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Home Decorating Design Dilemma living room

CHALLENGING ROOM!!! Can anyone help with my furniture placement?

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I have tried so many different arrangements and furniture (see below). None quite seem right. I no longer have the chairs in the first photo (my cat destroyed them). I'm afraid for now I need to keep the couch and current chairs (remaining photos-will eventually change the chairs to smaller?). I can lose the coffee table. We watch TV as a family here, entertain, read, relax and just hang out. Thinking of putting the TV on the fireplace. How should we arrange the furniture???? I don't really want to block the windows, but have a large half opening to go to the breakfast nook and kitchen. Can anyone give me a good layout idea?!!

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Comments (3)

tedbixby
3 years ago
I think any of those are working. And if you don't want to block the windows then there is no need to try flipping the sofa and TV. Is it the "look" or that it isn't functioning for your family? I would do everything to avoid putting the TV on the fireplace. As one reason look how high it will be compared to where it is now located. Sit on the sofa and stare at least for 5 min above the mantle and see how that feels.
tlwild thanked tedbixby
tlwild
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Thanks so much for your input!! I keep going back and forth on that....I have stared and it does really seem high. In pictures I was thinking the same, it looks like it's working...I'm not sure why I feel like something is missing? We currently don't have a third chair in there..so maybe that is it, that window corner beside the TV is bare, so maybe I just need another small item there? As for moving the TV, one reason to move is TV watching is awkward from the couch as there is only one "Prime" TV watching spot on the couch! What do you think about flipping the couch and the chairs (from the first image)? I just wonder if that is too much to see the back of the couch from the kitchen?
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Center the rug with the fireplace. Take the bookcase out of the left corner of the room and put that in the space between the kitchen and FR, where the console table now sits. Move the sectional down toward the fireplace, (after centering the rug), add an end table to the outside of the chaise part of the sectional. Someone sitting there wonÃ¢ÂÂt want to move to get a drink off the coffee table. Be sure there is a lamp there as well, to light that corner of the room. Move the armoire to angle in the corner where the sectional was sitting originally. Use it for storage, perhaps add shelving or even a pull-out shelf for a computer center which can be closed up and put away. The piece is very nice, and gives good height to balance the fireplace and high ceilings. For now, try the console on the wall to the right of the fireplace, and place the new flatscreen on that. Later you may prefer a more substanial cabinet, which can hide other components and store DVDs, etc. If you do that, then try the console table behind the part of the sectional that has its back to the kitchen. Add a comfy upholstered chair in the corner, a bit closer to the fireplace, where the armoire was, along with another small side table and lamp.
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Such great character in your home! It's a tricky layout to work with because either way, the back would be facing either the TV or the fireplace. I believe this could be considered a "Keeping Room" which is on trend right now, so you should have lots of great options for furniture. I think your best bet is to find two big, comfortable chairs with a low profile as not to ruin sight lines to your dining room. Get them on rockers/swivels and either place them in the middle of the room facing each other for easy maneuvering to face the TV or fireplace - or angle them with their backs to the the fireplace towards the TV. Find a nice light colored rug to place below them to anchor the space and get small round coffee table or tufted ottoman to use as a footrest or with a tray for beverages. Here are a few images I found when googling 'Keeping Room' that could work in your space.
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I’ll have to add the floor plan measurements when I move in for sure. The flooring is going to replaced with hardwood, it’s the front entry living space, so there won’t be a tv, just needs to be a comfortable, pretty and welcoming place people can sit and visit. There’s another living space in the back room for the television and stuff.
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tedbixby
3 years ago
Regarding flipping the couch and chairs as you mention. When TV is watched are all 3 spots used on the couch? As I'm guessing the chairs are the ones used most? And if that is the case, I think the 1st photo makes the most sense for seating as the 2nd photo with the chairs by the fireplace the chair doesn't seem to be facing the TV anyway. If all 3 spots on the sofa are used and the chairs not so much, then it wouldn't hurt to put the sofa facing the TV as you mentioned and see how it works. I think optimum comfort is probably 1st over feel and look?

And when you are ready to replace the chairs, look for small and ones that swivel. That will give people the option to swivel towards the TV or couch if the chairs end up being next to the fireplace or across. If you keep the chairs next to the fireplace, then no need to add another chair. If you decide on the chairs facing the TV then you can add a chair but knowing that it won't be used for TV viewing. Just for overflow.. And if you decide to replace the couch down the road and it ends up facing the TV you may want to do a small reclining one.

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