A fireplace creates a beautiful atmosphere in your living area and can serve as a dramatic focal point. Strategic sitting around a fireplace allows family and friends to enjoy the warmth of the fire while also conversing. You can create a welcoming and comfortable place by arranging furniture in your ideal style.
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What is the Way to Design a Room Around the Fireplace?
One crucial element to think about when designing a room is the fireplace. The fireplace is usually the room’s focal point, so it is important to plan around it. There are a few things to consider when doing this:
- The first is the size of the fireplace. If the fireplace is too small, it will look out of proportion with the rest of the room.
- The second is the shape of the fireplace. The most common shape is rectangular, but there are also square and circular fireplaces.
- The third is the material of the fireplace. The most common materials are brick and stone, but there are also wood and gas fireplaces.
Once you have considered these elements, you can start planning the rest of the room around the fireplace. For example, you can choose furniture that complements the shape and size of the fireplace. You can also add accessories that tie in with the material of the fireplace.
Easy Steps to Arrange Furniture Around a Fireplace
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, you know that it can be a real focal point. But arranging the furniture around it can be tricky. Here are 14 easy steps to help you create the perfect layout.
- Decide on a use for the room.
- Space out the chairs according to function.
- Position tables depending on the function.
- Make the most of the space available.
- Furnish according to the room shape.
- Try the L-shaped arrangement to highlight other aspects of the room.
- Use the U-shaped arrangement to encourage conversation.
- Position the seating at a comfortable distance from the fireplace.
- Place seating parallel to the fireplace.
- Balance the entertainment centre with the fireplace.
- Use a mirror to highlight your focal point.
- Be strategic about lighting.
- Use plants to enhance the ambience
- Select colours to set the mood you’d like to evoke.
Decide on a use for the room
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The arrangement of the chairs in relation to one another will be determined by your intended usage of the area. Seats should face inward and toward each other to encourage dialogue. Seats will often face one direction if you intend to watch television together. Versatile seating, such as swivel chairs or light seats that can be readily relocated, makes rearranging furniture for different applications easier.
Space out the chairs according to function
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The spacing between seats can encourage various sorts of interaction. Closely placed seats are good for private conversation, however, broader spacing is better suited to entertaining groups of friends who may require movement. A single chair is ideal for alone time, such as in a reading corner.
Position tables depending on the function
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Tables, credenzas, shelves, and other storage pieces can be positioned more freely than seats and sofas. Place them in areas that are convenient for their intended usage. For example, if you have a side table that you use to keep beverages, make sure it is next to a chair that you frequently sit in. Avoid placing a coffee table in the centre of a room so that it appears to float. Maintain a distance of 18-24 inches between it and the sofa or chairs.
Make the most of the space available
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If you have a tiny area, keep the furnishings to a minimum; you don’t want your home to seem cluttered. Make sure your layout stimulates discussion without taking up too much space in the room. Choose smaller sofas, chairs, and tables if you have a tiny area but want a full set of furnishings.
Furnish according to the room shape
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Living rooms that are open or square provide you with greater furniture versatility. Arrange furniture in the middle of the room, for example, around a modest coffee table. Instead, if you have a long, narrow room, arrange furniture against the walls to make the area appear larger. In a square room, avoid placing furniture against the walls, since this can make the space seem uncomfortable and uninviting.
Try the L-shaped arrangement to highlight other aspects of the room
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This layout starts with the sofa because it is usually the largest piece of furniture. Set it up at a 90-degree angle to the fireplace. This one-sided seating arrangement allows you to entertain big parties while also opening up the other half of your area. The back of the sofa should face a wall rather than a window. To make the area appear larger, keep the side with the windows open.
Use the U-shaped arrangement to encourage conversation
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The U-shaped arrangement is a common way to arrange furniture in a living room. This design begins with a sofa across from the fireplace and continues with two loveseats, each at a 90-degree angle from the hearth, forming a U shape. If you want or have limited room, armchairs can be used in place of the loveseats. This arrangement provides a good balance of open space and intimacy, and it can be easily adapted to different room sizes.
Position the seating at a comfortable distance from the fireplace
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The position of the seating in relation to the fireplace is an important consideration when arranging furnishings in a room. If the furniture is too close to the fireplace, it can cause discomfort from the heat or the smoke. Likewise, if the furniture is positioned too far away from the fireplace, it can make it difficult to enjoy the warmth of the fire.
The ideal distance for comfortably enjoying a fire is about 10 feet. This puts the furniture close enough to benefit from the heat, but not so close that it becomes a hazard. Keep at least 2-3 feet of space between chairs and the fire to ensure a decent degree of heat on a cool night. Leaving some space between the fireplace and your furnishings will draw attention to it as the main point.
Place seating parallel to the fireplace
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One important factor to consider when arranging furniture in a living room is the placement of the seating. For example, if the room has a fireplace, it’s generally best to place the seating parallel to the fireplace, rather than perpendicular. This allows everyone in the room to enjoy the heat and glow of the fire without having to turn their heads.
Additionally, placing the seating parallel to the fireplace creates an intimate setting that encourages conversation. This will serve to underline the fireplace’s status as the room’s main point. Following the placement of your preferred seating piece, the other seats may be configured according to your preferences. Maintain a suitable space between the chairs and the fireplace.
Balance the entertainment centre with the fireplace
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Most living rooms with fireplaces will also have a television and other entertainment centre components. Your objective is to avoid the television from becoming its visual focal point, which might detract from the beauty of the fireplace and make the space feel less focused. Hanging the TV on the wall immediately over the fireplace is a practical method to position it. This merges two competing focus points into one.
Use a mirror to highlight your focal point
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The main focus of a room is wherever a large mirror is installed. Place one right over or alongside your fireplace to emphasise its position as the focal point of the space. Alternatively, to create a focal point, hang a large piece of art over the fireplace. Choose something with complementary hues to tie the place together.
Be strategic about lighting
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You don’t want the lighting to take away from the mood of the fireplace. When placing lamps, be sure to include the light from the fireplace in your lighting strategy. A bright bulb placed immediately next to the fireplace, for example, might dull the dynamic and welcome aspect of the flames. Instead, place lighting away from the fireplace and allow for a low-light situation in which the fireplace may take centre stage. Install two recessed lights above the fireplace if feasible to create a spotlight effect on the fireplace wall.
Use plants to enhance the ambience
Photo from loloirugs
Plants or flowers on either side of the fireplace may provide a relaxing atmosphere in the room. Even if the plants are artificial, your guests will be able to breathe easier and feel calmer in the presence of these natural reminders. Avoid buying plants or containers that are too heavy to detract from the fireplace. Don’t overdo it with fake plants or flowers, either.
Select colours to set the mood you’d like to evoke
The colours you choose will impact the tone and mood of those gathering around the fireplace. Blue promotes relaxation and tranquillity, yet purple is linked with luxury and may stimulate creativity, so both are viable possibilities. Colours like neutral, black, white, cream and green will create a balanced and elegant atmosphere.
Conclusion
Have you ever considered arranging your furniture around a fireplace? If not, maybe you should. Not only does this create a cosy atmosphere and focal point in your home, but it can also help to heat the room more efficiently. If you are looking for a new way to arrange your furniture, or just want some inspiration, take a look at these furniture arrangements around fireplaces. Maybe you can find one that will work for your home.
