What rules can you use in your own living room? If you still feel that something is wrong, try applying these rules to yourself.
How the 2:1 rule works
There are many rules in home design that we follow out of habit or intuitively, without knowing exactly why. Most of the time, we don’t even think much about the fact that the sofa and armchairs in the living room look somehow balanced. This is not a coincidence. That’s what it’s about rule 2:1.
It simply is one sofa and two armchairs. The sofa is a larger piece that anchors the space, the two armchairs balance the visual mass without overloading the room. It works so that the space looks harmonious, but at the same time friendly.
Of course, it is not necessary to have a sofa and two armchairs. You can balance the space in other ways. Arrange aa in all kinds of creative ways.
But if you can’t, try using the rules or get inspired and copy the layout of the furniture and the style. There are many approaches. For example, maximalism can look like this.
Numbers in the living room
It suits different types of arrangements odd numbers and this applies not only to flower pugs. Whether it’s a conversation zone or a reading nook, an odd number feels relaxed and never too arranged. It’s a simple way to energize a room without a single extra piece of decoration.
If you look at a well-arranged living room, if it is an area, then it most often prevails here 60/40 ratio. About sixty percent of the space is taken up by the main seating area, i.e. the sofa, armchairs and things around.
The remaining forty percent of the space should remain free. Passages, negative spaces, small tables have their functional side, but at the same time they create an unorganized space. Not only would the room be aesthetically unbalanced, but for example the room would also suffer.
It is this layout that helps the room not look crowded, but still functional and pleasant. In the case of spacing between furniture, think like this:
- Distances between pieces of furniture: sofa and armchairs approx. 2.5 meters apart. That way you can have a comfortable conversation and no one has to raise their voice.
- From the coffee table: approx. 45 cm to reach your glass but still have room for your legs.
- Sofa size: roughly two thirds of the length of the wall it stands against.
- Division of space: 60% for seating, 40% for passages and accessories – this is ideal for the room to “breathe”.
Small spaces and other variations
Even a small room follows the 2:1 rule, only the furniture has to be adjusted. You can reduce the size of the sofa, replace the armchairs with smaller chairs or poufs. It is important to maintain the proportions and space for passages. Armchairs slightly turned towards the sofa will immediately improve the atmosphere even in a mini room.
The 2:1 rule can also be “multiplied”. Do you have a large living room? Add another sofa or a couple of poufs and the principle remains the same, i.e. a larger piece and smaller accessories in a ratio of 2:1.
- Open space: add ottomans that are easy to move.
- Formal living room: keep the classics – one sofa, two armchairs, symmetrically.
- Informal meeting: sofa + one armchair + two sofas or ottomans – flexible and comfortable for visitors.
