How To Design An Awkward Living Room Layout With A Corner Fireplace
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Dealing with an awkward living room layout can be a real challenge, especially when you have a stylish yet tricky corner fireplace as a focal point. Arranging furniture around such an angled feature often feels like solving a puzzle. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how I transformed a living room with a corner fireplace into a space that is not only functional but also stylish and cozy.
I’ll also share 5 valuable lessons that you can apply if you’re facing similar design dilemmas in your own home. Whether you’re looking to enhance comfort or maximize space, these tips will help you make the most of your unique living room layout!
1. Avoid Placing Furniture at Angles
When decorating a living room with a corner fireplace, aligning furniture directly with the fireplace might seem like a logical choice, but it can actually complicate the layout. This approach forces you to arrange the rest of the furniture at awkward angles, making the space feel even more challenging. Instead, avoid angling your furniture to match the fireplace’s orientation.
In this living room, I opted for a traditional layout where all seating areas still face the focal points, both the fireplace and TV, but without being directly aligned with the fireplace’s angle. This strategy simplified the design process and allowed the rest of the decor to fall into place more naturally. For example, positioning the sectional perpendicular to the fireplace enabled me to add a pair of accent chairs without being constrained by the corner angle. This way, the design and styling of the living room could proceed as smoothly as if there were no corner fireplace at all.
2. Opt for A Sectional Instead of Traditional Seating
If you’re passionate about home decor and familiar with interior design, you might know that sectionals are often not the designer’s first choice for living room furniture. As a designer myself, I typically don’t favor sectional couches for traditional living rooms. However, there are notable exceptions, one being a living room with a corner fireplace, like in this apartment!
In a space with a corner fireplace, arranging traditional seating can be challenging. A typical setup with a 2- or 3-seater couch, a small sofa, and a pair of accent chairs might not fit well around an angled focal point. In such cases, a sectional becomes an excellent solution. Its versatile design allows it to fit snugly into awkward layouts, providing ample seating without overwhelming the space.
The chaise lounge portion of a sectional is particularly effective in filling the area near the fireplace. Its open design, without arms, ensures that the seating area remains inviting and unobstructed, enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic of the room.
Related: Read This Before Buying A Sectional, 5 Reasons Not To Buy and 5 Ways To Make Them Work.
3. Place Ottomans Near The Fireplace For Style & Extra Seating
Ottomans are a versatile addition that can elevate your living room's style while providing extra seating. They’re especially effective in rooms with an awkward layout, helping to create a cozy, well-defined seating area that can be easily rearranged as needed. For a designer look, consider choosing ottomans in contrasting colors or textures to complement the existing decor and add visual interest. In a living room with a corner fireplace, ottomans are particularly useful for drawing people closer to the warmth, enhancing the room's comfort and making it the perfect spot for gathering. Plus, their compact size means they can be tucked away or repurposed as footrests or coffee tables when not in use, adding both functionality and style to your space.
4. Create A Vignette To Enhance The Aesthetics
A vignette is a carefully curated arrangement of decor pieces that adds character and personality to a room. By grouping together a mix of objects like candles, picture frames, vases, and books, you can create a focal point that draws the eye and elevates the overall look of your space. Vignettes are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to a console table, mantel, or coffee table. To make your vignette visually appealing, play with different heights, textures, and colors, ensuring that each item complements the others while still standing out on its own. A well-crafted vignette can instantly enhance the aesthetics of your room and reflect your personal style.
In a living room with an awkward layout, like one with a corner fireplace, a vignette can be the perfect way to bring harmony and style to the space. This simple yet effective styling trick can transform your living room, making the most of its unique layout while adding a touch of elegance and personality.
Here are my top picks: Gallery Wall Set / Console Table / Table Lamp / Chic Coffee Table Book Set
5. Add Ample Of Accent Furniture & Lighting
No matter the size or layout of your living room, incorporating a variety of accent furniture and lighting can instantly elevate the decor. To achieve a designer look, consider adding key furniture pieces like a coffee table, side tables, and a console table, each serving a functional purpose while enhancing the room's style. Complement these with a mix of lighting options, such as floor lamps, table lamps, and spotlights, to create a layered and inviting atmosphere. By thoughtfully placing these elements throughout the room, you'll see how they can transform your living space, adding depth, warmth, and sophistication. Even in an awkwardly shaped living room, these pieces can help define areas, making the layout feel more intentional and cohesive.
In this living room, I placed a round coffee table to balance out the shape of the sectional (read why a round shaped coffee table is the right choice to pair with a sectional). I added side table to place a table lamp and a drink table between the two pair of accent chairs. In the entryway, there’s a console table which provides a great surface to place decor object and add personality to the room. For lighting, you can see a floor lamp near the fireplace, a table lamp near the seating area and another table lamp on the console table. To spruce it up further, I also incorporated spotlights to enhance the gallery wall.
It’s these details that take the ambience of a room from nice to great!
Hope this blog post helped you understand how you can design an awkward living room layout, especially one with a corner fireplace. If you have any questions about your space, please feel free to leave a comment and I would be more than happy to help you out!
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