"Avoid the urge to push all the furniture up against
the walls. Floating items out into the room can help you make use of all
the available square footage." —Libby Langdon
"On a long wall, you don't have to use one big piece of art. Instead, consider hanging multiple smaller pieces together in a grouping. They can have just as much drama and impact as one big piece and often cost less. Matching frames and mats can help unify the look, if you don't want the grouping to look too haphazard."
2. Back-to-Back Sofas
"If a room has two focal points—say, a fireplace at one end and a beautiful view at the other—lay out your furniture to take advantage of both. Don't be afraid to place two sofas back to back and arrange other pieces from there. In this space, I left enough room—about 30 to 36 inches—in between the sofas so people could comfortably pass through."
3. One Big Rug
"For rooms with multiple seating areas, one large rug feels more expansive. Many small area rugs can make a room look choppy. When covering a large floor, steer clear of big patterns. Use subtly patterned and textured carpeting that would normally be laid wall to wall, and have it cut so it's about 12 inches off the walls all the way around. Then have the edges bound."
Source: 3 Steps to a Comfortable and Chic Living Room
