The "Rich Couch" Theory Might Change Your Entire Space

27.01.2024 - 00:05 / thespruce.com / Sophia Beams

TikTok has a new design theory on the rise: anyone whose couch doesn’t touch their walls is living in luxury. Having your couch in the middle of the room, according to many TikTok users, is the mark of an expensive home.

This is based on the idea that the more open space a person has in their living room, the less likely the back of their couch will touch any walls. Does this mean a couch in an empty living room makes you a billionaire? Maybe—but most commenters can agree that the theory doesn’t mean much in reality.

Though we think that any living room layout can be beautiful, if you are feeling inspired by the idea of moving your couch away from the wall a bit, here’s how (and when) you should do it.

Laura Brophy Interiors

If you have a living room wall with windows, this can be a good place to push your couch away from the wall. It reduces the space of your actual seating area, but it adds space for additional elements by the window.

Plus, if the window ends at a lower point than the back of your couch, you’ll allow more light into your space by pushing your couch forward a bit. 

Center your couch around a gathering space in the middle of the room. Anchor the couch with a rug, coffee table, and accent charis. This will create a cozier gathering space without making your couch look awkward.

Devon Grace Interiors

For large, open living room spaces, you might find that moving your couch away from the walls will make your space feel more accessible. With large rooms, putting a couch against a wall will cause the gathering space to feel very off-center, which is why large living spaces tend to feature couches that aren’t up against any walls.

This is true for open-concept floor plans and living rooms that have a