12 Tips on How to Fill Empty Floor Spaces in the Living Room

The living room is the most popular common area at home whether it be for hosting guests or just your own personal time to relax. As you enter the house, it is the first space to see defining the character of the household. As much as we love designing one, it is inevitable to leave some spaces of the living room empty. Whether it be a small or big living room, empty patches can make them look off or awkward. Well, these empty spaces are not that difficult to fix. In fact, we have scooped 11 tips on how to fill empty floor spaces in the living room. 

1. Light the Empty Spaces

Opting for main and accent lighting is a way of illuminating the entire living room space. Ensure that every corner is covered to prevent empty corners from looking so dead. Lighting brings the best out of any space. It highlights the aesthetic value of the room illuminating the focal point of the space. The common lighting mistake is settling for just the main lighting located above the coffee table. It can cover the entire seating area but not the dull spaces of the room. This is why we highly suggest using a tall free-standing lamp or recessed lighting for the ceiling to fill the void of the empty spaces. 

2. Add Indoor Botanical Plants

Empty spaces are often next to the couch or the corner of the room. No matter how grand and whimsical a design for a living space is, blank corners can sometimes make the room look disoriented. To fill in the gaps, it would be a good idea to add botanical plants to the image. They come in handy for the awkward corners or spaces for your living room and manage to induce a refreshing vibe. The tranquility it brings makes the most out of filtering the air inside the house, especially in the living room. With the variety of plant pieces you can use, it would be a great idea to turn your living room into a serene space. 

3. Build a Shelf on the Side

For large living room spaces, working on building a mini library at home works for those who are book worms. Paired with a cozy couch or armchair, you can already have your own reading nook. It will be one of your favorite spaces in the living room as you indulge in a world inside a book. The shelves will fill a massive void in the living room. A forgotten space turned into a reading nook is an excellent idea on how to induce a maximum impact on the household and the guests. Having them installed behind a sofa is a good idea to exhibit your collection as well. 

4. Work on the Furniture Arrangement

Finding a layout that suits the given amount of space is important in making the most out of the floor area. Start working from the corners and work your way out to the middle part of the living room. Arrange the seating furniture accordingly to maximize the floor space. Working small, large, or a combination of both will allow you to weigh which scale works best for the provided space. In cases where furniture comes too small, it makes them float around. It should be of the suitable scale suitable for both the vertical and horizontal space. Use a scale that you think will prevent human traffic and congestion. 

5. Use Tiered Shelves 

Using tiered shelves is a whole new aesthetic to a living room design. They highlight and fill the void of the spaces horizontally and vertically. This is an ideal piece for those who want to exhibit their collectibles. On the bright side, you can also place your plants or books here. If you have empty spaces to fill, a tiered shelf would come in handy. Besides, they are quite mobile allowing them to be moved or customized at any time. If you prefer a shelf that is not too bold or heavy, opting for an industrial-like one would do the trick. It adds an antiquated character to your living room design and you would not have to worry about the empty spaces in your living room. What makes it a must-have in your living room design is its multi-purpose function. 

6. Add a Personal Space

Having guests around the living room sure is an exciting way to get entertained. But, we all know that sometimes we do need our own personal time. Always remember that in designing a living room space, leave a space designated for your own hobbies and routines. A personal space will do the trick in making you feel at home in your own living room. There is a space that you find comfort in using. In this case, it was placed next to a wall. Without it, the living room would have more empty spaces. The armchair and the ottoman managed to work as a personal space and can also work for additional seating. 

7. Make Room for Side Tables

Most furniture is positioned 90 degrees from the wall allowing an empty space on the opposite sides of the furniture. What better way of filling the void than using side tables. They work the same as a side table layout in the bedroom. You can work with these amazing industrial side tables. You can use it for books, vases, and even an additional lighting fixture. It does not look too heavy in the eyes plus it can be used for the other spaces of the house too. This three-tiered side table is an amazing way to fill an empty space because it allows you to have the items that you need within proximity. 

8. Choose Chunky Seats

Scale is very important in picking your ideal furniture. Determine the area of your living room and estimate the sizes of the furniture you want to design it with. To prevent empty spaces from existing in your living area, work with chunky pieces of furniture. A scale-up on your furniture will occupy more space. Ensure that the scale of the furniture to be used does not make the space look congested. We want them to move comfortably and at ease while lounging on the couch. Make it a place where you can be your most comfortable self after a long and tiring day at work. They may come in too heavy or too bold but their chunkiness makes the room more inviting and cozy. 

9. Opt for a Standing Lighting Fixture

In the living room, the main focus is the couch, armchair, and coffee table. Who knew standing lighting fixture could fill the void? Common in living areas is excessive spaces that we have no idea how to fill. They are often next to a couch or a table. A generous amount of space in a living area is normal but it can sometimes be off to see the gaps without use. In fact, it can be filled with a standing lighting fixture to maximize vertical and horizontal space. As you can see on the inspo above, the moon-like lighting is a gem for all book worms. If you prefer an intimate night reading while sipping white, it will build a relaxing ambiance for you to enjoy. 

10. Add More Seating Capacity

An empty corner in your living room can be a bummer. It is a waste of space when not used accordingly. At the same time, it can be a perfect fit for additional seats that can work for public and personal use. A chair or two would do the trick. Whether it be a couch or just a simple armchair, you can use it if you have guests hanging out. Ensure that the chairs that you choose will complement the existing ones. Just like in the image above, you can see the unity of the materials used. Its sleek upholstery in the same material made the living area look more coordinated to one another. Using seats as a filler for the empty spaces, will be a functional choice rather than putting any other furniture that will not serve its purpose. 

11. Designate a Space for Collectibles

If you have an empty space behind the couch where a table may seem too big to fit, the best way to fill the void is by placing a narrow shelf where you can display a variety of items. It can house your photos, books, vases, and even a set of collectibles. It has enough room to keep what you think would be identified as clutter. Apart from covering the floor space, it can also cover the blank walls. It keeps all your collectibles together to free the room from clutter. 

12. Work with a Sectional Couch

One of the key pieces found in the living room is sofas and armchairs. Sometimes, it is not enough to cover all the spaces in the living area. To prevent empty spaces to look off in the living area, work with a piece of furniture that can fill the void – a sectional couch. A sectional couch is perfect for preventing empty spaces on the corners of the room. This bigger couch alleviates the number of furniture needed to fill your living room. Instead of having several, a piece or two of the sofa would do the trick.