Maybe 'm not understanding, but couldn't one of the couches, the larger, be brought back from where the 72" one is, to sit close to the wall by the balcony with a tiny low table between it and the chair, thereby creating one opening to the area, but it would be over 3 ft as the 86" couch would be 72"? If that makes sense...

Pal, I trust you, so if you are good with 30 inches I am too. Any reaction to the general layout?

(smacks head) Peegee, thank you. I wasn't seeing that but I see it now. There's definitely a way to do it with a more central entrance to the seating area. Closer to the upstairs, closer to the kitchen, works for me!!

I am jumping on those couches!

It's so cool when a fresh set of eyes can spot a solution, isn't it? And I am heartened when I see that a 36" - 30" walkway is acceptable access to a room. Your question makes it easier for me to plan my living room layout (I had the magic number of 42" wide for a walkway in my head and it was not making it easy to fit in furniture).

Congrats on finding CL sofas you love!

Living room and bedroom spaces have different acceptable clearances than a workroom like a kitchen does. In a non workroom, with a low upholstered obstacle, you can go as narrow as 24" for a squeezeway for average sized people. 30" is usually OK for linebackers and wrestlers. People have the back of the upholstered piece to use to balance with if they need to squeeze by sideways. And they aren't usually carrying a sharp knife or boiling water in the living room.

42 is for kitchens, for sure. Need to be able to stand in front of open drawers. And also remove and replace large appliances.

In our case, I had it in my head that the space for walking into the conversation area should match the doorway to the hall, which is 42" wide. I have no idea why I was thinking there must be symmetry with those 2 spaces, but the brain is a complicated thing some days.

It's funny, we DON'T have the standard 42" walkways in the kitchen and the space works well in spite of that. Why I thought our living room "needs" to have wide open walkways is beyond me. But it means I can consider a side table now :)

Pls whatever you do, don't do the 'island' coffe table look in the middle of the area.

We use about 24" to enter the most used seating area in our living room. I could remove a side table and the drapes there to widen the walkway, but the 24" feels fine. Your new 32" opening looks perfect and certainly roomy enough. :)

chijim, by "island coffee" do you mean how that coffee table in the rough sketch isn't close enough to either couch to be of use??

I am thinking the 30x48 coffee table is best rotated and parked at the love seat, with a couple ottomans for putting feet up at the couch. I have a couple petitie demilune tables that can handle a drink or coffee cup without blocking that main aisle into the seating.

Like so:

"chijim, by "island coffee" do you mean how that coffee table in the rough sketch isn't close enough to either couch to be of use??

I am thinking the 30x48 coffee table is best rotated and parked at the love seat, with a couple ottomans for putting feet up at the couch. I have a couple petitie demilune tables that can handle a drink or coffee cup without blocking that main aisle into the seating.

Like so:"

Yes, LOL

It's a personal pet peeve of mine when people--due to symmetry or visual balance, place them so far from sofa they cease to be useful.
I think your revised layout will work.

If you put a tray on an ottoman it can become an ersatz coffee table when needed too.

Jim

Whew.

OK then, on to other things...