Memories are made in the living room. From spending time with the family to entertaining guests, the living room is the heart of your home. Depending on your room layout, creating functional yet stylish living spaces can be challenging. You need your home to reflect your unique personality but also maximize space.
Create Your Perfect Living Space
With living room furniture from Bob Mills, you can create the space you've always envisioned.
Living Room FurnitureBasic Components in a Living Room
Beginning the hunt for living room furniture can easily become overwhelming. Thankfully, there is no right or wrong way to decorate your living room. You must decide what your space is trying to accomplish. Do you intend to entertain guests or create a floor layout that allows room for the kids to play? You can craft the living room into the perfect living space from there.
Researchers found that the amount of furniture does not affect a room’s perceived height or spaciousness. This does not mean that you should fill up your space with as much furniture as possible. A cluttered living room will make the room appear claustrophobic and make it difficult to use. Get as much use out of your space as possible by choosing the pieces of the furniture mentioned below.
Sofa vs. Sectional
A sofa and loveseat pair are the traditional method for seating in the living room. A sofa and loveseat combination will provide 5 seats, but they leave a gap in the corner of the living room. Although you could fill in the gap with an accent table or a shelf, this is often just wasted space. Small living rooms especially need to utilize every last square foot of space available.
A sectional is a great solution to the corner issue. Sectionals can be customized according to the direction you want them to face. You can also purchase additional sections to make it larger if you require additional seating. Adding a living spaces sectional can save space and allow more guest seating.
➤ Shop this Look: Harris Sectional by Franklin
Power Reclining Sofas Eliminate the Need for End Tables
Reclining on a couch is a great way to unwind or watch a movie. Power reclining sofas allow you to pick your reclining position and the position of your headrest. The dropdown trays and drink holders eliminate the need for an adjacent end table. This is beneficial in small living rooms where adding an end table would make the room appear crowded.
The downside to a power reclining sofa is that it must be pushed farther back from the wall. They also are wider than a normal sofa, so they occupy more space. However, the convenience of a power reclining sofa makes it worth every penny. Your ideal living spaces couch should include a reclining feature.
➤ Shop this Look: Southern Motion™ Contour Brown Power Headrest Double Reclining Sofa
Recliners: Take It or Leave It in Your Living Spaces
A power reclining sofa offers 3 reclining seats, while a recliner only offers one. A recliner takes up a large footprint in a living room. If your living room has a place for it, a comfortable recliner accentuates a space. However, the same features can be found on a power reclining sofa. If you are tight on space, offer guests a chance to kick back and relax on a power reclining sofa.
➝ See More: A TV Recliner Guide — Plus 5 Top Picks
Use Accent Chairs for Overflow Seating
Those who entertain frequently or have a large family understand the struggle of finding enough seats. Sofas, loveseats, and recliners can only provide up to 6 seats. An accent chair is a great way to add seats without taking up valuable real estate. Accent chairs come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Finding the perfect accent chair to complement your space means never running out of seating again.
Accent chairs can also be used to complement a sectional. Rather than adding another piece to your sectional, park an accent chair adjacent to it. The accent chair provides additional seating at a lower price than extending a sectional. They can also be moved around the room if you decide to change the layout design.
➤ Shop this Look: Hestan Blue Accent Chair by Olliix
Ottomans are Underrated Storage Tools
The ideal living spaces furniture has more than one function. Ottomans are no longer only used as footrests, but they double as storage containers. Having a storage container adjacent to your sofa or chair is priceless. You can use it to hide additional throw pillows or blankets. Save yourself the time and hassle of running to the linen closet by having ottoman storage nearby.
An ottoman at the end of a sectional could also double as an additional seat. Simply push the ottoman against the sectional to extend the sofa into a chaise. Otherwise, an ottoman can also be used as a casual coffee table. The tops of ottomans are firm enough to set drinks or snacks on without worrying about spills.
Accent Tables Break Up Living Spaces Monotony
End tables and console tables both fall under the accent table category. An end table is placed off the end of a sofa or loveseat and has a small footprint. End tables can be found in all shapes and sizes to fit between other furniture. They often include a small shelf or storage compartment below the table shelf.
Many modern end tables have charging or USB capability. The end table comes with a cord that plugs into a wall socket. You can then use the chargers or USB ports on top of the end table for your electronic devices. This eliminates the need for long, bulky cords running the length of the living room. Exposed cords are a trip hazard and diminish a living room’s sleek appearance.
Nesting tables are a great alternative to the standard accent table. Nesting tables come in sets of two or three. They nest within one another without the legs touching. This allows you to move them wherever they are needed. Once used, they can be nested together in a corner of the living room. Nesting tables provide ample table space when needed, but they take up a fraction of the space of a coffee table or multiple end tables.
Console tables are long and shallow tables placed against walls. When a console table is placed against the back of a sofa, it is referred to as a sofa table. A console table is a great addition to a functional living room. Due to their long and narrow size, they are unobtrusive in a floor layout. They can be used to house decorations, lamps, or pieces of greenery.
Utilize Hidden Storage Space in Coffee Tables
A coffee table can bring the entire room together. Its functionality cannot be overstated. A coffee table can function as a piece of decor or place to set your drinks and snacks. Maximize your living spaces by choosing a coffee table with storage compartments. Many coffee tables have shelves or hinged lids that allow for storage space inside of the coffee table.
➤ Shop this Look: Halsey Lift Top Cocktail Table by Hammary
Hiding utilitarian items out of sight reduces the cluttered appearance of your room. Placing coasters, towels, or TV remotes in the coffee table will make your living room seem cleaner. Those running low on storage space will also appreciate an extra spot to squirrel away blankets or comforters. If you entertain often, you can have all the essentials ready at your fingertips in the coffee table.
Go Vertical with TV Stands and Entertainment Centers
There is no way around it, TV Stands and entertainment centers take up a lot of space. You can maximize the space used by an entertainment center by choosing one that is tall. Tall entertainment centers have plenty of shelf space for displaying decorations. Going vertically means taking advantage of space that was going to be wasted otherwise. Entertainment stands that draw the eye upward will also make your living room appear larger.
➤ Shop this Look: Parker House® Americana Modern Cotton Entertainment Center
TV stands will also commonly have drawers or storage compartments beneath the TV unit. The additional storage can be used to hide gaming consoles, sound bars, or speakers out of sight. Eliminating visible cords behind the entertainment system is priceless. They can double as a bar or bookshelf for those tight on space.
Install Shelves in Corners
You are not limited to only floor space in your living room. The wall space is also fair game as usable space. You are not using the space above the couch or sofa anyways, so you may as well get some use out of it. However, be wary of installing too many shelving units. Too many shelves can begin to box in a room. Vary the height and location of your shelves to naturally draw the eyes up and down across your living room layout.
Shelving units can be installed in useless corners to increase their functionality. A shelving unit adjacent to a window can be used to grow herbs or succulents. Alternatively, you can display family photos on a corner shelf above a recliner.
Furnish Your Living Spaces with Love
Keeping your living spaces functional but stylish is no walk in the park. You must plan out your living room layout before seeking out the pieces of furniture. Sectionals and accent chairs can provide additional seating, while accent tables or ottomans can add much needed storage space. No matter how you decide to furnish it, your living room is as unique as you are.
Why Trust Bob Mills Furniture?
At Bob Mills Furniture, we believe that everyone is family. Since 1971, we have delivered beautiful furniture for 50 years (and counting), with ten sprawling locations in the U.S. — from our flagship store in Oklahoma City to San Antonio in Texas to Wichita in Kansas. Our friendly staff aims to offer the greatest comfort and value, with elegant styles to match your taste, décor, and design. In addition to coziness and style, we also stock furniture and mattress brands with strong reputations and track records of durability so that you can enjoy your investment for years to come.
Shop Living Room Furniture at Bob Mills
Start reveling in endless comfort and shop living room furniture online for unbeatable prices at Bob Mills. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you make the most of your living spaces — whether you call the Bob Mills Furniture store nearest you or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one our showrooms throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas to discover why we are everyone’s favorite local furniture store. Visit us today!
Learn More: 13 Ideas for an Awkward Living Room Layout