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Furniture placement dilema in open concept great room

3 years ago

I’m really stumped what to buy as far as furniture goes specifically for the living space here. It’s next to the kitchen and very open. I’m leaning towards a sectional but maybe thats not the best use of space? if so - where to put it? Do you get an additional chair as well?

new construction home so I don’t have many pictures And floor plans become clear if you click on photo.

I added a few photos that you can get an idea of what we’re working with. Picture of us is standing at fireplace. Picture of fireplace is kind of standing where we are. Kitchen directly left of transition strip.

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Comments (2)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
3 years ago
Have an overall plan before you start. Don't get bits and pieces. Let's get some unity, here! Measure twice, buy once! I wouldn't do a sectional - they are harder to decorate around. Better is a couch and a few upholstered chairs. Also, of course, side tables will be needed and a middle coffee table. Wall decor, such as prints or tapestries. A rug will be needed under the entire seating arrangement (unless you live in a hot climate). If you like knick knacks, you'll want to get some of those. Do you need storage (or have room for that)? If so, be sure to take advantage of your vertical space. Secure it to the wall if needed. If you are a neat freak, open shelving is possible. If not, be sure to get closed shelving. I like more space than stuff, but that's me. Will you have a tv in this room? If so, do you plan to put it over the fireplace (which I don't recommend), or on the wall to the left of the FP? If tv is on the wall, you'll need a console under it. You will need to "float" the seating arrangement in the middle of the living room. Allow for enough comfortable space for people to walk around. Traffic flow will be important. Develop an intimate seating arrangement so you can have a good conversation with others.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
3 years ago
Hi. Congrats on the new home! Looks like you have some pretty views! Design happens in specific steps. So, you are smart to ask about planning before you jump in.

1) Decide how much space you actually have. Example: you don't actually have 22 feet. See the traffic patterns I mapped out below. If the island is a seating island, you have even less space.

2) Find one or more inspirational photos of what you'd like your style to be.

3) Measure.

5) Finally, you can start to look.

It looks like the area above the fireplace is wired for a tv. This is a possibility, but know that this is very high for a tv. Would work for viewing from the kitchen and/or if you like back watching tv. As long as you are okay with that....... I would prefer on the wall of bedroom 3. Then, a sofa facing it.

Sectionals are hard to arrange and adults prefer their own seats. So, those are things to consider. If you don't have many guests and prefer the family gathered on a sectional, then you might consider one.
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Ignore the critics that think you should have new everything for every room -- not all of us have that budget. Don't discard your furnishings. That you have exercise equipment in this room indicates it's not intended to be a formal living room. While it may well be that not all your furnishings are on the short list of items most of us want to put in our the living room for creating a good first impression -- they're certainly not out of place for a family/activity room. You might want a larger cabinet on which to set your tv in no small part because a taller cabinet will be more comfortable to watch and a larger cabinet with doors would give you media related storage space. With that in mind, if you're wanting to change this room on a budget, sometimes you can find an old hutch or bookcase suitable for use as a tv stand from an "antique and more" resale (used stuff) store, Habitat for Humanity Restore Store, Good Will or a local charity thrift store that will serve your purpose When you are out and about with a few minutes to spare, wake through these and see if something catches your eye. If you are careful not to collect junk -- if you know the measurements of your room/space before buying anything and buy only what you will actually use, then such trips will not be wasted time. Good hunting.
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Congrats on the new home. If the end wall in the second pic can be a solid wall, you might be better served to have your tv centered on that wall (or in one of its corners) and have your sofa (w/sofa table or desk or cabinet or bookcase of equal height behind it) serve as a room divider between entry and seating area rather than having foot traffic forever walking between your tv and your seating area.
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Open concept sounds like a great idea. “Sounds” is the operative word. Sounds bounce all around in a large, single living space. Think carefully about how you and your family will actually live in one room. Can you run the dishwasher after dinner and still hear the tv? If you have kids, do you really want your living room on display to anyone who appears at the front door with all the toys all over? Can you run the food processor , the microwave, the exhaust fan while someone in the living space is trying to talk on the phone? Will it bother you to see all the dirty dishes piled on the counter while you relax at the dinner table? Where do you hang pictures if you have few walls?
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It's always difficult to position furniture in an open floor plan, especially when there are so many walkways and doorways. I would place a sofa on the long wall to the left of the fireplace, and another sofa perpendicular to that facing the fireplace. That defines the seating area. Then add a console table behind the sofa facing the fireplace, a coffee table in the center, and end tables on either side of the sofa on the long wall. Add a club chair to the right of the fireplace, an area rug and you're all set!
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