How Much Space Between a Sofa, Coffee Table and TV
Close enough to reach your mug, far enough not to bang your shins. These distances work in most living rooms.
Quick answer: Put the coffee table 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 in) from the sofa. Keep the walkways people use every day 75 to 90 cm (30 to 35 in) wide. For a 4K TV, a common rule of thumb is to sit 1 to 1.5 times the screen size away: a 55-inch TV works from about 1.4 m (4.6 ft) to 2.1 m (6.9 ft).
Sofa to coffee table
35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 in) between the sofa's front edge and the table is the usual range: you can reach it without leaning, and there is room for your legs. Under 30 cm and you are stepping over it. Over 50 cm and it starts to feel like a different piece of furniture.
For the size of the table itself, a common guide is about two-thirds of the sofa's length, at or a little under the height of the seat.
Sofa to TV
For a 4K TV, a common rule of thumb is a viewing distance of 1 to 1.5 times the screen size. Closer than that, the screen fills more of your view. Further, it is still fine, just smaller. Lower-resolution screens are usually watched from a little further back.
| Screen size | Distance from the sofa |
|---|---|
| 43 in | 1.1 m (3.6 ft) to 1.6 m (5.4 ft) |
| 50 in | 1.3 m (4.2 ft) to 1.9 m (6.2 ft) |
| 55 in | 1.4 m (4.6 ft) to 2.1 m (6.9 ft) |
| 65 in | 1.7 m (5.4 ft) to 2.5 m (8.1 ft) |
| 75 in | 1.9 m (6.2 ft) to 2.9 m (9.4 ft) |
Height matters as much as distance: mount or stand it so the middle of the screen is roughly at eye level when you are sitting down.
Walkways
- Main paths, like from the door to the sofa or through to the kitchen: 75 to 90 cm (30 to 35 in).
- Short squeezes, like between an armchair and a side table: at least 60 cm (24 in).
- Doors: keep the whole swing of the door clear, not just the doorway.
See the gaps before you move anything
The easy way to get these right is to try them at real size first. In Scooch, draw the living room, add the sofa, coffee table and TV stand at the sizes you have or want, and slide them around until the layout works. Doors show their swing, so you can see if one clips the sofa.
Try the layout before you lift anything
Drag the sofa, the table and the TV around at real size. Your back will thank you.
