I'm having trouble finding chaises/loungers that are sturdy enough to be used as benches, while still being light enough to move around without it being a two person effort. Is there any way we can reinforce a lounger when using it as a bench? I'm also trying to not to spend a ton of money, because we're renting and it isn't our forever home. The usual dilemma! EDIT: I just realized the type of lounger I was looking for won't fit in the space, so that opens up a lot more possibilities - I may not need to have to use that particular piece as a bench after all, so that eliminates that problem! The heft and price are my main contenders.

I can see the door system working in the long term! Good suggestion.. however, i’m more or less looking for furniture layout solution as I’m not able to swing architectural changes right now. Floating sofa looks fantastic! Thanks everyone

Beautiful home! The set up you described from your friend would be my obvious first thought. It's classic and I think would be very versatile. However, to me, that fireplace just calls for two oversized squashy armchairs angled in front of it! In that case I'd want a shared arm table of some type between them. If there's more of you (I see baby items) you might consider a smaller U shaped sectional with the fireplace at the center point. In that case I would add a console table behind the back of the sofa towards the dining room entrance since a coffee table would be harder to fit. I also believe you need some type of console table or cabinet along that wall opposite the fireplace. I don't think seating would work there so I think it needs to be cabinetry of sometime. As far as sizing, there is no substitution for mocking it up. Use masking tape or old cut out old wrapping paper into the size of some furniture you are looking at. Practice walking around, view it from different angles, etc. As far as what color for any arm or console tables and whether they need to be dark like the dining room, I don't think you need to match the dining room. From the photos it seems that it will read as a separate room. However, with how much light colors you have on the walls and fire place, etc, I think I would still gravitate towards a darker table.

Hi @Allyson Jones, please consider the following arrangement of furnishings. This is meant to give you a lot of flexibility, more seating options for gatherings with family or friends. The carpet would need to be rotated one quarter turn every so many months so it wears out evenly given that you have traffic to the guests quarters. Do not be fret over empty walls. Empty space is very importance. Add only things that matter to you, that bring you joy, that tell the history of your family. Avoid home goods stores, all those cute items go out of style quickly. Keep only two of the stools. Endeavor to use the dining room table more. It is important for a family to turn off the tv and focus on each other. Use this plan to measure how the sofa unit should fit in the space. Use a glass coffee table to keep the space visually lighter. The chair in the corner can be a funky statement piece, either by its shape or color. If you do place a chair there, replace the light fixture currently in that corner with a floor low-wattage canister light on a timer, so it automatically turns on at night, and off a few hours after you go to sleep. Such lights, on the corner of a room, produce a very warm and inviting effect. I hope this helps.