Narrow Living Room Layout

Create two distinct areas with a clever layout, but link the two by choosing furniture in matching woods and using the same colour scheme throughout the space.

Top tips

Modular sofa

A corner sofa, with a low arm, acts as a divider between the living and dining areas without blocking the view.

Co-ordinating fabrics

Tie the two areas together by using the same fabrics to make napkins and runners for the table, and cushions for the sofa and chairs.

Spot lighting

Hanging a low-level pendant light over the table helps to define the dining area of the room.

Living Room and Hallway

A living room that's also a hallway, can be stylish and welcoming. Come in, hang your coat on the understairs rack, and snuggle down in the seating area, which is painted a warm ochre to make it the focus of the space.

Top tips

Door curtain

Use a curtain, made from a pretty floral fabric, to conceal the front door. It will keep out draughts, and add colour to the scheme, too.

Cream-painted stairway area

Painting the understairs, banister and stairwell the same creamy white, separates them visually from the ochre seating area

Family Living room

Think practical and stylish: hard-wearing flooring, washable and wipe-down upholstery and loads of storage, combined with bold blue walls, pretty fabrics and a luxurious rug.

Top tips

Wall-to-wall shelving

Run shelves right across the chimney breast and alcoves - the narrow middle section is ideal for pictures.

Versatile table

A compact design, made from glass and chrome, slots around the sofa arm - perfect for your laptop, games console or TV dinner.

Built-in storage

Even a shallow alcove can be used for storage - you can fit slim cupboards, with narrow shelves inside, for storing CDs and DVDs.

How often have you sat in your living room or family room and wondered if there was anything that you can do to make it into a more exciting space? It seems to lack personality, charm, or coziness? The furniture placement is boring and just simply does not work? No one wants to be in that room.

Clever room arrangements can transform a conventional room into something new and different. It can actually shape the space and make it visually more stimulating and conducive to great conversation and warm family gatherings.

Here are some tips to make your room come alive:

1. First, find the focal point in the room. The cornerstone of every arrangement is a focal point. It may be the view, a fireplace, a wall of built-ins, or an armoire.

If there is no focal point, create one. Hang a painting on a wall or make a picturescape out of several pictures. You can use a large breakfront, etagere, or even a television set. You can create it with a beautiful area rug on the floor. The focal point in a room is essential.

2. Determine the traffic flow in the room. People cutting in front of a sofa while you are trying to chat is a no-no. Make sure that electrical cords are not in the "walkways". Keep this in mind when planning the arrangement of furniture.

3. Measure the room and then draw it out on a 1/4 inch grid. Remember to include doorways, windows, built-ins, and any other features that would interfere with arranging the furniture.

4. Make cutouts for your furniture pieces once you have measured those.

5. Play with your cutouts on the drawn floorplan until you get a pleasing arrangement. Remember that it is easier to do this first than shifting furniture around from one end of the room to the other. Keep the focal point in mind as you "play".

6. Place the furnishings so that the focal point is where your eyes should naturally and comfortably be looking. Place the larger seating pieces first as these will be the boldest and most room-shaping articles.

7. Move furniture away from walls to get away from that "waiting-room" look.

8.. Think about placing the furniture on angles if the space in your room allows it. Perhaps making a "V" in front of the fireplace would be exciting.