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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

awkward living room set up - help! how to arrange furniture?

4 years ago

Hey everyone! Very awkward living room situation, island extends out into the living room space, and the fireplace is on a catty corner. Looking to buy a new sofa and redo the style of this entire room. Any thoughts or recommendations on how I could style/arrange this room?

Featured Answer

Nancy Ingram

4 years ago

So I would suggest a u-shaped sectional with a chaise with chaise being against to window so it doesn’t block the window. Instead of the blanket rack, put a floor lamp there if there is room. I would wall mount the tv and use a longer, narrower console. Paint your fireplace wall white so the it “pops”. Add a large clock or vertical artwork. In general, try to use lighter fabrics and wood tones. Add an area rug under sectional and some patterned drapes to add color. An arc style floor lamp on chaise side. The floor lamps will add visual height. Look for a sectional that is transitional & tailored possibly with some tufting for interest and make sure it has legs. This helps to make a room feel more spacious. Same for tv console and coffee table.

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Comments (13)

decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
When you buy new furniture, buy apartment sized pieces. No loveseats or 1.5 chairs. I think your arrangement now is good, but the scale of the furniture is too large. A 3-seat sofa and two matching chairs, possibly swivels that can turn to watch TV or enjoy the fire, will make a big change.
condolivin
4 years ago
Definitely agree that the chair and a half has to go and possibly a different coffee table. If you are feeling adventurous you could add some gold/ brass
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Looks like your sectional will work well in the space. The chaise side along the windows will be a perfect spot for a cup of coffee, glass of wine, reading or just an afternoon nap. You could add a pair of comfortable chairs to the side opposite the windows. Swivels would be nice for watching the t.v. or enjoying the fire but could then be turned to face the sectional for conversation as well. Something in a beige or camel leather would be nice. Definitely a cozy area rug. Congratulations on both your new lake home and your retirement!
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Thanks for your feedback! As of now I don’t have any specific furniture purchased but have been looking. My main goal is to utilize both “living” spaces in the most functional, aesthetic way possible. I don’t want a bunch of wasted floor space and I want it to be cohesive/flow well so it just doesn’t seem like a random desk placed in a large room. I also was curious as to whether the way the sofa/chairs are arranged works for this room or if something like a sectional would be appropriate. Or if rearranging where the sofa/chairs would work better in relation to the fireplace/TV. Would love to update the fireplace (planning on a new mantle for sure) and decor in general, and make it more like some of these living rooms from my idea books. My goal is to achieve a coastal-modern feel, with richer woods and navy versus pastels and driftwood. Thanks for the tip on providing measurements - I’m new to this kind of software so I was sort of trudging my way through it :) I will try to get more accurate measurements ASAP.
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Honestly, don’t waste your time and money on this apartment. Anything you add will be on your $ and with 3 dogs and a temporary room mate, I wouldn’t invest in anything.
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Marie13100, I mentioned in the beginning we are in the process of remodeling our kitchen and we needed to move the dining table into our living room temporarily and cover everything from the dust. Lynn G, you’re right. Having to look at the wall would be a bit depressing. The most recent floor plan I posted that had the sectional along the window and long wall would be perfect because we can view directly outside the patio door which is in the dining room.
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
4 years ago
I would also suggest a beautiful painting over the fireplace instead of what you have to give some color to this very bland space and a metal and glass coffee table that looks more in style than what you have now. I would buy beige rather than gray furniture to go with your granite, and a longer console table in a light colored wood for your TV. The gray rug will look fine with the beige furniture, although I would recommend painting the walls a cream color to blend with the granite and the furniture. I'm afraid the art over the TV is very bland and colorless. Look on Pinterest or just google for gallery walls for inspiration.
havingfun
4 years ago
dont forget the pillows!
jck910
4 years ago
fuller drapery panels
jupidupi
4 years ago
I second the idea of swivel chairs. They give you the flexibility to face the fireplace, face the kitchen, face the sofa. We bought some super comfortable ones at Stickley. One is even a swipe recliner.
K R
4 years ago
Condolivin, do you know where those chairs came from? I like the small size of them.
condolivin
4 years ago
Sara Sitardites I will do a bit of digging and see if I can find out. They are similar to Mitchell gold Avery as far as shape.
havingfun
4 years ago
those are barrels, there are lots of them in stores. 2 other types of swivels.
Zerk Swivel Arm Chair, Peacock Blue Linen · More Info

Suri Swivel Arm Chair & Reviews | Joss & Main · More Info
Kathi Steele
4 years ago
I don't think the room is large enough to support a sectional. And who is going to be stuck sitting in the corner?
laurkade
4 years ago
Consider putting sofa in front of window. Add extra drape panels to window or pull drapes to edge of blind. Try to find another chair to match sm chair by tv . If unable to find, then look for two similar matching chairs. Place the two chairs where the sofa is now with small table between them. You also need a larger tv stand. Take the pics on wall by tv and hang over fireplace - two on top, two under the top two ( approx 1 in apart) center tv stand on wall . Add something of height by tv stand closest to hallway.plant, floor lamp. Consider a round coffee table. Could use rug in front of sofa to add color. Find pillows for sofa with beige, gray, teal or colors from rug.
PRO
MARGARITA BRAVO
4 years ago
We think you are on the right track, your design just needs some tweaking. Here are a few ways in which you can get the look you want. Get rid of the big chair by the window in exchange for something smaller, and put it next to the chair on the left. Change out the TV console for something longer and thinner. Then add some great artwork over the fireplace. Next add thicker window treatments to the windows, and get a longer coffee table. Perhaps when you get a coffee table and the TV console look for something in wood instead of black. Also we recommend taking down the four pictures above the TV. Instead you can hang two vertically on each side of the TV if you want to keep them. Note the set up below? We think this arrangement would work, except flip the chairs to the other side.

Layout:
High-End Lowry Home · More Info

Modern Project: Living Room · More Info

Window treatments:
Living Rooms · More Info

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