Living Room with a Fireplace Inspiration: Corner Sofas That Maximise Every Inch

A chimney breast and its alcoves dictate a living room layout more than any other feature, so the corner sofa has to be planned around them rather than squeezed in afterwards. This piece explains how to decide between the hearth and the television as the primary focal point, why the chaise should return along a side wall instead of crossing the fireplace, and what clearance to leave between upholstery and a working fire. It covers scaling the sofa to the shortened wall runs a chimney breast creates, filling alcoves with shelving kept below mantel height, choosing warm textured upholstery that responds well to firelight, positioning a wool rug safely, layering low warm lighting and keeping the mantelpiece restrained. Separate guidance covers sealed decorative fireplaces and building seasonal flexibility into the lighter furniture around the seating. A final set of answers covers safe distances from a fire, television placement above a mantel and alcove storage....