10 yrs and I still can’t get our living room right - HELP PLS
Hi Houzz! I am making my family of six crazy with this living room - dining room and the changes that inevitably happen every four months :) I desperately need some expert opinion on layout - even to give me a plan to fulfill over the next year...be forewarned - this is no easy feat!!!
A bit of history:
Last year, the grandish piano found itself in the dining room 1) because I was sick of everyone dumping their stuff on the table when they got home and 2) to create a music room and 3) to keep food off the couch during weekends. With four kids 17 - 10yrs and only one living space the living space is our family room, game room, Wii room, work out room, homework/ computer rm, and now dining room. Challenges/Questions: 1)
where to put the tv?? This is probably the root of our problem - I don’t like to see the tv but it just seems most practical over the fireplace and I keep avoiding that option - we watch occasionally
2) I love art and books and have some great pieces but few walls without windows
3) no storage in this house!!
4) no freakin entry - seriously ??? That would be a deal breaker in my new wisdomed self!
5) we use the couch for family nights it it is down (constant fluff work) and is just big
6) I would like to move the piano back in and originally had it under the elk as that space is eaten!! But I love it most in the corner on the left side surrounded with windows and enjoying the view while playing
7) the Elk!! Truth be told - I cried when that beautiful beast took an entire corner of our main room as we unfortunately do not have tall enough walls to mount over the fireplace!!! Ugh - I did ask about raising the roof I married a hunter - enough said. We do eat healthy meat.
I tried a bookshelves on the main wall rt of the entry but it was dark and made the room feel small. (My bedroom became the library as it is quite large)The room is heavy on the elk side and especially with the piano under it and could not find a balance except to put something dark on the indent side of the fireplace which also balanced the entry door - the windowed corner always feels unbalanced.
A friend just gave me the new beige leather couch, marble coffee table, side table and shelf that she did not need. With all that being said - pls help me with layout ideas - I can get rid of everything but the elk (but it can move) the walls are hand oiled (outlawed now) and turned out too caramel but it looks nice - can work on color change as well. I like the chocolate in the dining room. Travertine is in the kitchen, and baths. Light beige window moulding also runs throughout the house.
Comments (54K)
DD Deco
5 days agoDD Deco
5 days agoRelated Discussions
I've tried a million blues and still can't get it right
Comments (14)Yaya - thanks for the link! I do love that, but DH died laughing when I showed him the price tag. I did order a color card so I can see the colors in person for my next project. Lukkiirish - Yes, the two we're debating between are actually grays with a bluish tone. I definitely can't do all blue, but the grays are much nicer. Nadine - Ooh, I can definitely see blue in both of those! Lovely rooms. I think we've decided (meaning DH has the nerve to take a stand on this one design issue - LOL) and are going with the Nimbus Gray. We'll just do the tiny bathroom first and see what we think. Our bedroom is packed with boxes of tile and fixtures for the new bathroom, and I don't really feel like moving all that around just to paint the bedroom first. If we hate it on the bathroom walls, then I may take the gallon back and have it lightened a bit and try that instead. Thank you for all the ideas and suggestions!...See MoreCan't get this room to look right!- Need help. Long!
Comments (51)With all of the built ins, this is actually a MUCH smaller room than it appears to be, and that you are trying to arrange furniture for. And that is why the furniture feels crowded. Crowded, not cozy. The desk and ladder visually blocking the door makes the space feel like there is no room to walk. That may not be correct based on your comments, but it is absolutely the first thing you notice and it sets a tone for the room. The hard lines of the large beautiful desk make the only spot really suited to it in front of the windows. It overwhelms the space if you want comfy seating too because it doesn't leave enough room left over for anything but a small loveseat or oversized chair where you have the desk currently. And the large sofa overwhelms the space if you want it as a more officey area. There isn't room for both functions because of the built ins. You've got to pick one large piece to embody the main purpose here. Either the large desk or a large sofa. Not both. Both don't work with the available floor space. Unless you switch to a small scale writing desk and a smaller scale sofa, and maybe not even then. No extra chair at all. It's already too densely populated. And I agree with the others that the ottoman is visually too bulky and casual for the room. If you choose comfy seating as the room's primary purpose, then I'd choose a sofa that had a matching ottoman to keep the visual clutter at a minimum. All of the different books when they go in will up the noise considerably and you want to try to minimize that effect....See MoreCan't live with my living room...Layout help please?
Comments (12)justgottabme: Yes! excellent plan! The Tv needs to be in that corner next to the fireplace -- either mounted on the wall or sitting on a console or cabinet. Having a cabinet in that spot would anchor that whole corner. And more excellent ideas above too! Love the idea of bookshelves in each of the corners -- perhaps just try basic Ikea Billy shelving -- or other build-it-yourself shelves (try stores like Targer or Walmart)-- just to see if that plan will work for you? Or look for vintage shelving or bookcases on your local Craigs List! Swivel chairs can be found -- check your local Craigs List! But for now -- once you move the TV -- try placing one sofa facing the fireplace -- and another one facing the window -- forming the classic L-shape....See Moreready for living room overhaul but can't get over awkward room. help!
Comments (13)Love the color of the walls and that wonderful paneled wall. I agree that the tv is in the right place on the paneled wall. Here is a floor plan which may work for you. Use the space that is not under the catwalk above as the seating area. This way the walk thru will be under the lower ceiling. Tuck a 87" wide sofa with a chaise end on the right of the fireplace with a console behind. Install wall sconces for lighting at the console instead of lamps. Lose the big lamp (it's ver nice) and use smaller scaled floor lamps. Get a matching 66" loveseat and angle off the sofa. this will create a more open layout and not so boxed off from the kitchen. Add two matching swivel chairs. The coffee table is a 48" diameter with four round ottomans or floor pillows. The rug is 12 x 15 so that it anchors the furniture and includes the paneled wall and the fireplace into one cohesive area. Along the staircase wall is 10" deep low cabinet or bookcase up to the ceiling for games, books, etc. Something like an Ikea Pax with frosted doors, simple and functional for storage. Hope this helps....See More
shwshw
5 days agoDD Deco
3 days ago
PROFlo Mangan
3 days agoDD Deco
3 days agoDD Deco
3 days ago
Seajay Sparkles
3 days agoSeajay Sparkles
3 days agoDD Deco
2 days ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
2 days ago Seajay Sparkles
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days ago
ladma
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days agoladma
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days agoladma
2 days ago
liasch
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days agoDD Deco
2 days agoSeajay Sparkles
2 days agoDD Deco
yesterdayDD Deco
yesterdayGood Morning Houzz Fam 🥰 May jump into the yard for the next couple days as we await some refinance options to secure future planning 🤞. I have come to terms with either option 😉. Our efforts here, as we already addressed will change depending on the goal. Tomorrow is the all day golf fundraising event for Waldo’s High School team. I have committed to the Vegas mirrors, will pick up overhead lighting for the sinks and have ordered the sconce. Shooting in the dark a bit with these chances with unknown brand names. Mirrors are dim, so hoping the additional light sources will do the trick. If not, then it will be some $$ loss and will start over afresh 🤷🏼♀️. Next on the order list is 8” vertical and 10” horizontal long brassy pulls for the cabinet. Also, still need to find pulls for the French doors and perhaps the closet (I do have the brass swan as an option). Where are we envisioning hand and bath towels for sinks, bath and shower? Does this question come before or after the hardscape choices? Can you tell I have been watching gardening videos again 😂🥰 Allana, I am still mulling over your suggestion to pull the blocks out of the other side - I do like the open but private feel they provide so am not sure if I want to cave it. However, in the one bath I like, the wall doesn’t go to the top so perhaps that would help? 🤷🏼♀️
DD Deco
yesterdayallanaspree
yesterdayDD - noticed the sofas that you added to your idea book overnight. This sofa came up overnight and is not dissimilar to the ones you saved. It's in La Mesa!
Seajay Sparkles
yesterdayDD Deco
yesterdayallanaspree
yesterdayWish you had a spot for these mirror/painted panels. So pretty. Any ideas where they might fit?
Goodnight DD. Good luck raising funds tomorrow.DD Deco
yesterdayallanaspree
yesterday
Alice Edwards
yesterdaySeajay Sparkles
yesterdaySeajay Sparkles
yesterday- PRO
Flo Mangan
23 hours ago DD Deco
23 hours agoDD Deco
23 hours agoDD Deco
23 hours agoI am in Love with these…Wouldn’t they make cool sink bases? Am I off my rocker 😂 I am envisioning this, improvised…
- PRO
Flo Mangan
23 hours ago Seajay Sparkles
23 hours ago- PRO
Flo Mangan
22 hours ago Seajay Sparkles
20 hours agoDD Deco
18 hours ago😂 I have a lull so sitting not running 😁 love that bath though with the little vanity part! Don’t worry, put too much work into the existing cabinets hehe!
Flo, I don’t think I can commit to that 😁😎😂
- PRO
Flo Mangan
17 hours ago
Seajay Sparkles