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Welcome to 10 tips on arranging dining room and living room furniture. We all love the laid-back layout and upscale design of an open floor plan, whether it’s a studio apartment or a modern home. Creating clear separations from room to room while retaining the essence of the open space, on the other hand, can be difficult.
The living room and dining room, however, are two of the most important aspects of an open floor plan. These are the areas where you unwind, eat, and entertain friends. As a result, the living and dining rooms must be as functional as they are beautiful.
What is the best way to decorate an open concept living and dining room?
Open layouts, in which a home’s living room and dining room are combined, are modern and common in newer homes and small apartments. If you want to create a visually harmonious and balanced space, think about what type of furniture and colors you will use to visually separate the living room from the dining room.
Choose a color palette or aesthetic for your living and dining room furnishings, whether it is contemporary, mid-century, vintage, or eclectic Bohemian style. You’ll want the pieces you choose for your living and dining areas to complement one another rather than starkly contrast or overwhelm the other.
If all of the furniture is in the same color family or style, the room will visually flow better and feel more organized, spacious, and put together.
How do you arrange furniture in a living room and dining room?
There’s nothing wrong with matching the furniture in the living room to the furniture in the dining room. In fact, having matching furniture makes a home appear more expensive and visually appealing.
Keep the furniture in both rooms in the same color and style family. However, in each room, incorporate a few select patterns through area rugs, throw cushions, upholstery, wall art, or another decor piece. You want patterns that complement each other but also stand on their own to visually distinguish the living room from the dining room.
How do I separate my living room and dining room?
When it comes to setting up your dining room and living area, it’s important to establish each as its own space—otherwise, you’ll end up eating dinner on the couch, in front of the TV, with a pop-up tray. To begin, you’ll want to arrange furniture in a way that maximizes the functionality of your open-plan interior without sacrificing style.
Next, you’ll want to decorate both spaces in a way that gives each one its own distinct style while not clashing with the other. Finally, tie them together in a way that feels cohesive and flows seamlessly into the next one. You’re creating separation, but you still want one room to effortlessly lead you into the other.
Rugs can assist you in clearly defining spaces.
A rug not only adds texture, warmth, and color to a room, but it also helps to define and separate spaces. When you give each area of your living room and dining room its own rug, you’ll be able to clearly distinguish between them. It visually creates the boundaries between the living room and the dining room, indicating to you and your guests where the living room begins and where the dining room ends. And because they come in so many different shapes and sizes, you’ll always be able to find one that fits. Simply place your rugs and begin decorating. We also have another article with tips on how to select an area rug.
Make use of your couch as a room divider.
Screens are an excellent way to divide a room, but they defeat the purpose of an open concept. Instead, use your furniture to create a much-needed separation between rooms. When strategically placed, the back of your couch can act as the ideal room divider, without forming a makeshift wall and ruining your airy open plan.
Place your couch so that the back of it faces the dining room. This will separate each room in a way that feels completely defined and distinct. Set up your living room with the necessities and arrange them in front of the couch in a way that feels functional. And just like that, you have a fully functional living room that doesn’t compete with your dining area.
Substitute a bistro table for your kitchen island.
As you are aware, it is critical to evaluate the size and layout of your physical space when decorating, but don’t forget to consider your end goal for the space before you begin. Depending on your lifestyle, a large dining room may not be necessary for entertaining. If you’re more likely to host movie nights than dinner parties, a larger couch and a smaller dining table will likely benefit you.
If you want a larger living room, consider replacing the formal dining room with an in-kitchen bistro. You’ll still have a designated eating area, but your entertaining area will more than double in size.
Including a bistro table in your living room will make it more functional
If the idea of an in-kitchen bistro table appeals to you, but the prospect of affording an apartment with enough space for a kitchen island feels about as realistic as owning your own private island, don’t despair. Set up a small bistro table off to the side of your living room layout for morning coffee or weeknight dinners. When you have guests over, you can use the chairs from your mini dining room as extra seating in your living room.
Design each layout with its own set of distinguishing characteristics.
When defining a space, we recommend looking into design elements that go beyond seating options and rug patterns. Simple accessories and design elements will help to distinguish each space as its own. Hang a pendant lamp over the dining table, for example, to give your dining area it’s own lighting. This will give the dining area a more defined and personalized feel. Furthermore, painting an accent wall in the living room or hanging wallpaper in the dining room will give that space a distinct identity.
Make the most of your space by planning everything out.
Before committing to a final design, take a few measurements and sketch out a few layout options.
If you’re looking for ideas, Amazon has the world’s largest selection of furniture. Simply search for the item you want and add everything from rugs to pendant lights to your virtual shopping cart. You’ll have a glamorous dining room where you can host dinner parties and a cozy living room where you can catch up with friends.
Can a dining table be in the living room?
A dining table in the living room can be used as a home office desk. When not in use for dining, choose a smaller round or square table to save space and serve as a display table for items. When not eating, place a dining table behind the couch to serve as a console table.
Can you use a sofa at a dining table?
When you use a couch instead of traditional chairs for seating, you can create an inviting and relaxing atmosphere at the dining table. A sofa is an excellent idea if you like to entertain guests for dinner or if you want to maximize a small space.
A couch provides guests with a plush and versatile form of seating that is neither too low nor too high. So, after a good meal, you can stretch out or have an intimate conversation, or you can sit more comfortably for an afternoon brunch with friends.
Choose a stylish loveseat or settee for smaller rooms instead of a couch or sofa for larger rooms. Make sure to choose a piece of furniture that is easy to clean, and you may want to skip the armrests. Include throw-cushions to help prop up guests, add a layer of comfort, and add visual interest.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading our tips on arranging dining room and living room furniture. I hope these design tips and tricks help. If you’re looking for inspiration for anything from changing the color palette to going organic, check out our dining room furniture collection or living room furniture collection.
If you’re a fellow pinner, please check out our Pinterest Profile. We have thousands of highly decorative images to choose from. Don’t forget to like and follow.
Below are some Amazon Affiliate links. They will take you directly to the Amazon website where you can shop for your living room needs.
