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living room Design Dilemma Home Decorating

Help with great room layout and design

5 years ago

Hi all. I need some help furnishing and decorating our great room. This is the main hangout and tv watching room in the house, so I’ll say that here, comfort takes priority, as we don’t entertain a ton, but I’d still like it to look decent since it’s part of an open layout.

Right now you can see it’s plain. I’m finding it hard to lay out due to openness and also high ceilings. We plan to replace the couches, coffee and media furniture, but keep the kitties :). Also we will at some point paint/stain the stair rail. The room gets a lot of light. Walls are SW Agreeable Gray. I’d say we like the natural kind of style that I see a lot now, medium toned natural woods like the flooring, whites, plant greenery. I’d love to accent with the color blue, like a smoky gray blue seaside blue. Added textures would be good too. I don’t love farmhouse style.

I’m thinking I’d like a medium size sectional because I love it’s family-friendliness but not sure how to place it.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I'd have a large sofa facing the TV, then add a couple of smaller swivel armchairs in front of the windows perpendicular to the sofa. Get a large square coffee table or ottoman--you could probably go 36" to 40"--and probably an 8' x 10' or 9' x 12' rug for the conversation area. Opposite the swivel chairs, put in a long upholstered bench or two smaller ones grouped together. I'd also maybe put an end table in the corner between the sofa and the swivel chairs. Get a large framed piece of art for above the fireplace and also add framed art or photos above the TV.

And for the love of Pete, why do builders insist on putting fireplaces in the corners?

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Comments (10)

PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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The table top in your inspiration pic caught my attention. It's not the usual furniture showroom table top. I really like this cedar "countertop" and was wondering if something like it might work as a table top or as a top of a rolling cart island that could work as kitchen prep space and/or guest dining if not as a table. http://www.devoswoodworking.com/designing-wood-countertops/wane-edges.html Legs could be bought separately. https://carolinalegco.com/products/x-metal-table-legs-set-of-2-modern-industrial-legs-custom-sizes-available?variant=32186224640097&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DR_PLA_Smart_200%25&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7051262680&hsa_cam=9915659242&hsa_grp=103137792649&hsa_ad=432122759881&hsa_src=u&hsa_tgt=pla-296303633664&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6p_wwNPU6gIVgbbICh0T8w-jEAsYAyABEgIkX_D_BwE
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seashell456
Original Author
5 years ago
Sabrina and celerygirl, thanks for the advice! And yes... the corner fireplace does make things awkward and hard to place furniture. There is really not a fantastic way to arrange furniture with it there. This is a 90s build, but my friend has a recent build and STILL has a corner fireplace. You'd think they'd have learned that people aren't big fans of them.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
5 years ago
Can I see the stair well wall? whats that like ?
seashell456
Original Author
5 years ago
RL here you go.
seashell456
Original Author
5 years ago
Don’t mind the cardboard, that’s temporary for our mischievous kittens!
PRO
Camden Lane Interiors
5 years ago
We'd switch the sofa and loveseat, or move the sofa to where the loveseat is and place the loveseat in front of the windows. Then you could potentially add more seating if you wanted.
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Susan Davis
5 years ago
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sheloveslayouts
5 years ago
First, if you enjoy watching TV you need a much bigger screen :-) If you look at screen size and viewing distance recommendations you might be surprised. Our 70" is about 14.5' viewing distance and it's so nice. Haven't been to a movie theater in years.

I've had a corner fireplace. I hate corner fireplaces. The woman who bought my home with the corner fireplace removed it! I regretted not just removing it myself. That said, I'd try the TV on the stairwell wall and put the sofa in front of the windows. Ignore the fireplace. To eliminate glare, you'll need good blinds on the windows.
seashell456
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks for the advice everyone and Susan Davis for the photo inspirations! benjesbride I know... people seem to have a special kind of dislike for corner fireplaces :) I don't love it but I'm stuck with it. I'd remove it but I think in my area/neighborhood a fireplace would be expected, and it would be very tough to move it. So I have to work with it.

I think if we were to get a big tv we'd need to build a space for it in our basement, maybe someday. I don't really want a gigantic one in this space :) Also perhaps it's hard to see from the photos but I don't think the tv would fit on the stairwell wall... just not enough space. We do plan to add shades to the windows, perhaps the wood/bamboo type to add more warmth.

In general I feel this room is a bit awkward... but trying to make it work :)

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