Stumped by Corner Fireplace in Long, Skinny Living Room - Please Help!

5 years ago

Attempting to buy furniture for this awkward room, and we are at a loss! Spent a lot of time and money to renovate the fireplace/mantel so hoping to make both it and the TV focal points for maximum functionality. Absolutely do not want to put the TV over the fireplace, but I'm open to any other suggestions. May consider keeping the couch, but not planning to keep any other furniture pictured in the room if not required. Walls will be painted Dorian Gray if that helps. What should we buy? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Featured Answer

decoenthusiaste

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Why are you choosing paint before you have selected your fabrics and textiles? Paint is the last step in a decorating plan because it can be custom matched to your sofa, drapes and rugs, while they are set in stone. Do you plan on draperies? If not, put the TV between the two windows (less glare too.) It should be on a credenza 25% wider than the set and low enough for the best viewing angle (see chart.) If you want drapes, then put TV on the 8 foot wall left of the FP because properly hung drapes will take up wall space between the windows. You have room for a large sectional, but don't get a man cave style puffy one with a high back that will chop up the room. It can float in the center or go on the long wall, depending on where the TV ends up. Behind the sectional (the kitchen end of the room) you'll have room for a family game table and chairs or a nice sofa table. You'll need a lot more lamps. Turning off overhead lighting and using task and accent lighting will create an intimate and cozy space. Those two chests flanking the archway are perfect spots for a pair of lamps (see chart.)

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Comments (14)

threers
5 years ago
Please do not paint your room before choosing your furniture and please do not paint it gray!

Paint your room a color that you love and that goes with (not match) your furniture, that you also love. . In this way your room will transcend fades and reflect your likes and personality.Good Luck and don't rush.
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It's gigantic. I'd be trying like hell to avoid that. I'd use the dining table in the dining room for a combo desk /office. I'd buy more flexibility.......comfortable flexibility. A tv can mount flat to the wall, With an IR repaeater, it needs no console beneath. The cable box can go anywhere. I'd get a nice deep and comfy 84 inch sofa, put a console with lamps behind. Add two super comfy chairs and ottomans. A nice generous, light and open cocktail table. Lie down! watch the tube! Put your feet up! Add a little ottoman for a perch at the cocktail table. People love to sit and reach a snack. Add a low table between the chairs at the fire......open and light. Ten x 14 rug to ground everything. ( dotted line ) Go set yourself up in the dining room, to work, and just clean up when you have guests !! No matter the sprawl, no more than three folks will ever sit on that beast of a sectional : ) Two chairs and a total of three ottoman plus at least two on a sofa............for gatherings gives you seven seats. A smashing piece of art over the fire too.
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Kimberly Benson
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your responses! We are neutralizing and modernizing the paint colors throughout our house in shades of gray, which I do really love! We hate the pea green color that is all over and need a blank slate. I'm less concerned about the colors of furniture pieces vs. just figuring out what types of furniture (loveseat, couch, sectional, arm chairs, etc) and where to place them. We need more seating when guests are over! I typical like brightly colored furniture pieces, so I don't see paint color being an issue.

deacoenthusiast, we previously had the TV between the windows, but that seemed to divert focal point from the fireplace which we use constantly in the winter. This may be a naive question, but does a sectional typically refer to an L-shaped arrangement? With the TV on the short wall next to the fireplace, would either side of the "L" sectional be against a wall or would it be completely floated with a small amount of walking space on either side? Would one length of the "L" be parallel to the archway wall or would you angle the point of the "L" towards the kitchen? With one side against the large wall next to the fireplace, won't that create ample dead-space on the window side of the room? Thanks for your input; just want to make sure I understand!
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
They come in different sizes so plan on one small enough that you have plenty of navigation room around it. You might consider a reversible chaise sofa for more arranging options. They come in loft-apt sizes too. You float it facing TV left of FP, or you put it on the long wall if TV goes between windows. Then you could do a pair of chairs on the shorter wall.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
here's a bunch of pics that should give you ideas. some are narrow, some show how to style the tv against the wall, and the others show a corner fireplace.
Jennifer Hogan
5 years ago
My first attempt to visualize how my livingroom would work based on some of the suggestions from Houzz was to make cutouts using graph paper and move them around to see what would fit and how it could fit and leave me at least 3' walking space around all the furniture.

Then I moved most of the furniture out of my living room. I left the TV and a China Hutch - the TV has to stay where it is and the hutch was too heavy to move and wasn't in the seating area.

I had a role of brown paper that I cut into the size of the furniture pieces I was planning on buying and I just moved them around the room to visualize where my furniture would be and if it felt comfortable.

The measurements I used for a sectional and chair were based on furnitre that I liked (stressless)

They were

4 seater + corner 118" (9' 10")

3 seater + corner 101" (8' 5")

2 seater + corner 84" (7' 0")

All were 36" deep and the chair was 36"x36"

Maybe you could do something similar. It was way easier on the back than moving big pieces of furniture around.
jay06
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I think the fifth picture posted by Beth H. would be a great arrangement to copy in your room and would work wonderfully in the space you have.
lyfia
5 years ago
I would consider adding a sofa oon each side of the long wall and then the TV on the short wall on top of a media console or credenza depending on your style. Then add a chair facing the TV at the end. Or 2 small scale ones.

A sectional seems like a good idea, but for entertaining it makes for cozy seating and not everyone is comfortable with that.
ShadyWillowFarm
5 years ago
Put the tv on the wall between the two windows, where the sofa is currently. Sofa opposite, add accent chairs.
partim
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
A U shape is good for conversation, and if you want a lot of seating then the open part of the U should be wide, and facing the TV. Like this.

I would get a long sofa, 3 or 4 seater, and 2 chairs. Swivel chairs are useful for turning to TV and to conversation or fireplace. Coffee table and end tables for beverages and lights. Rug to tie it together.
Jennifer Hogan
5 years ago
Before you can decide on seating you need to design based on a balance of what you need every day, what you need when you have guests, how often you need the additional seating and the activities that will be done when you need the additional seating.

Example: Typically I have 2 people watching TV or playing board games in the evening. About once every two weeks I have 4 people. A 5 person sectional with an additional chair works for both board games or TV. About once every 2 months I will host dinner for my siblings and spouses - then I have 10 people, but the girls usually hang in the kitchen, dining room and the guys go watch TV. Still works. About once a year I have the whole family over for some kind of function. That will be 30 people. I didn't plan my seating for 30. I have a couple of rooms that have seating and we end up a bit scattered. I have enough seating if people use the livingroom, dining room, sitting room and I pull extra chairs that I have in the bedrooms and store in the basement. We just kind of muddle through. In the two years that I have lived here I have not once needed more than 6 seats for watching a movie.

My sister entertains a lot and has a large number of guests at one time on a regular basis. She has a great room with a dining table that seats 12, bench seating under her window wall that butts against her corner fireplace, a 4 person couch with a chaise plus 3 recliners and another small bench that she will place in front of the fireplace and an ottoman that can go in front of the TV for addional seating. She also has several shallow boxes that fit over her TV so that it looks like wall art instead of a TV.

Knowling your needs really helps define the amount and type of seating you need.
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RL Relocation LLC
5 years ago
Hello, I would wall mount the tv and do a very narrow console under it to house the electronics. Also, noticing the new baby (congrats), I would say try to avoid having too many sharp corners, so either have a rounded coffee table or consider using an ottoman with a tray for drinks. sofa and 2 chairs is the way to go here. I have sectional and I find people dont like to sit right next to each other so I think having chairs that swivel would be better because people can get in a group and look at each other rather than sit right next to each other if that makes sense. If you use an ottoman you can still put your fit up to watch movies .
Tina
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
What a lovely room. Here´s a few ideas with furniture layout for you to consider.

Traditional Family Room · More Info

Farinelli Construction Inc · More Info

Little Italy Condo · More Info

Moab Utah Vacation Home · More Info

Hope this was helpful.
Tina
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Also, these two threads might give you inspiration and some new ideas;

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/please-helpliving-room-with-corner-fireplace-dsvw-vd~400320[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/please-helpliving-room-with-corner-fireplace-dsvw-vd~400320)

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/living-room-furniture-do-these-work-together-dsvw-vd~3663177[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/living-room-furniture-do-these-work-together-dsvw-vd~3663177)