How Much Space Should Be Between a Couch & a Love Seat?

Face-to-Face

• To create a conversation area with a couch and love seat placed face-to-face, keep the furniture a maximum of 8 feet apart. Conversation is strained when the couch and love seat are too far apart. Place end tables beside the love seat to balance the size of the two pieces of furniture. Additional items such as large plants or a standing lamp can make the love seat appear to be as long as the sofa.

Angles

• Place the end of the love seat at a 90-degree angle to the end of the couch, and put an end table between the two pieces. In this L-shaped arrangement, those seated at the near ends of each piece will only be a few feet apart from each other. They will be able to converse easily and will share an end table.

Coffee Tables

• A comfortable seating arrangement in a living room should include access to a table where family members can place drinks and other items. Coffee tables should be 14 to 18 inches from the edge of the couch. When you're choosing a table to place between a love seat and couch that face each other, remember that the two pieces should be no more than 8 feet apart. Any coffee table should be narrow enough to allow for traffic. For a couch and love seat arranged in an L shape, a large square coffee table gives both seating areas access to the table.

Off the Walls

• Although it's common to see living room seating arranged along a wall, you can move the furniture out from the wall. You may want to do this if you're creating seating around a fireplace or entertainment-center focal point. This tends to be a more intimate type of seating. It can also change the traffic flow in the room. Instead of going through the middle of the room, traffic can go around and behind the furniture arrangement.