Formal LR Furniture Configuration
Dasha
6 years ago
Help! Trying to decide which layout will look and work best for our open living room. 2 couches facing each other or one couch and 2 chairs. Here are a few sketches and my inspiration photo.
The inspiration photo has 2 couches with one of the couches backs against the dining area. This feels too closed off to me. So the sketches are slightly different.
The inspiration photo has 2 couches with one of the couches backs against the dining area. This feels too closed off to me. So the sketches are slightly different.
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6 years agoDasha
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoYour wish is my command. :) Not loving. The flowers look a little obnoxious in our space. On the photo they’re actually not bad but in person they’re very over the top...I promise. I love the idea but the room is so calm and pretty and these are a bit too wild, IMO.
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How to Arrange LR Furniture!?
Comments (7)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....See MorePlease help-making formal lr less formal, pics and plans. TIA!
Comments (15)Hmm. If you want a transition, here are two other options that might be worth considering.. . . Option A. Put the flat screen on the wall opposite the fireplace -- over the baskets where the small pic is currently. Use the existing armoire for toy storage. Put two swivel or moveable chairs along the left end of the rug. Put another swivel chair about where the left couch cushion is in your second floorplan. Put the couch or a love seat where you show it in your second floor plan. As long as the tv is mounted medium high, you should have three good viewing chairs. Option two. Mount the tv on the wall where the armoire is currently. Put the couch where the loveseat is in your second floor plan. Put one swivel chair to the left of the fireplace (similar to your current floor plan). Consider building a deep uphoulstered bench to replace the bookcase on the left side of the fireplace. This lets you view the TV from the couch, one chair, and possible the bench. In terms of your laughing friends, tell them not to expect any permanent resolution to your LR decorating woes. Those of us with odd shaped LRs (mine is only a tad bigger than yours) end up shoving furniture around a lot as technology and family needs change. Over the years, my couch has been shoved up against every wall in my LR -- plus it "floated" in the middle of the room for about 8 years. Each arrangement has its pluses and minuses. My current arrangement, for example, sacrifices all attempt at having a graceful transition from my front entry and largely ignores my fireplace. Yet it works for us right now. The important thing is to find something that makes your family happy and comfortable -- at least for now....See MoreTime for new LR furniture... and how do you determine style?
Comments (12)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....See MoreAsymmetrical LR: Please help BEFORE we buy furniture! Photos & details
Comments (31)I'm back and am sorry to have deserted this post after receiving such great feedback. Our family was out of town for a bit, and then we had school prep for kids, etc. I finally managed to rearrange furniture and have posted some photos here with my comments below them. As always, I *really* appreciate feedback. I'm ready for new furniture so I can post "after" photos! Thanks in advance. Current sofa - centered in front of fireplace. I DO love the symmetry this provides. It's a little more cramped near the entry than I'd like (see next photo), but might be okay. Still not sure how I would configure other furniture though. Space between centered sofa and corner as you walk in through foyer. Disregard furniture in the background. :) View of entry from great room. Sofa in the window. Nice to use that space, but I'm not a fan. It exacerbates the asymmetrical shape of the room, blocks the view, and isn't very functional. Centered sofa and chair and a half in front of window. The chair is too close to TV here, but this configuration might work with smaller, cleaner-lined furniture. Or possibly a sectional with short section in front of the window? From foyer. Sofa is pulled back as far as I would want without making the walkway behind it too narrow (see previous photos). View of chair on short wall with centered sofa. Note: I can't have two chairs opposing each other, because even if this chair was moved all the way to the edge of the wall behind it, the opposite chair near window sit right next to the TV corner....See MoreDasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoI’m going to try this but with another teardrop vase to the right. That is, of course, when our elf takes himself to a more comfy place. :) I may throw a runner under to ground them.
PROHome Interiors with Ease
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoUser
6 years agoDasha
6 years ago
PROFlo Mangan
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoUser
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Dasha
6 years agoKeeping this trio for dining table. I switched the middle sized grey vase for the small ball. Loove it. My symmetry tendency will have to take a backseat for now. I do want to find a tray for this. Actually thinking the same color wood as the branches would work well.
Dasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoOkay guys, I took some pics this morning. So happy with how everything turned out in this room. Falling in love with our home all over again is a great feeling. I still would like a tall plant for the right side of the mirrors since the fig leaf was too wide.
I can’t thank you all enough for the continued help and support through this journey. A very special thanks to Bruce, Flo and Julie for keeping me grounded, on track and creative. Love this Houzz community!!!
C W
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUser
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Dasha
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Jennifer Dube
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoJennifer Dube
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Dasha
6 years agoAnd just like that, you can walk into a store looking for one thing and walk out with the perfect doodad for your stack of table books. :)
Bruce Crawford
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago 
pat1250
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoJennifer Dube
6 years agoDasha
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Dasha
6 years agoHappy New Year, friends!! We had a New Year’s party this year which was a great success and the living room got quite a few nods. :)
I am originally from Ukraine and immigrated to the States with my family when I was 9. My husband is from Belarus and we met here in Colorado 12 years ago. We both speak fluent Russian and so do our boys. New Years in Russia and surrounding countries is a huge deal....the biggest celebration of the year. Christmas trees and Santa are all on New Years versus Christmas. And this year was our turn to host for 15 of our close friends and their kids. Eek!! We ate, drank, danced, played games and laughed. Our new living room made everything very cozy and inviting. I’m not gonna lie, I was nervous about the new couches, rugs and EA chair getting dirty. Ha!! But alas, 4 cans of scotchgard later, they are all still like new. Lol.
For my next project, I am going to tackle our entryway. Also thinking of re-staining our floors to a medium walnut. Not as a big of a feat, but I will be here bugging you guys again. As Flo has said before, “Nothing is easy.” Happy New Year, everyone!
- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Dasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago Bruce Crawford
6 years agoDasha
6 years agoDasha
6 years ago
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