What Is the Average Living Room Size? Plus Dimensions and Styling Tips

When it comes to designing a living room, considering the size of the space greatly impacts the layout. In order to style the area to have space for all your guests, you should consider how your living room sizes up to the average.

The average living room size in America measures 12 feet wide by 18 feet long, which equates to around 216 square feet. This living room size can comfortably accommodate 6 to 10 people.

By knowing the average size and dimensions of a living room, you can create a comfortable, functional space that works for your home and guests. Read on to learn more about sizing up this space in your home, plus functional tips for how to decorate.

Average Living Room Dimensions

If you're in the process of building a home and wondering how big your living room should be, the basic rule of thumb to follow is to give your living room at least 11% of your overall square footage for small and medium-sized homes or 7.5% for large homes.

Small Living Rooms

A small living room in the U.S. has an average size of 10 x 13 feet, or around 130 square feet.

Small living rooms with this dimension can comfortably house 2 to 3 people—possibly 4—depending on the configuration of the room and available seating your furniture has.

Medium Living Rooms

Medium-sized living rooms in the U.S. have an average size of 12 x 18 feet, or 216 square feet, with enough room for at least 6 people.

The medium living room category can be rather ambiguous since there's a range of sizes for this living room size. But most often, a medium-sized living room fits a home between 1,500-2,000 square feet.

Large Living Rooms

As we mentioned earlier, large living rooms are considered to be any home over 2,500 square feet. The average living room size for this home measures 15 x 20 feet, or 300 square feet.

Some large homes have living room sizes measuring 20 x 20 feet, which equates to 400 square feet.

How to Style Any Size Living Room

No matter what size your living room is, you can decorate it to have a show-stopping living area that fully conveys your personality and aesthetic. The key to maximizing design in any living room is using the area wisely and selecting your pieces strategically while remembering necessities, like storage.

Create a Focal Point

Every living room has a focal point that starts with the sofa (or sectional). These are the necessary pieces of furniture in this space for seating, comfort, and style, which means they are the first pieces to consider when styling this room.

Choose pieces that complement your wall color and fit into your aesthetic's color palette. If your walls are a lighter shade and you want to add a color pop, choose a bold color to immediately draw attention to the center of the room. Lighter walls can also be paired with lighter couches, especially if you love farmhouse or modern aesthetics.

Once you've narrowed down the sofa and complementary seating pieces—think accent chairs or loveseats—center the room more with a coffee table. Coffee tables add more functionality to the room and plenty of space for decor thanks to their flat top. Some coffee tables are built with drawers or cabinets for extra storage, which is a major bonus if you're working with a smaller living room.

To finish anchoring your living room, tie the space together with an area rug. Selecting an area rug requires more than choosing the cutest option. Be sure to measure your living room to find the appropriate size, and pay close attention to the rug's details. You'll want the texture and shades to blend effortlessly with your decor.

Layer Textures

Texture is important for maintaining balance in a room, but don't let the term scare you. Incorporating texture in any room may seem like a task meant for professionals, but really, it's easier than you think.

Layering textures in your room is all about selecting various textiles so the room does have a flat appearance. Having a mix of materials and finishes boosts the room's interest to make it feel complete.

If most of your furniture is wood, choose decor pieces like stone or chunky knit blankets to add balance and more texture layering. Linen is a great upholstery texture to pair with wooden legs of furniture or choose for drapes to provide softness against harsher materials.

Personalize Wall Decor and Art

The fun part in decorating any living room size is picking out the pieces that speak to you. Whether you're working with a small or large living room, utilizing wall space is a must. Not only does hanging wall decor and art further showcase your personality and style, but it also helps to absorb unused space.

Walls have a lot of surface area to play with, so have fun shopping for art, wall picture frames perfect for showing off your family, or smaller items to sit on floating shelves to add life and character to your home.

Play With Lighting

Lighting is actually decor, especially when in the form of statement lighting or natural light. Natural light brightens your living room to create an airy vibe that can also double as decor if you have amazing views outside. By bringing more natural lighting into your living room, you're making the space feel fresh and inviting, which elevates the room's atmosphere.

Statement lighting in your living room is another route to look at if the option for more natural light isn't available. Table lamps for your end table and ceiling lights are a functional part of any living room, so choose pieces that make a statement and fit your aesthetic. Instead of going with a ceiling fan, look for a playful pendant light or chandelier with clean lines and a brass or gold finish for a modern, chic touch.