Make the Most of a Small Space
page 5 of "Room Layout: 6 Rules to Follow"

Is your entrance foyer or vestibule too small to accommodate a commode or table? Try a narrow bench instead. It will be handy for setting down packages and sitting on to remove wet boots.

Group Furniture Wisely
page 6 of "Room Layout: 6 Rules to Follow"

When you walk around your home, are you comfortable, or do you feel as if you were navigating an obstacle course? If your furniture is creating obstacles to your comfort, here are a couple of problem areas to watch for:

 

Be sure you living room chairs and sofa are grouped close together. Otherwise, anyone walking through the living room will be forced to cross between those who are seated and interrupt their conversation.
If possible, avoid having the traffic pattern cross in front of the television. To keep from blocking anyone's view, try to reconfigure the seating so that someone "passing through" will be walking behind the sofa instead of in front of it.
 
Create Balance With Chairs
page 7 of "Room Layout: 6 Rules to Follow"

In small rooms, use armless upholstered chairs such as slipper style, which will allow more space than chairs with arms but will provide a more comfortable, small-scale alternative to wooden chairs.

If your budget won't allow you to buy a pair of matching chairs, purchase one chair and a matching ottoman. Until you can afford the second chair, use the ottoman as a "second" seat by placing the chair on one side of your coffee table and the ottoman on the other side. You'll have two places to sit with the effect of a matching pair.