I can suggest what we did -- we went with a moderately priced leather (leather match -- the back and sides are actually a matching vinyl but 12 years later they still look like the seats -- just less worn) when my youngest was probably in 1st grade -- he's in college now. We have two boys and they grew up with the sectional, DH came and took breaks from working in the yard, and two dogs acquired along the way sometimes came in and hopped up before we noticed they'd been in the pool or dirt. I can't think of anything else that would have lived with us so well, been so comfortable that I fell asleep on it the first day we had it and it's still comfortable. Our sectional is a Lane and I've been surprised to see people calling them junk, but we bought it 12-13 years ago and things may have changed since then. It wasn't top of the line -- the leather match takes it out of that category, but the leather and the vinyl have not given us any problems, Everything other than the Sharpie mark left when my youngest fell asleep while working on homework cleaned up easily, and I even got out the Sharpie. I will stop short of recommending Lane because the reviews now seem universally poor, but I do think it makes sense to go with a modest (not cheap) to mid-range sectional. I wouldn't look at top dollar or maybe even your top budget unless you know you aren't going to be moving for a number of years (the size of configuration might be all wrong for the next house). We are looking at Omnia at a local dealer. If you don't have a local dealer, there are some locations you can purchase online (including limited models from Wayfair. They are full leather -- not match and made in USA. They have non-reclining sectionals in your price range. All the ones we've sat on have been very comfortable. We have ruled a few out because the backs are shorter. Your DH may like the split cushion back -- they sit 2" taller. My 6'4" sons liked them. Macy's also has some leather sectionals that are sofas and loveseats with a corner wedge. That means have two arms on both sides and can separate them -- even use them separately or in the reverse configuration if you move. I prefer not to have the arms inside the sectional and they don't fit our space anyway, so they aren't an option for us, but I've sat on them and they are very comfortable too. Hope that helps.

I've only had a sectional in a room that pretty much dictates not only a sectional but also the direction. Most rooms where I would use a sectional seem either fairly equal or like they dictate the placement. If your room can take the longer length in either direction, have you looked at how it impacts other furniture placement and paths around the furniture? Does one placement suggest a chair where one would not? Then consider how often you use your fireplace, the views out the windows. All things being equal, I would probably have the long side face the fireplace, but hopefully not blocking or preventing a view out the windows. And I am sorry that you found it so difficult to get an answer to your question. I cannot tell you how many hours (days, weeks, months) I have spent searching for furniture for my family room -- twice now (15 years in this house). In order to have seating that fits us and the room, our home and our lifestyle, it had to be a sectional (and a very difficult size at that -- which is part of why I tried everything else). The last thing I would want to hear is a bunch of folks who have never seen my room or looked at the options or reasons for my choice trying to talk me out of it. No one is asking them to pay for it or to use it. So many one size fits all types here. At six feet tall and with friends a foot or more shorter, I have never understood how one size is supposed to fit all. Not well, anyway. Do it well. Arcy -- I'd be limited to floor cushions! LOL

It would be better to have empty space near the slider than to have a sectional all the way up to and in front of the slider, or a sectional with a short seating side in the open part of the room to keep the sliders clear. But I agree with others that a sofa and chair is much more functional.

What does the 4th wall in your room look like? Is it possible to rearrange things? Give it a quarter turn so that it is no longer in front of the windows. In other words, one section on the back wall and the other section would be where the TV / console currently set. The TV could then be on that (unseen) 4th wall. I also think the TV is mounted too high.