This Tiny (and Free!) Fix Will Make Your Living Room Look Expensive Instantly, Designers Say

Flow is one of the most important things to consider when designing a room. If you can’t move comfortably around your space, then it doesn’t matter how beautiful it looks—something will always feel off.

Often, people think the best way to arrange a room is by making use of the wall space, but in some rooms, it’s far better to ‘float’ your furniture. This is particularly true of the living room—but what does floating your furniture mean, exactly?

We checked in with an interior designer to find out how it works and why this design tip might just save your living room.

What Does It Mean to Float Furniture?

In case the concept of floating furniture is new to you, we asked interior designer Brittny Button to explain—and it truly is a pretty straightforward technique.

“Ultimately, it’s furniture that isn’t placed directly against a wall and has 360 degree use,” says Button.

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How It Elevates a Space

Though some pieces will still make sense anchored to the wall, floating some pieces in the living room can be an instant way to elevate the room and make it feel more intentionally designed.

In a living room, floating the furniture is generally recommended for functionality, but it can have an aesthetic effect, too.

“[Floating] allows for the flow of traffic around the pieces and lends more flexibility with the design,” says Button.

But as Button points out, this technique can also make the room look and feel larger. 

“It creates the illusion of more space, given that a wall doesn’t block the view of the furniture from any side,” she says. 

Account for Scale

When floating furniture in a living room, scale is incredibly important. If the pieces are too small, they might look out of place when dropped into the middle of a large, open area.

But Button says the opposite can be a problem, too.

“Too often, the furniture’s scale is too large and the sofa and chairs are crammed together so that it makes walking between pieces impossible,” she says.  “This is worse than non-floating, as it feels like you’re being held captive.”

Follow the One-Foot Rule

If you’re not sure your furniture can be floated, Button says to bust out the measuring tape. 

“Make sure there is at least one foot of space to move around each piece,” she says. “[This allows everyone] to be able to walk comfortably.”

Anything less than a foot will make the empty space unusable.

Work With Your Room—Not Against It

Of course, floating isn’t a guaranteed fix for all rooms. Button says there are some spaces where it might not be feasible, or might actually be detrimental.

“If a room is a narrow, rectangular shape, it makes it hard to float pieces as the room limits furniture placement,” she says.

The same goes for smaller living rooms. Larger items, like sofas, likely have to be placed against a wall.

Anchor Your Pieces With an Area Rug

If you’ve tried to float your furniture but it doesn’t look quite right, ensure you have an area rug that works with the space. Ideally, two feet from all your floated furniture should be on the rug, and there should be enough room between the pieces on the rug, as well.

As above, the one-foot rule is one to follow here, too. Account for the space around your coffee table, and between any armchairs and sofas. Side tables, of course, can sit closer to any seating.

The overall effect should be an elevated living room, strategically designed to make the flow of the room feel effortless and intentional.