As a seating group, I’m not much of a fan of the sofa + loveseat combination. If you ask me, it screams “furniture store layout.”
I do, however, LOVE when identical sofas face each other in a room. The arrangement makes for a cozy conversation area and creates a hub or focus for a room.
Oftentimes, it's the perfect solution for a symmetrical space, especially in front of a fireplace. And they can really help direct your eye and make a strong visual statement.
The first sofas I ever bought as a grown-up were identical and I arranged them so they'd face each other. I paid $200 a piece for them at a warehouse sale and reupholstered each in linen. And even though their structure wasn't all that great, they served as a good neutral base for all the living rooms of the many houses I've lived in over the course of 25 years.
That arrangement still hasn't lost its appeal. And I know those below will remain timeless as well...
Colton House Hotel, Austin, TX - These two sofas facing each other in the uptairs library provide an intimate seating group. carlaaston.com
Sofas facing each other in this living room with a high ceiling bring a more intimate vibe. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
This a particularly good arrangement when there is no tv and a fireplace. It helps with social interaction and compliments the architecture of the room.
Sofas facing each other in a living room with no tv | Carla Aston, Designer
Two chaises also work well in an arrangement like this.
Two chaises in a vignette from the Woodbridge showroom at Highpoint Market.
Two slipcovered sofas facing each other in the Rowe showroom at Highpoint Market have an inviting look in this living room mock up.
A dual sofa grouping in the Bernhardt showroom at Highpoint Market.
A consultation client of mine did a great job with the layout here, two sofas flanking the fireplace and tv was the best placement for enjoying both features in this living room.