9 Times Designers Made Awkward Living Rooms Work — And the Secrets Behind How They Did It

Small living room with windows opening out to balcony, plinth in corner, long ottoman, two woven armchair, timber coffee table, and blue sofa .

Designing a living room is never one-size-fits-all, especially when faced with unconventional layouts, structural quirks, or competing focal points. That’s where these awkward living room layout ideas come in. The best designers embrace the challenge, using creativity and a keen eye for functionality to transform awkward spaces into beautifully resolved rooms.

As interior designer Kelly Sutherland of Kelly Sutherland Designs puts it, “One of the joys of decorating is knowing we are not performing brain surgery, so you can take a rule and bend it to fit your specific needs.”