empty or overcrowded.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Classic Coastal Living Room Furniture & Decor Ideas
What is the Best Furniture for an Open Concept Living Room?
Before you choose living room furniture, try to decide on a design style, or at least consider pieces that will work with many styles in case your tastes change. I recommend buying larger pieces of furniture first, such as the sofa/sectional, dining room table, and media cabinet. Not only are these the most functional pieces, but it is much easier to decorate once you have established focal points in a large open space.
Use pieces that can be reused and rearranged. Some pieces, like a sectional, lock you into a certain layout. It is much more expensive to replace a sofa or a sectional than it is a side table, so consider the flexibility of your purchases if you think you will want to rearrange and redesign your space often.
1. Sectional or Sofa
The seating area in a living room, often across from a fireplace or TV, is one of the focal points in an open-concept space.
Consider using a pair of sofas if your space is used for entertaining, or a sectional for a more relaxed and casual feel. You may also want to invest in a modular sofa/sectional that can be easily rearranged and split up for a more versatile layout.
We opted for a more formal sectional since our living area is used for both entertaining and lounging. Unfortunately, this sectional is not sold online, but I highly recommend checking out your local furniture stores to get an idea of styles and fabrics. Ultimately, it is much easier to determine comfort in person, but this sectional is highly rated online.
2. Console Table
Aside from filling a large room with furniture, there are also empty walls to be furnished and decorated. Consider using a console table to fill that space, especially between two windows.
If you use a piece of furniture like a console table up against a wall, I recommend using a mirror or piece of art to fill the space above it. What I love about this mirror is that it is the same color (but a different style) as the mirror in my dining area.
I purchased this rattan console table in the store at Ross a few years ago. Sometimes you aren’t looking for a piece and find it when you least expect to! I haven’t been able to find it online, but this is a very similar option at a great price point.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Coastal Console Table Decorating Ideas & Styling Tips
3. Media Console or Cabinet
Since the living room in an open concept space is typically a focal point, it is important to pick a media cabinet or console that makes a statement. Alternatively, you may use pre-made or custom built-ins as an entertainment center.
After considering our budget, we opted to splurge on this sideboard instead of doing custom built-ins. I’d still love to do built-ins one day, especially if we have a living room with a fireplace.
Shortly after we purchased this sideboard, I knew a Samsung frame TV would complete the space. It was also a splurge, but ultimately cheaper than doing built-ins and helped fill in the blank space since we have 10-foot ceilings.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The Best Places to Buy Art for Your Samsung Frame TV
4. Accent Chair
Accent chairs are the best way to fill an empty corner in an open concept room. Use a pair to create a conversation area or use one by itself for a cozy reading nook.
I have been waiting for the perfect chair to fit this space and found this one online at TJ Maxx! I knew I needed something smaller that took up less space, but I still wanted it to be interesting since this corner is more decorative than functional.
Unfortunately, this chair is no longer available online (it sold out within a few hours), but I post restocks on my Instagram page!
5. Writing Desk
A writing desk is another great way to fill an empty corner in an open concept living room. At first, I didn’t think I would use this space often, but now it is my everyday home office. I love the convenience of working in my living room since so much of what I film and share is on the first floor.
Not only is it functional, but I think it looks cute too! This desk chair is surprisingly comfortable, even when I am working for several hours straight, and it pairs well with other furniture in the space.
Other Furniture Favorites for an Open Floor Plan
The living room is just one of the spaces you need to furnish and decorate in an open-concept layout. Here are a few of my favorite furniture pieces for the dining room and kitchen island that are typically in the same space.
Pro tip – Get counter stools that swivel so you can interact with guests in the kitchen area, dining room, and living room!
Conclusion
Open concept floor plans can be overwhelming and challenging to design, but they don’t have to be! Choosing furniture for your open concept living room is one of the first steps to making your space feel complete. Keep in mind the size of the space, create focal points, and choose a design style before making any large furniture purchases. Use these open concept living room ideas to make your decision making process a little easier!
