NYC Apartment: Conflicted About Furniture Layout

5 years ago

Hello!

I posted here before regarding my roomate and I's new apartment, and all your advice was greatly appreciated. We took your advice to heart, and ordered a sofa, coffee table, and dining table + chairs to start.

We just received some furniture yesterday, and planned on having the layout like this:

Note: the blue tape is where the TV would be wall mounted, and an accent chair would be put facing the window/HVAC

But my roommate, along with you all, mentioned having the couch against the HVAC unit, like this:

Sitting down on this as I type, it feels much more open, and the TV would be located across the room, about 16ft away (would have to be ~70"), in a nook, as seen in our floorplan here:

I am very conflicted, on one hand, the first layout creates a natural separation between the dining room and the living room, which can be good or bad, depending on the goals (keeping an open layout / having that separation). But on the other hand, having the sofa against the wall makes the place feel bigger (in our opinion), and allows conversation between all areas of the room.

First, I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on which layout they prefer.

Second, if anyone could help answer these design questions regarding the second, it would be greatly appreciated:

What size rug should be there?
Should we get two accent chairs here? If so, we like the look of these, but they are pretty expensive
https://www.cb2.com/woven-camel-suede-chair/s343524
The coffee table was bought with the first layout in mind, is it too small for the second layout now?
What would you recommend putting in the corner to the left of the couch, we are thinking of a end table, plant, or lamp?

Thanks a lot!

Comments (4)

PRO
RL Relocation LLC
5 years ago
Leave the sofa thre, then put two chairs across from it. TV still goes where intended. The tv does NOT goes 16 feet away. what you do is create a seating area, and the tv is not the focal point. take 2 of those dining chairs and put them across from the sofa where it is now so you see the idea here. i would buy a long high top table and a couple bar stool and create a bar area in that nook. or a credenza with some extra storage.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
I would go with this layout
Related Discussions
Prewar NYC apartment bathroom 2: Finished!
Q
Comments (19)
Thanks everyone! We're very happy with the outcome. Island, in reference to your q's: -The tiles, grout and paint are noted in my original post above the photographs -The sill, shelves and curb are Carrera marble and they were cut to order at a stone depot -The tile master mounted the shower shelves when laying the tile -Dimensions of the shower stall are 30 inches deep, 33 inches wide and we have 9.5 feet ceilings -We had a track mounted on the ceiling for a custom shower curtain. The space is too small for shower doors of any kind and even if they fit, would make the space inside feel claustrophobic. Hope this helps, docrck
...See More
first step for nyc apartment rm - architect/gc/renovation co.?
Q
Comments (8)
Most experienced architects will have a list of contractors they've worked with in the past. I've always talked with several contractors before choosing one, but all candidates are from a list of recommended contractors supplied by my architect. I've never had an architect steer me wrong. They know who the qualified contractors are, and they know with whom they can work successfully. In fact, when interviewing prospective contractors, I usually have the architect set up the meetings and sit in. It makes everything go much more smoothly, and ensures that the contractor is clear on all facets of the program in the event that he's asked to work up an estimate or proposal. I'm a little puzzled how an experienced architect could come up with a plan that wasn't buildable. There's sometimes a little fine tuning that needs to be done...but that shouldn't cause any major upsets. I still recommend getting your plans finalized before talking with contractors. You'll get a much more accurate estimate -- if the contractor doesn't have to include any allowances in the numbers he works up. James
...See More
Small apartment furniture layout help!?
Q
Comments (8)
OHHHHH I LOVE your furniture choices. You are styling. Now I also love the un matchie matchie look and my house screams of it. But all my stuff is total yard sale crap I have collected over my long life time. Your Sofa is so Gorgeous. I would not want some one eating on it. My ottoman came from the free building at the dump. I threw a chenille spread over it I dyed to make it right . Kind of a purple fuchsia. Hahaha I have only bought new furniture when we bought the recliners for us which I know so tacky but we liked them and so comfortable. Bought a new mattress or three over the years and a new love seat and Tv. The TV can go away as far as I am concerned. I really like all the light colors you are using and falling into that soft looking cozy bed would be so glam at night. I feel like your bedroom will be screaming for some deco mirrors. But honestly do not listen to me because I am way out there in my decor. My friends were over the other day and she told me the house is turning rather girlie. Course my poor hubby had to put up with that side of me for 31 years. He kind of held me in check some times. Now he is gone I am trying not to go too crazy. Here are lots of photos of my house yard art so you can see where I am coming from and to be sure you do not listen to me. But I sure am enjoying your photos and energy is putting your wonderful small space together. LOVE the hutch too. OH and years ago my neighbor was a wood working kind of guy and he took out the wood panels in my kitchen cabinets and put in glass for me. It was wonderful. I did not need the cabinets for kitchen stuff I used them for my pretty stuff. If you can get glass in them and have some nice things to put on the shelves I would for sure do it. And in my secretary I painted the inside of the top shelves white so my pretty things would show up. Made a huge difference in the look of the piece. I will photo it for you if you like. And those burgundy chairs need white covers on them. I am looking to do that today. I was just give out when I finished painting and got this far the other day. Not to mention it was 107 degrees out there. Cat House Hill
...See More
New NYC Apartment: Are we making a big mistake?
Q
Comments (21)
Sectionals are generally mistakes for several reasons. No one wants to be wedged in the corner, so that is wasted space. They are big and bulky and take up too much visual space in a small area. They are not versatile and rarely can be moved to another room or another apartment or house. In the are on the other side of your kitchen, I would buy a rectangular dining table and chairs. The table should seat at least four people. Think about getting one with a leaf to sit 6 and buy two extra chairs that you can store somewhere, or buy two really nice folding chairs you can store somewhere. Like under your bed. In the living room, I would put your television on the wall perpendicular to the window. Only get a big entertainment unit if you need the storage space. Other wise, just get a low media unit and put the television on top. Put your sofa, a three cushion sofa for normal size adults in a non-fussy tuxedo style facing that wall that is perpendicular to the window. You can put two chairs that are either upholstered or combination wood and upholstery of the mid-century modern or Danish type perpendicular to the sofa. You can put a side table between the two chairs, and either a square coffee table in front of the sofa, or a big square ottoman with a big tray to hold drinks, snacks, etc. And when you don't have company, you can put your feet up. and you can always get another side table for the other side of the sofa. On the wall next to the kitchen on the other side of the cooktop, you can put bookshelves and even a desk and chair, if you need one. This is a tuxedo sofa. They come in different sizes. These are large ottomans in leather in two different styles
...See More
Anne Harris
5 years ago
That's an amazing NYC apt! 2 bathrooms and a w/d--and closets! My daughter would die. She lives in Chelsea with 2 roommates in a 5th floor walk up. Charming old building but t.i.n.y. But I digress... I like celerygirl's layout because watching tv is real, and you probably don't want to have to turn your head from the sofa to watch. If you have 2 other chairs (the ones you picked from CB2 are great -- maybe wait for a sale?) you'd have the flexibility of either of the above layouts. Move things around and see what works for you. Once you know how the seating works best, then figure out the right rug size.

You also want to think about an end table next to the sofa so you have a place to put your drink or other items. Nesting end tables (example in link below) would enable you to really have 2 tables if you need more space when you have friends over. Assuming you do use two chairs with the sofa, consider getting a stool to use between the chairs as a small able that can also be used for an additional seat. Here's an example T17804

Re lighting -- I think the placement of other lighting (floor lamp or table lamp) depends on where you end up placing the furniture and what you need the lighting to do (is it just for more ambient lighting (guessing your have recessed lighting in the ceiling) or do you need more light in a certain part of the room.

A tall plant in a corner will

https://www.allmodern.com/furniture/pdp/wallick-2-piece-nesting-tables-brsd5641.html?refid=SBP.otAgYljfE2WnqqjsRSuCAoP7UbLQLkHwqWp2B4FTOCM
RaiKai
5 years ago
What a great apartment!

I actually like your roommates suggestion of the sofa against the HVAC. I agree that it feels more open. As you noted though, this is very much personal preference. I am not in an apartment but I also live in smaller spaces by choice and I think leaving them more open to each other not only enhances the open feeling but leaves the space feeling more integrated and intimate.

But I would still put TV on wall with the blue tape. I would just add a couple accent chairs like RL Relocation suggested. They can be moved around easily for viewing the television if you want. If you can get swivel chairs, even better! But, I also think the chairs you picked out are pretty funky looking (I saw on the link that you are going for the full set of living room furniture ha!). I'd want to sit on them and make sure they were comfy though, especially if they were going to be used for viewing TV or entertaining!

I also like the idea of a bar height table or serving area over in that nook.

For the corner by the couch, I would put a nice tall green plant. It is nice to add some living plants into an urban apartment :) Unless you need the additional light and "space" for a book, etc. Then I would do an end table with a table lamp.

NYC Apartment: Conflicted About Furniture Layout

Comments (4)

RL Relocation LLC

Celery. Visualization, Rendering images

Related Discussions

Anne Harris

RaiKai

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US