We have never had a TV in our living room (we do have an older one to run netflix/ancient video games down in the basement den, though). For the first couple of years after buying our house, our living room felt empty. And then, while at a garage sale, I realized what it was missing when I spotted two lovely art deco-esque chairs. The mister and I enjoy sipping coffee or a nice brew together. Cafes are a favorite cheap date spot. So, the couch now sets in the spot where TV "should" be, there is now a small cafe table and two chairs by the window where the couch "should" be. It gives us a small, intimate conversation area to unwind together, and is a favorite spot for guests to claim when we entertain. Even the kids use that spot often for playing card games together. It's just a cozy spot that added a lot more usability to our living room.
Create a space you want to use. We've been conditioned to see the TV as a the focal point of the room, so start by adjusting that mindset. We use the fire place as the focal point, and adjusted the seating arrangements accordingly. Once you are no longer looking at the TV spot as the main focal point, the usage and arrangement patterns become much more obvious.