Oh, Come on, Flo, really??? Why would you suggest that layout for this room? You have created an obstacle course for them. Disappointed.

I think Taylor already said that she doesn't want the sectional in front of the window...

What about having an eggplant-y color for accents?

I know budget rules right now, but if you sew, you can make covers for the existing pillows on the sectional...There's a whole bunch of diy things you can do, depending on what you have. Stuff that's not the right color can be painted...you can stretch fabric over simple "frames" for wall decor...search craigslist for a coffee table?

To be honest, I'm not crazy about the lamp...but if it has to stay, maybe we can do something with it to give it some oomph...

Pillows, not together, just for some idea...

I am aware of what Taylor said, however, this layout can be successful if given a chance. Sometimes you have to commit to the full concept to see the possibilities. Also sometimes a person gets committed to a concept and can't see another option.

Thank you Pennydesign, the lamp will go eventually but it has to stay for now because it’s the only source of light in the room. I just don’t want to get a new lamp until I have more of a vision for this room.

I love the idea of the eggplant and I absolutely love that last pillow you show. Do you know where it is from?

I’m going to try moving the sectional to where the tv is now and leave it for a week or so and see if it grows on me at all. Thanks for the help!

https://www.rugstudio.com/suryapillowshh115.aspx#exactline

Maybe hit the shades on that light with a can of dark purple spraypaint?

How do you feel about ikea? You can really get creative on a budget with the inexpensive coffee tables. Or, like I said, Craigslist...

ETA this one is lovely....I've seen it in person in Ikea (50.00) and I wouldn't buy it, but I love what they've done with it here...

http://betterdecoratingbible.com/2013/11/19/diy-tuesday-easy-gold-ikea-coffee-table-hack/

Not that I need explain, but I have done this in a home and the owner's love it. They are happy so it works. It created a "entry" they didn't have which they liked, and space for sitting and taking shoes off etc. So, to each his own.

I could try painting the lamp. I’d like to just buy a new lamp at some point but we’ll see.

The nearest ikea for me is like 2 hours away but I like what I’ve seen on their website. I’ll check it out some more or maybe take a little road trip sometime.

Do you think there’s a good way to make the middle of the room feel less empty. I’m struggling a lot with finding a good layout. Like I mentioned, I’m not a fan of blocking the window and I don’t really want to split the room by putting our sectional in the middle of the room, unless I can find a good way to go about it.

I may try the layout you suggested, Flo. I feel like it’s one I won’t know if I like it until I try it.

Would it look stupid to do a variation of the layout Flo provided that doesn’t block the window? Like the sketch I made here. Sorry it’s such a bad sketch. I just marked it up quick on my phone. The blue is the sectional, red is the tv and then get a round coffee table of some sort.

Honestly, it's just a less-than-ideal room layout (my mom has the same one). You'll just have to try various arrangements until you come up with something that works, which just might be what you've got now. . Eventually, years from now I know, you'll be replacing the sectional but that doesn't help now. Find a box to use as a substitute "chair"...and get some sliders for under the sectional so you can push it around. Remember that what works on paper, often doesn't work irl. But it costs nothing to try.

Taylor - I like your layout. Flo's is good also ( I"d remove chair from DR doorway, tho). Try yours for a week and see what you think. It also will help you define the entrance if you put a sofa table behind it. Personally, I don't care for sofa's up against a wall which leaves the center of the room an awkward hole.

i was going to suggest the layout Taylor did. floating the sectional creating a path around it from the front door to the dining. you still have a view outside but a closer view of the tv. it may take some time getting used to but its nice not having people walk in front of the tv every time the come into the room. it might be tight, but it will be closest in front of the window which will help with the feeling of space

when I bought my first home I changed my furniture placement regularly, living with it for about 2 weeks each. I tried every way I could think of even ones i thought i would hate. I found a couple ways I liked and continued to change between them when I just felt like a change. a couch, loveseat and recliner can be configured a lot more than a sectional though

Here is a picture of a sectional with a sofa table behind. At some point, if you like the arrangement you might want to get a floor outlet for a lamp or two if there isn't one or run a cord from the outlet on the window wall under the sectional..

2003 showcase · More Info

Taylor, I don't think the sofa will block the window as much as you might imagine. No harm in trying, but when you make changes, you have to leave it for several days to really see how it works. The arrangement you suggested would not be good at all, so I wouldn't recommend that. Do you have "sliders". Believe me, that makes easy moving around. Highly recommend.

You have a sectional and that is really a room hog, which is why I almost never recommend them. Some situations require them, but they are difficult to make work. They also don't seat as many as people think. But you have what you have and once you can make a few changes, you will have a lovely room. Might want to do some painting of that TV wall too! ;)

Taylor, listen to the folks telling you to get the furniture glides ;-) Arrangement wise,I would try both Flo's and Beverly's. Notice how both of them keep the sofa away from the window wall. Seems like just a foot or in Flo's plan half that,but IRL it makes a big difference. Especially once the other pieces are in the space. In doing any plan, make sure to measure for sizes accurately. Don't buy because it looks small at the store or even because you love it. Sometimes,what I do after I have the sofa(s) placed,is mark out with tape where,for example, I want a table to be (as in about 16 inches in front of the sofa,about this wide,about this high...you get the picture) and then measure that space. Often this means I'm on the hunt for smaller stuff than what I thought I needed. And yeah, umm sometimes a few inches does matter ;-) So much current furniture is just too large for the airiness I want in my mostly older spaces (all built pre-1960) so thrift and consignment is always worth checking out. Best of luck & Congrats!

For inspiration, here are some photos from room I helped client with very similar to yours. She was scared of dark blue walls. But wanted to try. We did two walls in my fab BM Van Deusen Blue. She is also adding it in adjoining dining room. A bit more to do but sectional is nearly the same as yours!

Obviously, you have a single large window, which is actually easier to work with because you could put patterned panels on each end and leave the sheers in the middle for privacy but still let light in. Just avoid grommet style panels. They take up much more room with their deeper spacing between grommets, which makes for a deeper fold. You could do a area rug under the front legs of your sectional with a rug to rug pad to keep in it place to add some color.

Following

Why is there a need to have the entire window, frame and all, open and exposed to the room?

It's quite common to arrange sofas in front of windows, where the lower area is covered (or "blocked") by the sofa but the rest of the windows are exposed, especially if the room layout/architecture dictates it. You simply pull the sofa out a little farther (not crammed against the wall) to allow for window treatments.

You have a sectional sofa. There aren't going to be a lot of options for furniture arrangement, but right now your sectional looks disconnected from the rest of the room, pushed in the corner as it is.

Following

"Why is there a need to have the entire window, frame and all, open and exposed to the room?"

Because oftentimes, the window is the focal point of the room around which we generally arrange the furniture. So that we can take advantage of any view.

As time goes on, Taylor, you will probably find that more furnishings will find their way into your life.... and you may say to eachother one day "remember when we thought the place was too empty and we wrote to Houzz?!"

Anyway, just wanted to say that I like the arrangement you proposed with the end of the L up against the window wall, to create a conversation/TV watching area in the living room. Then you can use the corner where the sectional used to be for a bookshelf, cabinet, or console, etc. The kind of thing that inserts itself into your life at some point...

following

"Why is there a need to have the entire window, frame and all, open and exposed to the room?"

Because oftentimes, the window is the focal point of the room around which we generally arrange the furniture. So that we can take advantage of any view.

Of course I know a window can be a focal point, lol. But in her living room, having the furniture so spread out, so that she can have nothing in front of the window, makes the whole space feel disconnected and poorly arranged.

And her living room illustrates a common problem. A homeowner will want advice or help with accessories/art/rugs, etc., so that she can help finish the room or "pull it together" ... but unless the furniture arrangement is first correct then no amount of accessories will help.

Taylor, have you had a chance to try my arrangement? Just wondering.

Flo, I haven’t had a chance to try your layout yet. I’m hoping to set that up Monday and see how it goes.

I know it’s been a while, but we tried out some new living room furniture arrangements and decided this is our favorite. What are your thoughts on this? How could we add more color to the space? We want to keep the wall color. We want to get a new tv stand and a coffee table later this week. We were also thinking of moving the tv over a little and putting an accent chair in the corner between the sectional and tv.

The lamp is also going to go. My husband loves it so we’re moving it to his man cave in the basement and getting something new for this room.

looks nice. it leaves you plenty of open space while keeping main traffic out of your living space. it also gives you a better view of the tv. at some point I would look for a longer console for the tv. it should be at least twice as wide. that would also give you more storage and could be a place to bring in color. look for a sofa table since the back of the sectional is now a main entry it could be useful too. a place for table lamps instead of floor. maybe a patterned storage ottoman. bring in color with art and pillows. because you want the afghan in the room look to those colors to coordinate with. get a large picture on the wall behind the sofa. I don't know were you live or what you like but look for sometime that brings the colors of your room together. and think about adding personal photos around the tv.

My Houzz: Feminine Chic Charms in a Chicago Rental · More Info

Hand Painted Framed Canvas Art, Impressionism Seascape Oil Painting, 24"×36" · More Info

Large Abstract Painting on Canvas Modern Acrylic Skyline, 36x36, Blues, Gray · More Info

Well, I really dig the snake...so sad it's going ;)

It looks good this way. I think you should go with a plum and gray color scheme...

Thanks for the responses. I love the idea of using gray and plum for a color scheme. I’ve been having a hard time finding artwork I like that goes along with that.

We picked out a new tv stand that’s about twice as long as what we have there now, so hopefully it starts looking better after that.

Would it look bad to put an area rug in the area between the sectional and tv? I was thinking I’d get one that would go under the sectional just a little bit and go most of the way to the tv. Our carpet is not great, but it isn’t in our budget to replace it for at least another year.

I would not put a chair in the corner. I would move the tv closer to the corner and get a small swivel chair for the area to the left of the tv so that people could face the tv or the sofa for conversation.

Awesome! That was my fav layout! You could push sectional toward TV just 3-4”. That would help give you room in “entry” for narrow sofa table. An arc lamp set behind corner of sectional would be great. Get one that has big swing so it comes over anyone sitting on sectional. I love round nesting tables for sectionals just get size that leaves about 18” from front edge if sofa. I love mixing grays and purples. Might throw in a cheetah pillow for fun! A small scale swivel chair would work in a couple spots. If you can add one more panel on outside edges of your rods in print that would frame your window nicely. I will post some options. So glad you tried this layout. You will love it.

Get your new TV console then a new chair. Adding carmel leather with this color palette is nice too.

I think a rug is a great idea here...it will define your living space, thereby "creating" a hallway behind the sofa...plus the plum color is so delicious to spread all over the room. But definitely not a generic rug that I see all over here. I'll see if I can find something unique (but budget friendly)

Etsy has nice original artwork. I have gotten several prints for very reasonable prices. Here is an example (not my house!!).

Large painting PRINT giclee print abstract art aqua teal | Etsy · More Info

Here are some ideas. You can decide which metal you like best aged gold or silver. I couldn’t place arc lamp base behind sofa easily but base should be behind sofa corner.

I added art on the entry wall but I would probably look for something for TV wall once you get TV Console decision made. The sectional is pretty traditional in style. Do you want to go more traditional or a combo of that mixed with some more contemporary pieces? The concepts I have put together for you can easily be shifted to other styles. No problem.

Thank you Flo. I’ve looked at those exact tables. I’m hoping the new tv stand will be here by this weekend so I can start deciding what to do with the tv wall. It obviously will need something else going on over there.

I think we tend to like a more traditional style. We know we definitely want to make our house feel as cozy and homey as possible.

I do have one piece of artwork for the living room that my husband bought me as a gift. It’s all gray so it won’t add color, but I’m hoping to work it into this room somehow. Here’s a picture of it.

More I added your knotted throw corner of sectional and layered 3 pillows in front of it. Added art to entry wall.

I love that dock picture. That might work on entry wall. There are nesting tables that are wood but to keep open feel I think metal and glass will work better. Can’t wait to see new TV console. That will inform coffee table styling somewhat.

This is what we picked for the tv. We are leaning towards mounting the tv slightly higher and possibly adding a lamp like the picture on both sides of the stand but we aren’t sure yet.

I love that unit! It is very flexible and interesting too. I would hold off mounting TV to give yourselves room to adjust later if needed. Where did you find the black? I have seen it in white.

Hold off on the lamp towers. Kind of dated look.

I found the tv stand on both Wayfair and Amazon. We don’t want to spend a ton on one right now since we have a lot of house to furnish.

Love the TV console.