Long Narrow family room-Help!-updated with after picture
I would appreciate some feedback as I am seriously struggling with my bowling alley family room that connects with my kitchen. The space dimensions are below, but it is basically 15 x 11 wide. I would love to put a fireplace at the end with built in's but do not think it can support that due to the bump out with a chimney pipe (18x24inches). I think I would just need to build out the wall and have a flush fireplace, that seems a little boring and I would like storage.
Second more feasible option is to somehow do better furniture placement as I am not married to the idea of the fireplace if just moving furniture around could make it look better. My sofa is 88 inches, I have two swivel chairs on order coming 30x35dx34h. I am fine getting rid of anything else in the room if people have ideas( the chairs were a temporary thing that are going soon). I was considering trying to move the sofa to the window wall, getting a larger tv stand to fill the wall? There is empty space between the kitchen and where this starts, I just feel it is so cold and weird shaped. I do understand i have a small tv that does not help, i hate that it is the focal point, but this is a room where my son and I watch tv so it has to be family friendly.
Comments (11)
freedomplace1
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPut the tv in front of the windows on a long, low console. If you mainly watch tv at night, glare should not be an issue. For daytime tv watching window treatments can mitigate glare issues.
You may be able to arrange the swivel chairs like this. And use a slim coffee table or a small end table as a coffee table or maybe use some nesting tables, etc.
C-tables are another option.
And on the wall where the tv is now, you could put a slim console with some art over it - or an electric fireplace with some art over it.
PROCDR Design, LLC
3 years agoI would set up the furniture like this. One problem with a built in is that it ties you into a certain dimension for the tv. I would recommend saving $ by buying a larger tv and a console. You can buy bookcases is you need storage.
The below gives you a general idea. You could add bookcases, fireplace or not.
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Seeking ideas to utilize long narrow spaces for kitchen + family room
Comments (1)Post in the kitchen forum. There are quite a few layout experts there to help....See MoreHelp with long narrow living/family room
Comments (3)To help with the imbalance between door and fireplace I would put a sofa perpendicular to the FP on the dining room side, and two chairs perp to it on the north side. Center a coffee table with the firebox to give a feeling that all is in alignment, even though its not. The coffee table should be 18" or less from the sofa, and the chairs, if further away from it, can have their own side table (round if you angle the chairs, square or rectangular it they sit straight. Try a sofa table behind the sofa and a tall piece of casegoods on one of the solid walls. Lots of art....See MoreHelp needed with long, narrow living room. Lots of pics!
Comments (6)agree about the tv. man oh man is that thing high. anywhere else you can put it for staging? and your pictures are also hung too high. But if selling, you should remove all family photos and store them. this is just weird. Too many chairs, too far back. Keep maybe the one red chair in the corner by the window/fireplace. remove the other chairs. you need a sofa and one, maybe two chairs when staging. get a new fan,,,like this one. the one you have is way too small and is meant for a very small (like 8x10) room. whatever those yellow bulbs are, replace them w/daylight bulbs. you don't want yellow light. Let the fireplace be the focal point. (without that tv hung to the ceiling! get a nice piece of artwork) similar colors to yours. get a picture like this above the fireplace. and don't hang it too high! from the floor to the CENTER of the art should be 56-60". eye level for average people. they have a lot of books and stuff, so I wouldn't copy that. but the smaller chairs are nice, and the little pillows are nice. sofa, coffee table and a chair,,,nice rug. that's all you need in there. sofa, (this is a sectional) ottoman, and ONE of these chairs,,,facing the fireplace. (see where this tv is above the box?? that's how it should be) or this one (notice the tv) Sofa, one chair in the corner. you can place the sofa under the window, or float it about 10' back from the fireplace. notice the rug. get something w/some interest or do a sisal rug. nice chandelier, coffee table. you could place a larger sofa like this under your window and have the two chairs directly across from it. Like shown here. pretend this is your fireplace. set up furniture just like this. get a nice light or a better fan. done. another visual. one more. see the diff between all of these and what you have? The dining area looks nice....See MoreNeed layout help with narrow living room & family room !!
Comments (2)Try a chaise sofa and one chair in the TV room so you have room for kids play area. In the living room use a 3-seat sofa and two chairs grouped around a coffee table and use floor lamp flanking the sofa....See More
Melissa c
3 years agoMelissa c
3 years ago- PRO
CDR Design, LLC
3 years ago - PRO
CDR Design, LLC
3 years ago freedomplace1
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoYou’re welcome.
Maybe consider getting some motorized shades. Then all your son has to do is use a remote control. Or some other type of blinds/shades that would be user friendly, and not a tragedy if damaged. You can keep the drapes and just incorporate shades or blinds. He doesn’t have to touch the drapes.
It would be a much better setup for you. You don’t want to put your sofa with back to windows - not good Feng Shui from Eastern Feng Shui perspective. That is not a comfortable placement and closes in the room.
Sofa floating with back to entry is not good, either. If you do opt for that one, put a slim sofa table behind sofa to anchor it - as well as present a better view from back of sofa.
Also, I wouldn’t recommend adding built-ins for storage/display, etc. It’s a small room, relatively speaking, and it seems best not to crowd it.Melissa c
3 years ago@freedomplace1 over lunch, I moved things around to get a feel for what you were describing. I could not move my normal tv and brought a smaller one, to improvise, but I liked the way the room looked. I can imagine some beautiful artwork in between the chairs once the tv is moved, and the new chairs are in. I am really surprised and had never considered moving a tv in front of the window. I attached a pic for reference. It already felt warmer, and artwork will help with the dead space. I can start looking for a new tv stand, and tables and finally feel like I can make this room cozy after 2 years.
I also tried moving the sofa to the window (was not advised and I did not like it, and to face the kitchen (also did not like).
freedomplace1
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI’m so glad you tried it, and can get a sense of how it could work.
In the house I grew up in, we actually had our living room tv in front of a window. There were two large windows flanking a center fireplace, and those were the days before anyone would even think of putting a tv over a fireplace. So we had a tv built into a low cabinet in front of the window on right side of fireplace and it was never an issue. We mainly watched tv at night. But for daytime tv viewing there are always window treatments.
Measure the area and get a long, low tv console that will fit nicely for the space. There are a lot of nice styles available.
I am really glad you tried and like the arrangement. You can do a lot with that free wall in the back now, and you maintain your open room space + views, etc.Melissa c thanked freedomplace1freedomplace1
3 years ago
Melissa cOriginal Author