LAY IT OUT

"In these days of super-sized spaces, it’s hard to know exactly how to layout a room. Living rooms can often seem to morph into clumsy arrangements of furniture that look and feel awkward. However, there are a multitude of stealthy decorating tricks to remedy the problems of space. Here are some of our favorite Style Solutions for tricky living room layouts..." (mydeco)

PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE WALL

"Don’t feel pressured to anchor your sofa to the wall. This archaic decorating tactic will limit and constrain your space. By floating your seating arrangement away from the walls, you can spread out and get creative in your living room. If the back of your sofa looks bulky, naked, or lonely, simply add a console and a pair of lamps to aid structure, height, and balance."

MAKE THE MOST OF RUGS

"Although tricky at times, rugs are an easy way to designate and delineate space. Unless you are using similar-looking Oriental or Aubusson rugs, we advise avoiding mixing bright, patterned rugs as they can be disruptive to the flow of the floor plan. Sisals and solid colored rugs work best. Employing a muted rug palette in your living room will separate the space but allow your furniture and accessories to shine."

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR FIREPLACE
(CasaSugar)
"Ye olde hearth can be a great living room feature for creating additional seating. Even though they’re not centered in the room, a fireplace can nonetheless be a striking focal point, so don’t ignore it. Just add two x-benches in front, or flank the fireplace with two occasional chairs. Pop in a diminutive coffee table or set of ceramic garden stools to finish off the newly created nook!"

DIVIDE & CONQUER WITH BOOKSHELVES

"If you don’t have walls, create them! In a gargantuan living room, you can use an open bookshelf or pair of etageres to cordon off the area. Not only do these pieces serve as beautiful room dividers, but they also provide instant storage. If filling the shelves with books is a problem, sub in baskets, boxes and bins, or turn one of the shelves into a fully stocked bar. Cheers!"

(SOURCE: http://us.mydeco.com/the-magazine/articles/style-solutions-for-tricky-living-room-layouts/)