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Design Dilemma Furniture

Couch, seating advice

4 years ago

I am trying to figure out how to furnish the library/media room in our 100 year old house. The room is essentially 11‘ x 13‘ with built in book cases on one wall and large windows on 2 other walls (see diagram in picture). I would like to be able to seat 6 to watch TV, though that may be a stretch for such a small room. I definitely want to have comfortable seating for 4, though. The 65” TV is in the bookshelves, as shown.
I was thinking about a super comfy couch opposite the TV flanked by 2 super comfy swivel chairs (see diagram showing 80” couch and 2 chairs). I’d like a longer couch so that my 6’4” son could stretch out on to read or watch TV, but am thinking that would be weird with the swivel chairs encroaching into the space in front of the couch. Looking for advice on furniture scale and placement. Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

CDR Design, LLC

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi. Good that you are planning!

I would not recommend the arrangement you are showing. It is going to feel very awkward with the chairs infringing on the sofa.

Option 1) Same arrangement that you have, but get a 60" sofa and 2 chairs about 35" deep each.

Option 2) A rarely recommend a sectional, but in this case, it might be the best option for your son. You could buy a sofa with a chaise or you could buy a sectional

Option 3) Move tv to the long wall where the door is. Get your 80" long sofa and put 2, 35" deep chairs on the ends. So, same as my option 1, but wider sofa and arrangement moved to short window wall.

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Comments (8)

312forest
Original Author
4 years ago
Here are photos of the space as it exists today.
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Gcubed
4 years ago
If TV has to stay on the bookcase wall, then the sectional or lounger would work. Or maybe a small U shaped sectional with a sofa table behind the long part for drinks, so you can maximize width. May still look cramped though. I like the idea of TV on door wall and longer sofa under single window with 2 smaller footprint swivel chairs (they even make swivel recliners)
312forest
Original Author
4 years ago
Moving the TV is not an option at this point.

I mocked up the sectional and didn’t really like the look... visually way too dense. What about providing similar ‘laying down’ functionality via reclining swivel chairs? I would have to pull them away from the walls a bit, I guess, which would further encroach on the loveseat legroom.

Another thought would be a recliner couch... I recall seeing some nice reclining ‘Natuzzi Italian’ couches a while back, but think they may be too wide. Most other reclining couches I’ve seen are hideous. I’m also not sure about the reliability of motorized reclining mechanisms.
Gcubed
4 years ago
Can you do a lounger (look at Crate and Barrel and West Elm)? They have smaller footprints and the chaise can be switched from side to side in case you want a different look. You may still be able to get a swivel chair (or swivel recliner) on the other side of the chaise. Then you have seating for 4 (and your tall son can use the chaise part of the sofa).
groveraxle
4 years ago
Whatever you do in a room this size, even with small furniture, will feel a bit cramped. Do not exacerbate that by having your seating overlap. Here are three possible configurations to maximize seating. You'll probably have to look at apartment-sized furniture to make this room work.
groveraxle
4 years ago
West Elm has some small space solutions.
Small Space Furniture | west elm · More Info
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
4 years ago
A lighter toned sleeker sofa chaise or sectional would not be too heavy-looking in my opinion.

Placing chairs to overlap a sofa would not work.

For a reclining sofa, I would try Natuzzi, Comfort Design or even Lazy Boy (Have a lot more sleeker-looking styles now). Depends on your budget.

You can also consider theater chairs. You can put them together like a sofa. Some brands have very sleek lines. But, they tend to be expensive.

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