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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

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

5 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

5 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
5 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
5 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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Paint fireplace white or the same color as the walls, remove bookcase that is on the right side of the fireplace. Get a corner TV console for the left side of the fireplace....maybe tv will partially cover the window, but that is okay. Get some pretty artwork for over the fireplace and take the colors from that for pillows for your couch and a rug if you want. An ottoman or upholstered bench in front of your couch to be used for extra seating when you have company.......should be on rollers, easy to maneuver. Where the shelf unit is now, get a tall green plant..nothing else. If room, I think your chair and a small table will be good by the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs you could put a decorative shelf or console with drawers under the window...facing up the stairs. with a small viney plant on it. Oh, yes, I would pull your couch back as far as you can...without interfering with the door. To bad the door does not open the other way. Have fun rearranging. I do approve of your curtains...white sheers but they should be twice as full as they are now and the door curtain should match.
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I would paint the entire room a warm white, including the fireplace. Romabio can match masonry paint to your wall paint. Increase the depth of the mantel with a beefier piece of rustic wood. Wall mount the TV where you have it now. Drywall the pass through closed and put the sofa there. Add a pair of swivel chairs in the window area. Build a "L" bench in the dining nook and use a pedestal table with a couple of extra chairs that can be pulled over to the seating area. Replace your coffee table with an upholstered bench (maybe with storage inside.) Top it with a tray and it can also be used for extra seating.
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
5 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
5 years ago
dont forget the pillows!
jck910
5 years ago
fuller drapery panels
jupidupi
5 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
5 years ago
Condolivin, do you know where those chairs came from? I like the small size of them.
condolivin
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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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