Coffee tables are practical pieces that are often found in the center of conversation areas. If you choose to use one remember that the height should be slightly lower than the seat height of the sofa and chairs around it. The length of the table should also be roughly one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. If you don't want to use a coffee table you can try using a couple of smaller tables or benches to achieve the same look. Just make sure they're not too small. People sitting around them should be able to lean over to put down or pick up a drink without having to get up from their seat. At the same time be sure to leave enough leg room between seats and tables: 14 to 18 inches should do the trick.

Typically living rooms have plenty of seating. There's often at least one sofa and a couple of chairs. Of course it takes more than chairs to make a room work. A complete living room requires tables, bookshelves and other pieces of furniture, all working together in harmony to give the space a cohesive and stylish look.

The size of the room will dictate how far you can pull your furniture away from the walls, but even in a small space you’ll want to give pieces a little breathing room by allowing a few inches between the backs of furniture pieces and the walls. Despite popular belief, this little bit of space can actually make rooms feel bigger. Of course if you have a larger space feel free to arrange furniture in such a way that conversation areas are created in the middle of the room, leaving several feet between the walls and the furniture.

A living room is one of the most public places in the house, so it should be both comfortable and stylish. Whether you use yours for entertaining or for kicking back with family, this multipurpose space needs to stand up to constant use. If your family room is starting to look a bit tired or dated, it may be time for a little refresh or perhaps even a full makeover.