We have a long and skinny space, too. Just a quick idea...

First, I think you need a narrower (more shallow) TV stand....with only 10' across. This should allow enough room for a sofa and small coffee table and adequate room to walk through the room.

Two chairs on one side and a chair and ottoman on the other....along with a window seat (or bench) with bookcases on each side. Lots of storage and seating...and most people have a view of the TV. Hope this helps :)

ETA: Oh, the green blobs. LOL Those are plants! Smaller plant by the TV and taller plant in the corner. Always nice to have a little green...and it pushes the TV over a little closer to being across from the sofa.

Aktillery- That's a very nice layout....but I think you have blocked the dining room access.

JLc712, Do you want to continue eating in the family room? Should the table seat 4, 6 or more?

This may sound extreme, but it is really pretty easy (we have done it). I would make the opening to the kitchen more narrow by adding more wall to center it with the windows. You could widen the opening to the dining room slightly if you want and the tv wall could be centered, but slightly less wide than the windows. Although I like asymmetry, I don't like structural asymmetry and that off-center wall would drive me nuts! :-)

Thanks for the ideas! I have had such a hard time with this room.

LL, that is quite similar to the arrangement I have now, but I have a table with 4 chairs on the left side. I really even have barrister bookcases on either side of the smaller window, just as you drew in, :-) but I have chairs in front of both bookcases. I always want to center the couch on the big window, but it seems to throw off the rest of the arrangement.

Akt, I like the idea of a backless bench in the center. Hmmm... I do have to keep a walking path open to the DR, which is part of the frustration of this room!

Patrick, I'd like for us to eat meals in the dining room, but it will rarely/never happen, except for maybe dinner, when we're home for it. I have a sports-obsessed DH and DS that must be able to see the TV, grrr! I only need a table for 3-4 in this room. We also do projects, homework, etc at the table. I have considered getting rid of the table, but I'm sure it would result in them eating on the couch! Uncivilized savages! :-) I typically sit at the island in the kitchen for breakfast/lunch, but they don't.

Cyn, YES. I could not agree more. However, that would be way, way down on the list of budget priorities, and will only happen in my fantasy world :-)

I just spent too much time getting frustrated by online room layout websites, so I'm just going to verbally communicate. I think you probably have to just embrace the asymmetry and work with it. I would suggest a corner banquette in the top left corner, with a round table and two chairs. For watching TV, I'd try a deliberately asymmetrical sectional (e.g., the dependable Karlstad here http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39840652/ ). With a round table for eating, you might have room for an end table on the left side of the sofa and could create a balanced but non-symmetrical vignette in front of the window.

Do you have existing window treatments? Having curtains behind a couch can be tricky.

I'd be willing to diagram it if someone can recommend a decent program for doing so.

Thanks Patrick and sorry for the aggravation! I know just what you mean! I spent about an hour on the DAT for this week and gave up in frustration, because I couldn't figure out how to do what I wanted (real photos of the room plus things I wanted to use) in MS Paint. I use Homestyler for floor plans, and it's fairly easy but has very limited options for furniture.

A corner banquette is a great idea. I have toyed with the idea of a banquette running around the entire left wall and corners. I agree that I just have to go with the asymmetry to get a workable plan, without doing structural changes.

I like the size and shape of the Karlstad, but it's too modern for the rest of my furniture. I have wood blinds, no curtains, for the very reason you mentioned. I'd love to add curtains, but the narrowness of the room leads to furniture against the walls. Panels would be squashed and look ridiculous.

When I took a break from the DAT, I started putzing around with this room again. I will post what I've come up with later and get some opinions.

Here's a terrible mock up:

http://www.homestyler.com/designprofile/c868df64-2e9b-4ad3-9bae-a61e2a83db1e

I don't know what your furniture is like, but overstock.com has a bunch of options when I searched "traditional sectional". I mentioned the Karlstad just to give an example a format, not to suggest a style.

The link doesn't work for me-- says "no preview available". Sorry, I really appreciate your input. A sectional may be what I go with when I get a new sofa.

Hi Jlc712,Let me know if this doesn't work.

If you ran a banquette all the way down the left wall and got a round table that could take an extension you could have seating for 6 if that matters, or just a larger work area.

I agree with Patrickthedestroyer. I've had a similar situation in a family room and his overall design is very multifuctional. My table was a game table and it worked out great.