Where to Place Sofas in Family Rooms

In most family rooms, the sofa works best facing the main focal point, usually the television or fireplace, set slightly away from the wall with a clear walkway behind or beside it. Keeping it out of the route between the door and the garden or kitchen stops children and pets cutting across the seating all day. In this guide we look at how to plan sofa placement around the way your household really uses the room, from long through lounges in Victorian terraces to open plan kitchen family rooms in newer homes. We cover viewing distances, why pulling the sofa forward helps, how much space to leave for play and walkways, and how to handle radiators, windows and patio doors. You will also find seating combinations that give everyone a comfortable spot, tips on durability in busy areas, and a simple masking tape test that helps you check a layout before you commit to it in a real family home....