Living/dining room layout and design - help!

5 years ago

My partner and I just purchased our first house and we are struggling with 1) what furniture we need for our living/dining room and 2) how our living/dining room space should be laid out. We have determined that putting the dining table in the area nearest the kitchen (see floor plan below) impinges on the walkway between the living room, kitchen, and bathroom/bedrooms too much. We are also concerned that by keeping the dining room table where it currently is (see picture) and adding living room furniture to the other side of the room, it will split the focal point (the fireplace) and make the room seem disjointed. Having moved from an apartment, the only furniture we already have for the space is the dining room table in the pictures - everything else is a blank slate! Can you help us design a place that is functional but also comfortable for 2 adults who host 2-4 other adults on a fairly regular basis?

Featured Answer

Manon Floreat

5 years ago

I like the idea of banquette seating in the dining area as a space conscious solution. And there are some really nice examples above. But if that's not feasible right now, you could consider a drop leaf table against the dining window with a couple of chairs for every day use. (It looks like you already have one against the dining wall.) For dinner parties, you could extend it and center it in the room. But I do agree, that the living room should be reserved for seating since you'll be entertaining relatively often.

Here's an arrangement to consider. Apartment sized sofa against window wall and three arm chairs. Along the back wall, where you currently have your dining set, consider a long horizontal bookcase. You can top it with art and lighting and before it place a couple of ottomans for casual seating when you're entertaining a large group.

I think an 8x10 area rug would be a good fit, but you can use painter's tape to be sure.

It's a neat looking home! It'll be fun settling in and putting it together. Congratulations!

Comments (20)

Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
Here is a full picture of the wall with the fireplace in case that helps
Cheryl Smith
5 years ago
Sorry but you really need to put the dining room table in dining room. Center the table under the light. Your round table is perfect for that spot. You will be able to walk completely around it so I don't see how that can impede traffic. You really only need 36" for a walkway. You then can set up the living room comfortably and easily. Get a larger rug to anchor the space 5'x7' is the smallest you should go, 8'x10" or larger even better. Center the rug in front of the fireplace. place a couch either facing it with enough room behind to fully open the door. A narrow sofa table behind it would give you a place to drop things when you do enter but that might put the couch to close to the fireplace. Flank the fireplace with 2 chairs or just one facing the blank wall without windows which is a perfect place for a tv centered on that wall. the tv could seen from the living room and the dining room. Another option is with the rug still centered with the fireplace have the couch to the right of the fireplace facing the wall for better tv viewing. 2 low swivel chairs on the left facing the couch or chairs facing the fireplace with a table between.
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Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi Cheryl - thank you for your thoughts and insights! Since we have an additional living room space in the basement, we’re not planning to put a TV in the living room. Does that change things at all? We tried putting the table in the “dining” area and, with chairs and everything, it really seems too tight...
lizziesma
5 years ago
Just the table and dining chairs? Did you remove the two little tables in the DR pic? I like Cheryl's suggestions. Will this room be used just for entertaining?
Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi ma - yes, we removed all the smaller tables/misc. furniture when we tried the table there. This is a main walkway of the house, and we were finding we had to do odd things to get around the table. The living room will be for general sitting and entertaining. Any further advice based on that information?
Cheryl Smith
5 years ago
I guess because of the size, I assumed that you would have a tv. I also assumed that you didn't have another dining area. if you have seating in the kitchen, maybe put narrow tall seating in the dining area. I just think leaving that space open is a waste of useable space when you don't have that much to work with. if you can do without the table in the room and don't have a tv there, I still like the sofa, rug and chairs flanking the fireplace. if the table needs to stay in that space pull it out from both walls so that you can comfortably walk around the whole thing. you shouldn't have to squeeze in around the back or move the table for more than 2 people to use it. add a rug then centered on the other side of the room with a couch in front of the window. there really is only enough room for that and a chair by the fireplace, because of the entry door and closet. but that arrangement totally ignores the fireplace as the focal point of the room. taping the floor as a furniture mockup helps but doesn't really tell you like actually placing and moving furniture around in a room. you need to look for smaller scale furniture for this room or it will feel cramped. good luck. it is a nice space although small.
Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you, Cheryl! The house is from 1939 and hasn’t had any substantial upstairs renovations, so we keep butting heads with modern sized furniture in a vintage space. The kitchen is also quite small (no room for additional seating), so however we configure the space to add the dining table would be the only dining space in the house. My dream is to knock out the wall separating the kitchen and “dining” area to create a more open space with less constrained walkways, but that will have to wait a few years. We will definitely try some taping on the floor. Please let us know if you have any additional thoughts or brilliant ideas!
elizabethdmoyer
5 years ago
How about a narrow table, perhaps with a bench and/or petite chairs, in the tiny dining area?
Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
That’s an interesting idea, Elizabeth!
housegal200
5 years ago
A banquette is really a great way to gain space on one side. You can have a carpenter build one with a lidded top so you can use it for storage. Or purchase banquette seating for one side. Here are some from my Banquette Ideabook, which contains lots of other photos.
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Cheryl Smith
5 years ago
Great idea
elizabethdmoyer
5 years ago
I agree with Manon on the end wall. You could use a long wall unit that would give you display space, storage and even a bar/serving area. Something like this could work.
Rebecca Moyer
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Manon, Housegal200, Cheryl and Elizabeth! I think this may be just the trick - the idea of a banquette/small drop leaf table really opens us up to play with more fun and usable space in the living room. Thank you all for your thoughts and input - we’ll start taping and acquiring furniture and will keep you posted on progress!
elizabethdmoyer
5 years ago
I wouldn’t block the lovely floor to ceiling windows with furniture. I think you will appreciate the light come winter.
Manon Floreat
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
That's a good point, elizabethdmoyer. The sofa and two arm chairs could be reversed in my diagram. Then it would look more like that of your example.

Your very welcome Rebecca! Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
elizabethdmoyer
5 years ago
Here’s the finished product. At least as far as the living room goes.
Irene Morresey
5 years ago
Wow your room looks gorgeous, great job
Manon Floreat
5 years ago
Bravo and nice job!

Curious that elizabethdmoyer is shown as posting the finished room. Rebecca are you and elizabeth the same person?

No matter. It looks great!
Flo Mac
5 years ago
Great job!