How to Replace a Sofa & Loveseat With Arm Chairs

Arranging furniture in a living room or family room can be challenging, especially if the room has unusual angles, high ceilings or a focal point in an unusual location. Traditionally, the standard decor for this type of room might have included a sofa, loveseat and perhaps a chair. In a modern home, this collection of furniture may look awkward or simply not fit. Transitioning to using four chairs is often easy, after you let go of older decorating styles. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Remove the existing sofa and love seat. Clearing out the room will remove indications of how furniture used to be positioned and give you a fresh perspective.

2

Center the medium-sized area rug on the primary focal point. This focus could be a fireplace, a large television, bay windows, an entertainment center or some other element that immediately attracts attention when you enter the room.

3

If your coffee table is round, place it in the center of the rug and space the armchairs evenly around the table. Position end tables between chairs on opposite sides of the table, creating pairs. This arrangement creates a natural conversation area.

4

If your coffee table is square, place it in the center of the rug and space the armchairs centered on each side of the table. Like the round arrangement, this will create a conversation group where the attention is drawn inward toward the coffee table. Position the end tables between the chairs that form the sides and back of the arrangement's focal point. Try rotating this arrangement to prevent blockage of the view of the focal point and to generate flow pathways.

5

If you will be using a rectangular coffee table, positioning it to face the focal point. Place two arm chairs behind the coffee table to replicate the idea of a couch. Flank each narrow side of the table with an armchair, then position the end tables on the "couch" corners. This arrangement often feels very comfortable and familiar, and it will create good flow.

6

An L-shaped arrangement can also be created by using a square coffee table with paired armchairs on two sides of the table, leaving two sides open. This arrangement will tend to feel like two small sofas, which may leave an awkward empty space opposite the chairs. Try positioning the end tables at the chair corner and one open corner, or at the ends of the chairs.

7

Decorate the coffee and end tables with sculptural pieces, books, plants and art, and consider using two different pillow colors to invigorate the finished look.