How to Arrange Sofas & Chairs in a Den

Figure out what the focal point and main use of your den is. For example, if you commonly congregate with friends or family in the den to watch movies or TV, the focal point of the room will be the screen. If you generally have discussions with or use the room for reading, the sofas and chairs should face each other.

Position side chairs at least 48 inches away from the sofa, if the room allows. This rule applies to smaller sofas such as loveseats, even if you are using one along with side chairs. Avoid placing sofas and chairs more than 96 inches away from each other because it will be difficult to have a conversation with somebody in a seat farther away. The exception to this rule is if you plan on having multiple seating areas in a room used for different purposes.

Ensure that you have plenty of room to fully open and close doors that enter into the room. If you are putting a sofa or chair near a door, the person sitting in it should not find it difficult to easily get up when the door is open or closed.

Allow at least 16 inches of leg room between chairs, sofas and coffee or side tables to allow people to easily stand up and sit down. Avoid putting chairs more than 36 inches away from a coffee table or side table because it will become difficult to access for most people.

Make a simple sketch of the room that includes all measurements and placement of doorways and walkways. Use blocks or drawings to map out where you are going to put the furniture in the room and how much space it will take up. Doing this can help you find the best use of your space, especially if your den has an odd shape or is particularly small.