Trying to Minimize Without Losing Room Designations

5 years ago

We have a very narrow living/dining room combination room (11x25). We spend a great deal of time in our living room, resulting in our dining room becoming a useless space and catch all because we rarely entertain. My husband eats in the living room using a TV tray that’s how overlooked the dining room is.

I’m wanting to get rid of our large furniture minus the sectional and dog beds. I can’t move the tv location because of where our cable is located and the line not being able to be moved (I already tried this). I love floating shelves but my husband says if we put floating shelves in both spaces that it would be too much. I thought about a sofa console table behind the sectional and putting bar stools that can be hidden underneath when not using since my husband eats and watches tv non stop. The only problem I worry with that is we would have moved the focal point to one side and have this open space in the dining room. The only reason we have a hutch is for storage of old china from his late grandmother. However, we don’t use it and there’s two patterns and I only like one of them. That’s why I was thinking they should be displayed on floating shelves.

What do you think is an easy resolution to declutter this space?

Featured Answer

Aimee Willis
Original Author

5 years ago

One down

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Comments (39)

queenvictorian
5 years ago
Questions: Does your husband's constant TV watching bother you? Do you enjoy watching TV as much as he does?

If it bothers you and/or you don't like TV as much as he does, I'd keep the dining room area and not give it over to the TV overlord. Have a cute area that is NOT all about the TV - nice contrast of purpose.

Also, how does your kitchen relate to the living/dining space? Is it eat-in? Does your husband ever take meals in there?

I'd start by tidying up. Fold the blankets on the couch, gather dog toys, put away all the random stuff on top of the entertainment center, find a permanent home for that plant and arrange the dining room chairs around the table, etc. That'll help you get a clearer sense of the room as it is and where you want it to go.
Kate
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Have you taken away your Christmas tree yet? What about all that stuff on top of the TV furniture? Store or get rid of it. Do the dog beds have to be where they are now? Instead of floating shelves on both sides of the room, you could put corner shelves to the right of the TV, maybe made out of open metal work so they don't add more weight to that side of the room. Take out the dining table and put the heavy-looking dog beds on that emptier end of the room, perhaps under the window. Get rid of the dishes you don't care for and display the ones you do like on your floating shelves. Advertise your matching hutch and table set. Someone will be happy to buy them.
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Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
His constant tv watching does drive me insane, but that’s what he likes to do after working all week is escape with tv or video games. I don’t push. Our kitchen opens to the dining room. So we have an eat in kitchen table with 4 chairs, then 4 chairs around our dining room table. Seating for 8 with only 2 people who occupy the house 98% of the time.

These large items become catch all which is why I’d like to reduce the clutter and not make the room feel so cramped. We don’t have but three places in our home with wall decor. I wanted a rustic house with tobacco baskets and cute little Knick knacks, but furniture seems to be larger than my spaces which is why I’d like to get my husband out of in front of the tv and into the garage putting his woodworking skills to use.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
The Christmas tree is finally out of the way. The beds don’t have to be where they are, but there’s really no other place that they can go other than in this room because the dogs won’t hang out anywhere where we aren’t. The sad thing is one of them doesn’t even use it as much as she uses our sofa which is why we put covers on top of it.
Kate
5 years ago
Wow! Husband and dogs making your decorating decisions for you! (Sorry; that was mean. We all should try to get along.) Anyway, since you have table in the kitchen, you definitely need to post the dining table and hutch for sale. That plant could have a nice big stand and help visually fill up space in the emptier end of the room.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
Not mean. You’re absolutely right. I am very passive aggressive, which hasn’t helped in the sake of decor.
always1stepbehind
5 years ago
I would opt for just a bottom piece type tv hutch/cabinet. As for the other space, maybe take off the stuff on top of the hutch. Keep the stuff in there simple. One thing I did with our printer (I think that is a printer in the corner) I set a wicker basket turned upside down, using it like a little table next to my hutch in the dining area and set the printer on top. It's low to ground and you can't even see it.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
It’s not a printer, but actually a record player beside the hutch. It used to be in the corner where the dog beds are now and probably will be going back or upstairs. What’s the difference between a tv hutch and cabinet vs what I have now?
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
Yeah decluttering by throwing stuff out is already doing wonders for how I’m feeling.
aprilneverends
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
wow so much better in such a short time

will you be willing to look into changing the flashmount -put pendant or chandelier instead?..

can you add window treatment to the living room window-or dog beds make it for a bad decision? Will add softness..

can you have something that will have double function-say big square coffee table under which a dog bed can go..or dogs won't like it?
aprilneverends
5 years ago
PS then you also won't need a tray table. whether it'll be good or bad, I don't know. But it's comfortable for whoever watches the TV
Kate
5 years ago
Wow! That last photo looks so much better!! I like that you turned the table and got rid of whatever was above the hutch! (The plant looks good on top of something, too.) That part of the room now looks less long and narrow. Maybe you don't want to get rid of the hutch & table after all; the cream is a nice relief from the black TV hutch. I think what that earlier poster meant about the TV furniture is to have just a low piece of furniture to hold the TV, which would visually get rid of the big black mass on that side of the room.
lizziesma
5 years ago
I have a tv-aholic too. He'd be happy eating every meal in front of the dumb thing. So, he understands that tv meal is lunch or snack. Dinner is with me, no tv, because I miss him during the day and need time to reconnect. I get a half hour, I get to use my table and china, I get him for at least half hour per day all to myself. Happy me. It's a compromise and took a while to convince him it was in his best interests, lol. If he doesn't go for it, I'd make a comfy nest for myself, like re-purposing the garage for my space...just joking, sorta.
PRO
Fairway Style Living
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi, Amy--

Great progress already. As others have mentioned, if your arrangement permits it, changing out the lighting in your dining area (and putting it on the all-important dimmer switch) can work wonders for pivoting how we feel about and interact with a space.

Couple other questions:

-Is your living room area rug really large? If allowable, I'd edge it over toward the far window wall so it doesn't show under the backside of your sectional and intrude visually into your dining space - that will further define a border between spaces and level out the traffic path there, too.

-In the corner where your record player / plant currently sit, is there space for your drape on the slider to 'stack off' the window there and collect behind the player base? Looks just a little congested back there, so would ease that tower out of the corner just a bit to allow for drapery clearance back there.

Really like your dining set with your current flooring in there and seems it fits the space well (good job on re-orienting the table direction). Agree with the previous commenter who recommended a low TV console for your LR media arrangement, as the big black display storage you've got now just adds a ton of visual bulk and makes your TV the focal point of your living room, which it doesn't need to be, even if it's the reason that you spend time there. I'd scale back your storage there and focus on bringing in some art - maybe a pair of two canvases or set of four framed prints - to frame the TV screen, balance the space, and add some visual interest to that long wall in your big room.

Cheers on your project so far; keep going!
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
The light fixture over the dining room is going to be replaced. I was trying to wait until I was certain on the dining room table because of the measurements to look for when choosing a light fixture over the dining room. With not knowing whether I needed to get a narrower table because of the sectional being so large, I’ve held off. I have one area rug that is 7’10”x9’10”? but we had to lay it long ways because it was 10” too long and running up under the tv which the hubs said was a terrible look. So now, it hangs over the edge which I think is just as bad.

I love yall’s suggestions. I sooo want to hang wall art, but am not sure what sizes I want to look for it to take up along the walls. I’m going to try curtains in the living room area and see how that looks as well. The entertainment center and I’m going to do the console the more I read comments. Is depth something to think about with the console? I wasn’t sure if I wanted a narrow console since my sectional pokes out leaving only 3’ from the edge of the arm to the wall.
PRO
Fairway Style Living
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi, Amy--

Would you be able to create an overhead drawing of how your spaces connect together? That would really help us look at the overall flow and make sure we're providing the most helpful suggestions.

Also, sounds like you may be in the market for a slightly smaller rug if it doesn't exactly map to the space in either direction?

Just remember, too, that once you select and install your new DR light fixture, the bottom of the fixture should be between 30-34" from the top of your table to properly light faces/food/all that jazz in a dining area. And on a dimmer so you can always control the wattage and make it exactly what you want.
waverly6
5 years ago
What about if you have the tv wall mounted on a swivel bracket so DH could watch the tv from the dining table? I'm not sure if your TV is a flat one that could be hung. Could you switch the sectional around so that one section is by the window and then it's open to the dining table so it doesn't feel so cut off? If you feel you absolutely don't need a second dining area, could you get rid of your dining table and spread out your sectional so the room feels more spacious (once again that TV swivel bracket could help. Or think totally out of the box and use that space for something YOU would like. Make your space what YOU want without following conventional rules. Maybe you could get a foosball table or game table so that you and DH could do something together? Maybe you want a craft area or a reading area. Get rid of the stuff you don't like, Take a photo of it and then sell it or give it to someone who will make good use of it.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
Finally finished the other side. I actually love having cleaned this room and got rid of the catch all stuff just sitting in baskets and on top of the bookshelves. This is the updated photo of the second room I finally finished straightening. I took it from the landing spot on the stairwell.

@Fairway Style Living...I worried you were going to say that about the rug. I just bought that rug. Do you think I could put it in the dining room and get a different one for the living room to avoid trying to have to sell it too and hunt for another one? I included a layout of the room, just minus the sizes of the sofa and furniture that already occupies the space.

@Waverly66...I might need an example of what you’re talking about regarding the spreading of the sectional. I don’t think it’s possible to flip it around because the tv has to be on that wall due to the outlet location. Also, I worry the dogs will ruin the back cushions even more than the one that they’ve caused to slouch because they have an obsession with looking out the window and people watching. They will run and jump towards the window if they see a dog or person in our yard so I can imagine what damage they’ll do if given a sofa to play with.
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
5 years ago
looks great!
PRO
Peyton Bainbridge Interiors
5 years ago
are you entirely opposed to mounting the television and having an entertainment console underneath?
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
I’m not opposed to mounting the tv.
waverly6
5 years ago
ok.I hear you about the dogs running to the window. Now that I see the other side of your sofa, i don't think you need to move it down. ( or spread it out. )
groveraxle
5 years ago
Wow, you even got a shot of Hubs eating and watching TV. When you said he did it constantly, I expected him to weigh 300 lbs.

A long slim console with the TV mounted above on an articulating arm would allow him to watch from the dining table. (He could also get a larger TV. Maybe there's a deal to be made here.)
PRO
Peyton Bainbridge Interiors
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I just put this in one of my client's dens. (this is a generic photo, this is NOT their den). We did the living room furniture very low, due to the small space and so it maximized it. this is what i envisioned in your space. quite frankly, I would move the sectional the other way and have a side chair behind the dining table, making the rooms their own without it feeling like you are trying to make a separate room. this way, they transition while keeping their own spaces.

here's a photo of the console. It is media friendly, and has wiring holes behind it all.
mimimomy
5 years ago
Wow, looking so much nicer than the original photos! Great job :) Less is more.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
@Groveraxle...I told him I’ve been cleaning and trying to get this room figured out so he either moved or was going to be in the picture lol. He’s a cop who is in his late 30’s but acts like he’s 80.

@Peyton Bainbridge Interior...I love that console and have been already looking to see what they have in the furniture stores that is close to it. Would you still do floating shelves around it? What do you mean flip the sectional around? I think I worry about how close the door is and it hitting the back of the sectional when it opens, and then it sliding back when my two dogs jump on it to look out the window.

I don’t know why (maybe Pinterest is to blame), but I’m obsessed with wanting to stick the galvanized pipe shelves somewhere in my house and I envision a little tobacco basket that I made sitting on the shelf somewhere.
groveraxle
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I turned the TV so you could see it from the dining table, Amy. And I took away the TV trays since he won't need those anymore.
suezbell
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Unless you truly enjoy dusting and/or a clutter vibe, "no" to floating shelves.

Removing clutter helped a lot. "Cluttered space = cluttered mind." A bookcase style cabinet with doors -- solid and/or glass -- behind the sofa or a full 6' height corner cabinet might help you have enough storage space to not permit the clutter to accumulate again.

Not usually a fan of sectionals; however If the sectional is in good shape and your husband likes it, why change what "works" -- especially if a new sofa would just end up w/dogs lounging on it anyway.

Matching ceiling fans in the living and dining rooms would be a good idea.

When the weather warms, perhaps you might convince hubby to use his woodworking skills to create new dog beds that are within a credenza style cabinet -- making a cabinet a dominant furniture piece rather than dog beds.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
Oh @groveraxle you made me smile so much. @suezbell, yes. I have had a cluttered brain for so long trying to figure out how to decorate a house and feeling stumped with difficult layouts. Funny you should say that about the credenza beds for the dogs. I showed that design to my husband before he made these. It’s like how it is with everything though. We get what we need in the present moment and not think about whether that will work for us later down the road. The amount he spent in materials was ridiculous and the crazy thing is they don’t even sleep in them all the time. My flooring is next because they have torn them up with jumping in and out of the beds or recliner chair (which used to be by the window) to look out the window. I wish I would have thought more about furniture before investing in the sectional, but that was the only way at the time I could think to divide the rooms.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
After exploring the credenza concept more to think of what I could propose my hubs build, I got to thinking man how my dogs have us trained in our own house
miss lindsey (She/Her)
5 years ago
Well I just have to say that I have never, and I mean EVER, seen an Original Poster go through such an amazing psychological transformation in such a short time!

Amy you've got this!! Let the Husband- and Dog-training begin lol.
PRO
Fairway Style Living
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Amy--

I wouldn't recommend moving your large rug to your dining zone, a space smaller than its current location. It looks like the one in your living room is just a bit too large for any of your spaces. But there are plenty of slightly smaller, size-appropriate options that would fit your space and not break a budget (Target has some amazing new choices, if you've got a store location near you, that may be a winner). Do you know how large your new area rug is? I'd think about scoping back ~2 ft. in length x width, each.

Normally, area rugs for a conversation space should connect all the front legs of furniture in the grouping, but not run behind the pieces into other areas.
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
Lol. Well, I have to say that this was a whole lot better than how I felt before hand of wanting to just bulldoze the house and start over haha. This has been so helpful for me. Thanks for letting me share and thanks for giving such amazing suggestions.
Susan Davis
5 years ago
Love this post because proves you do not have to throw out the baby with the bath water! Looks so fabulous.....I am rooting for further progress, you have got this Amy!
Aimee Willis
Original Author
5 years ago
@Fairway Style Living..My rug that I just bought is 7’10” by 9’10”. I got it off Wayfair which ironically replaced my Target rug. If it could have just been 10” shorter it would have stopped where it probably needed to stop.
PRO
Fairway Style Living
5 years ago
Got it (8 x 10 for practical purposes). I think a 6x8 or 7x9 at the most would be the largest in there you'd want to go in the living space--lots and lots of options in those sizes at all price points. If you've got the paperwork and the dogs haven't thrashed it, it might be within a return window at Wayfair - worth a check, if so.
Laura Hill
5 years ago
Such a difference already! Definitely a long, slim console for the television. Echoing an earlier suggestion for adding artwork around TV to reduce it’s dominance in the room. The photos below aren’t your style, but you get the idea...
Laura Hill
5 years ago
Also, although the rug is a bit large for the space, from your pictures it seems you might be able to move the rug further towards the windows (to edge of TV console) in order to reduce the encroachment of the rug into the dining space...