How to Arrange LR Furniture!?

13 years ago

So, my wife really likes this house, but I can't seem to figure out how to arrange the furniture in the living room. Please see the image below.

It's basically shaped like a triangle because the kitchen bar comes in at an angle. The area to the left of the picture is a wall and the picture is taken from the breakfast nook.

I would really love some help to "imagine" how this furniture in this living room could be arranged to make it livable / comfortable. We are a pretty tv-centric family, so any design would have to include a place for my baby (a 50" plasma). Thanks!!

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Comments (7)

jlt37869
13 years ago
Is the fireplace centered on that wall?

Without dimensions and without seeing the other side of the room here are my thoughts:

1) bar stools along the bar
2) tv left of the fireplace (this way you can view the tv from the kitchen, nook, and lr)
3) a bookcase on the right side of the fireplace to balance that wall
3) big, low round upholstered ottoman in front of the fireplace
4) couch directly across from the tv w/ sofa table behind couch
5) two chairs (leather reliners) perpendicular to the bookcase (or right of the fireplace) so you have the two chairs along that back wall with the round ottoman in front of them. (could replace two chairs with a loveseat)
6) a chair to the left of the tv in the corner
7) a coordinating storage ottoman in front of the couch for blankets and pillows

Provide a couple more photos maybe looking across the room from the other direction and dimensions.

Good luck.
terezosa / terriks
13 years ago
Here is your picture a little bit bigger.
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anele - I tried the sofa on the wall with a chair at each end of the sofa, facing each other, but the problem with that arrangement is that it leave the room feeling a little lopsided. Most all the furniture, except the piano and the small cabinet near the 1/2 wall, is on one side of the room. Having the two chairs in the window helps to balance everything better. I'm not sure the table I have between the chairs right now is the best for that space. It is taller than the arms of the chairs and does kind of get in the way of conversation. I'm going to be on the lookout for a better table for that area. I agree that the wall behind the sofa will be a challenge. hill - you are right about the sofa blocking too much of the window and your comment about open, inviting and balanced are exactly what I was hoping to achieve. Here is the room today with the furniture in place and the rug added back in. It is not the right size or can I get away with it anyway? It is centered on the window and the sofa. See how the chairs are on the rug, but the sofa isn't? Another view (ignore the desk and audio equipment on the left). I I know I need to add a table to the left of the sofa. Most likely the table that was here originally (now sitting between the chairs) will come back to this location. Now I need to work on placing lamps, pillows and other accessories. Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this point.
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Actually I have an extremely close layout. We struggled with it as we have two major focal points in the room - the infamous fireplace and a wall of low windows that look out onto our lake. My first choice would be to move the entertainment center down just 2' or so. I would purchase preferably 3 loveseats or the equivalent in sectional (later versatility). Angle 2 around the fireplace and the other toward the television making a 3/4 "circle" around the room. It allows easy entry into and around the room and into the kitchen. Another option is same as above but place a chair w/ottoman or recliner to the right of the fireplace instead. When you do either of these options, the orientation is not all about the TV but conversing, TV viewing and the fireplace. The loveseats being at an angle enable those in the livingroom to converse easily not only in the livingroom but also those in the kitchen. Conversing when your back to those in the kitchen is not good! The neighbors have a made a "hallway" behind the sofa similiar to stloc and whenever we go there, it makes my husband and I feel cramped (not cozy at all). We have a low back sofa on "your" fireplace wall and 2 loveseats angled towards the sofa with a 4' wide space between them. It feels not only inviting but has proven to work great with large groups of visitors. We can sit in the loveseats and look out onto the lake. We don't watch TV but do often enjoy the fireplace too. Good luck.
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Wow thanks for all the great ideas and suggestions! I admit I hadn't thought so much about the lighting. We replaced a "boob light" over the dining table with that fixture when we moved in and you're right it does look a bit kitcheny, though it lights the table very well. Do you think the drum shade we have now in the LR would look good there (on a built in fixture)? I do see how a round table would work better visually but DH hates round tables and this is one of those areas I am OK with that - we do play a lot of board games there and the rectangular tables seem to work best. We hung the pendant light because we did not have enough lighting in the room there is no overhead light and with our furniture placement there was no way to plug in a floor or table lamp in the middle of the room where it's needed for reading and general light. For ambiance we have 3 table lamps in there and the bookshelf accent lighting, but we need something closer to the ceiling to get better lighting. I thought about running a cord under the rug but it would still be exposed part of the way, and that's considered a major fire hazard so I am reluctant to do that. Maybe we need to install an overhead light, but then the question is placement and style. I admit I know nothing about lighting as a decor component but I love it when I see it well done! I really need help on that one, clearly. Regarding the idea of opening up the stairway, that is definitely on my wish list! It would bring more light downstairs too because we have balconies on both upstairs windows (off each bedroom) that shade the downstairs windows. However that's further down our list, after this project, then kitchen reno and then some bathroom TLC. As part of the kitchen reno later this year we plan to open up that wall section from the pass-through on over to the hallway, and to the ceiling creating a breakfast bar area on that countertop, to open up that area. One thing that I'm trying to think ahead about is how to light the kitchen and peninsula when it's so close to the dining area. I was thinking can LEDs in the kitchen and over peninsula. I think we could fit in 2 full size sofas but I expect it would look a little crowded. We're just 2 of us (hoping to expect a third soon) and we don't really entertain a lot, so we don't need a ton of seating. DH and I really want to able to snuggle up comfortably on the sofa together - we've never done that on this one something about the size and shape just doesn't work! It is a Jennifer Convertibles - our first "real" furniture - and I was very disappointed that it didn't hold up structurally, we've had it for 5 years and the cushions lost support a couple years ago and it was sold as "genuine" leather but was clearly bonded. Normally I sit on the chaise by the window and he sits on the sofa, we feel too far apart. I'm thinking maybe a full size sofa with chaise on the fireplace side, and then a chair on the dining room side, either the existing one or a new one... and get rid of the chaise by the window since there would be a chaise on the sofa. A large potted plant would look nice but so far I haven't had luck with plants in here as the LR windows are all NE facing and overhung by a balcony so not enough light for most. Maybe right up by the window they would be OK. If not, I'm sure I can find an interesting item to put there. The fireplace wall does look dark in these pics, I think it's the contrast with the sun coming in the windows and of course it is the darkest wall, but we have electric candles on the mantel and hearth that come on in the evening, and the table lamp and accent lighting on the bookcases light that area pretty well. If we don't have the table and chaise by the window, I may put a floor lamp there. Maybe we should purchase the furniture first, then decide on lighting once we see how it ends up? We're planning to go shopping this weekend. Color and fabric is something we haven't decided yet, we were not happy with the leather and we'd have to pay a lot more to get good quality real leather, and DH says it's cold and he'd prefer fabric. With fabric I like slipcovers because I have allergies and dust sofas are awful - being able to wash the cover intermittently is helpful. I'm thinking a lighter color since the current stuff is very dark, but I'm pretty flexible on that, going to select the next sofa based on comfort and practicality more than appearance.
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I truly think you can have the back of the sofa to the front door. I think once you get it in there you will be able to see if it looks right or not. I also think you could put the sofa back to the kitchen. Then you can put the chair facing the TV. Just another way to look at it. Depending on the size of your space, two chairs sound like a good idea to me. Here is a pic of my living room (from house we just sold-as we are building a new home) open concept, to kitchen. Sofa backed to front door and kitchen. I hope you can tell in my pics.
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jlt37869
13 years ago
I assumed a 20x20 room. Will the tv be mounted on the wall? or will it be in a tv cabinet? A floor lamp goes on each side of the sofa (could do an end table on the left, if needed). Anyway, this is what I was visualizing for the room.

PS - the "tv" needs to be updated in this floorplan program ,,, lol
SigGolfer
Original Author
13 years ago
Terriks,

Thanks for making the picture a bit bigger.

JLT,

This is great! That's some neat software! Thank you. Yes, the fireplace is centered. We have a rectangular console on which the tv would sit.

I have a couple of questions for you. What is the piece along the wall next to the tv? I was thinking that could be a media storage cabinet.

Also, I was wondering what you think about placing rugs? Your design might work well with a circular rug in the reading area. What do you think?

Lastly, I was wondering about your opinion of the overall attractiveness of this space. I'm still having a difficult time deciding whether to make an offer on this house, since the living room is so non-traditional.

Thanks again!

Matt
jlt37869
13 years ago
Hey Matt,

I have a "triangle" room in my current house, and I really struggled with what to do with it. I had the benefit of seeing what the prior homeowner had done (so I knew what not to do)!! How many are in your family? How old are the kids? How much seating do you need? Try not to think of that room as a triangle, but as one long 20x10 room. Then go one step further and think of it as a 10x10 sitting area and a 10x10 tv area. But since it's an open floor plan, you have some give on the left side (which is why I suggested making that the tv area). Plus, being able to view from all areas ,,, by the way, I'd also put the x-mas tree in that left corner. :)

Even though I assumed that room to be 20ftx10ft, I really think that room is bigger ,,, my fireplace is over 8 ft wide, and it looks in that photo like there is more space on each side of it ,,, so that wall might be 24, 25+ ft wide?! Getting the measurements for that room (the fireplace wall and the wall to the right) might help in making a decision.

Another thing to consider regarding floorplan (although some people don't), is the registers. I can see two of them in the picture on the floor ,,, don't cover with furniture or rugs. And, yes, two rugs, one for each area is what I would do.

Okay, that piece to the left of the couch was really just a placeholder ,,, I was thinking storage bench (bench for additional seating, storage for toys, games, videos, etc) ,,, or making that couch into a sectional. Are you trying to work with existing furniture or will your wife be getting new furniture to go with her new house?

Another idea for that sofa/console table ,,, you can put stools under it that can be used for addition seating for tv viewing.

As far as my opinion, I do like the space ,,, but I like blonde wood and I also like open floor plans. But, for me, I don't care how attractive a space is ,,, if it isn't functional, then it's not going to work for me. I think it's smart of you to explore whether or not you can make the room work BEFORE you buy the house!! Happy house hunting.

Jennifer

PS - there are several free floorplan apps on the web, but for a super quick and dirty (like the one I did for you) I use a very basic app found at americandrew.com, tools, room planner. I don't think you can save it, but you can print.
les917
13 years ago
Could you take a couple of pix of the rest of the space, or do you not have access to that?

If not, the wall to the left seems like it has windows? You say the pix is from the breakfast nook - how does that relate to the kitchen on the right, and where is the front entry to the house and entry to this room?
SigGolfer
Original Author
13 years ago
Jennifer,

We have two girls (2 and 4) and another on the way. Luckily, this place has a big playroom upstairs, which should keep some of the mess out of the living room. I think we'll probably try to get new furniture, since ours is starting to show its age. I really like the thought of imagining the room as two separate spaces. Thanks again for all your input!

les,

Unfortunately, it's a little difficult to get any more pictures of the space. I might be able to get the realtor to reshow the house in a few days.

As far as windows are concerned, the wall to the left is solid up to about the point where the picture was taken.

There are two entrances to the space. The first is through the kitchen. The bar ends right where the picture cuts off, constituting the first entrance.

If you look at Jennifer's layout, then the second entrance would be just below the dining table. That entrance connects to the formal living room. This space is on the back of the house (the windows show the backyard). THe front entrance is towards where the "delete item" button is on Jennifer's layout.

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

All the best,

Matt

How to Arrange LR Furniture!?

Comments (7)

jlt37869

terezosa / terriks

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How to Arrange LR Furniture!?

Comments (7)

jlt37869

terezosa / terriks

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jlt37869

SigGolferOriginal Author

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les917

SigGolferOriginal Author

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Original Author

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Original Author