How to Arrange Furniture Around a Fireplace

Co-authored by Julie Naylon

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

A fireplace adds a wonderful ambience to your living room, and can provide the room with a dramatic focal point. Strategic seating around a fireplace allows family members and friends to enjoy the fire's warmth while also enjoying conversation. By arranging furniture in your ideal way, you can create an inviting and comfortable space.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Planning the Space

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Decide on a use for the room. The way the seats are arranged with respect to one another will depend on your intended use of the space.^{[1]
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Julie Naylon
Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.} In order to promote conversation, seats should face inward and toward each other. If you plan to watch television together, seats will tend to face in one direction.^{[2]
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- Versatile seating, such as swivel chairs or light chairs that can be easily repositioned, makes it easier to rearrange the furniture for various uses.
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Space out the chairs according to function. The distance between different seats can promote different types of interaction. Closely-spaced chairs are ideal for intimate conversation, while wider spacing is more suited to entertaining groups of friends who may need space to move about.
- A single chair makes a great space for solitary time, such as in a reading nook.
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Position tables depending on function.^{[3]
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Julie Naylon
Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.} The positioning of tables, credenzas, shelves, and other storage elements is more flexible than that of the chairs and sofas. Place them in convenient locations based on their intended uses.^{[4]
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- For instance, if you have a side table that you use to hold drinks, be sure that it is located within reach of a chair that you sit in often.
- Avoid positioning a coffee table so it is “floating” in the middle of a room. Keep it in relation to the sofa or chairs, positioned about 18–24 inches (46–61 cm) away.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Accounting for Room Size

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Make the most of the space available.^{[6]
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Julie Naylon
Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.} If you have a small space, limit the pieces of furniture in the room; you want to prevent your room from feeling overcrowded. Make sure that your arrangement encourages conversation without overwhelming the room’s space.^{[7]
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- If you have a small space but want a full set of furniture, opt for smaller sofas, chairs, and tables.
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Furnish according to room shape. Open or square living rooms allow for more flexibility with furnishings. Pull furniture to the center of the room and arrange it around a small coffee table, for instance. If you have a long, narrow room instead, place furniture against the walls to make the space look larger.
- Don’t put the furniture against the walls in a square room, as this can make the space feel awkward and uninviting.
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Try the L-shaped arrangement to highlight other aspects of the room. This arrangement begins with the sofa, as this is typically the largest piece of furniture. Place it at a 90-degree angle from the fireplace. This one-sided seating arrangement makes it easier to entertain large groups and opens up the other half of your room.
- The backside of the sofa should face a wall, not a window. Aim to keep the side with the windows open to make the space look larger.
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Use the U-shaped arrangement to encourage conversation. This design starts with a sofa across from the fireplace, and incorporates two loveseats, each at a 90-degree angle from the fireplace, completing a “U” shape. Armchairs can replace the loveseats if you would prefer or if space is limited.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Arranging a Focal Point

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Position the seating at a comfortable distance from the fireplace. You want to allow for a comfortable level of heat on a chilly night, so keep at least 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) of space between seating and the fire. Keeping some space between the fireplace and your furniture will emphasize the fireplace as the focal point.
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Place seating parallel to the fireplace. This will help to reinforce the fireplace’s role as the focal point of your room. After positioning your favorite seating element, the remaining chairs can be arranged based on your preferences.
- Keep the chairs a comfortable distance from the fireplace.
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Balance the entertainment center with the fireplace. Most living rooms with fireplaces will also contain a television and other entertainment center components. Your goal is to keep the television from becoming its own visual focal point, which could detract from the beauty of the fireplace and make the room feel less focused.^{[8]
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- A convenient way to place the TV is by hanging it on the wall directly over the fireplace. This resolves two competing focal points by merging them into one.
- Alternatively, place the TV in a cabinet that closes so it doesn’t detract from the fireplace.
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Use a mirror to highlight your focal point. Your guests will assume that the room’s main attraction is wherever a large mirror is hung, if one exists in the room. Place one directly above or beside your fireplace to highlight its role as the room’s focal point.^{[9]
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- Or, hang a large piece of art above the fireplace to create a focal point. Choose something with cohesive colors to pull the room together.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Creating a Cozy Ambiance

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Be strategic about lighting. You do not want lighting to detract from the fireplace’s ambience. When arranging lamps, make sure that you accommodate the fireplace's light into your lighting scheme.
- A bright lamp placed right by the fireplace can deaden the lively and welcoming appearance of the flames, for example. Instead, position lamps away from the fireplace, and allow for a relatively low-light setting in which the fireplace can feature prominently.
- If possible, install 2 recessed lights above the fireplace to create a spotlight effect on the fireplace wall.
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Decorate the area sparingly. Try not to overdo the décor, as your fireplace will be the center of attention. Take advantage of this by placing your favorite photographs on the mantle. If you have a particular painting you would like to feature, hang it above the fireplace.
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Use plants to enhance the ambiance. Plants or flowers on either side of the fireplace can add a soothing feel to the room. Your guests will be able to breathe easier and will feel more relaxed around these reminders of nature, even if the plants are fake.
- To avoid detracting from the fireplace, avoid choosing plants or planters that are too heavy. Don’t go overboard on fake plants or flowers, either.
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Choose fabrics based on comfort. Soft blankets and fabrics, especially handmade décor with crochet or knitted designs can enhance coziness in your room. Select comfortable fabrics with simple patterns for a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.^{[10]
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Select colors to set the mood you'd like to evoke. The colors you use will influence the tone and mood of people while they are gathered around the fireplace. Blue encourages relaxation and calmness, while purple is associated with luxury and can encourage creativity, so both would make good options. Crimson, however, has been proven to increase feelings of stress and anxiety.^{[11]
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Warnings

Avoid positioning any seating elements with their backs directly facing the fireplace, since this can visually obscure the fireplace as well as make for an uncomfortable sitting experience.

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Avoid putting flammable items near or on the fireplace.

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