Can you post a photo?

The chairs are different now but this is the best picture I have at the moment. The fireplace is flanked by bookshelves. Waiting on a rug to get in.

No, I would not do that. I would suggest posting a floor plan and a current photo. I am sure someone here could help you arrange your furniture so as to not block the fireplace.

Like this?

Yes, you can, if you have the space and clearance for it.

Great Room · More Info

Great Room Fireplace · More Info

A Helpful Collection of Visuals · More Info

A Helpful Collection of Visuals · More Info

A Helpful Collection of Visuals · More Info

https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/living-room-rules-know

Can someone provide input on which orientation works best? Or whether I can consider getting either a loveseat or two different accent chairs to place on the rug? I feel like these chairs don’t work well on the rug because they don’t look like comfy rug chairs.

mdln, thanks for posting that LR rules link!

The rules link was from cd.

Thanks @MDLN; So you think it's fine on the carpet? I would have to do some convincing with my husband, not sure that he agrees. If we could find something to replace in the bay window maybe he would take it more seriously. In regards to moving the chairs to face the window, they would end up blocking the area flowing into the formal living room. So not too sure that orientation will work. But tomorrow I will play around with it and snap some more pictures. Thank you for the feedback, if anyone else has please do share.

Thx cd!

The space is not visually balanced. I would add a sofa opposite your current one.

It's perfectly okay to float your sofa. It doesn't have to rest against a wall.

Do you sit in those chairs near the bay window? Just a long bench might work there. Then move the 2 accent chairs to face the window.

Took a few pics where the chairs are on the opposite side. Also took a pic of the distance between chairs and walkway into formal living room. I moved a couple of other chairs over by the window just to take up space and simulate furniture in that spot. Let me know what you think. I don’t think we would want an entire sofa facing the FP though.

I think it looks more balanced; ideally all the furniture is equally on the rug, or none of it is on the rug. In your case you are limited by the narrow space

It looks a lot better!

You could scoot the two chairs closer to the fireplace since it's not a major path and center the coffee table. This would leave good flow around the perimeter to other rooms.

Would you be totally against a large plant for the bay window? I'm all about function. Why would someone want to sit in that chair in the bay window area? Even if you had a lot of company that chair looks like the "time out" chair and even with two there, not integrated. Do you need the extra seating space for frequent guests? What's your climate? Any chance people entering the house need a place to take off shoes?

I think we’ve got enough seating because we have a living room with a sofa and two chairs, along with an eat in kitchen right behind the family room if we needed guests to sit there. I guess the bay window seemed like a perfect spot for that to me, but the dimensions don’t quite work since it’s a little far away. Hadn’t thought about a plant but I have been wanting to have a big plant in the house. That would be a good spot. Would it be weird to have a plant and a bench maybe?

Also in regards to the climate, we experience all seasons. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Although relatively mildly.

Any other ideas for what should go in the bay window area? A plant? A bench or love seat?

Or larger table with lamp & flowers.

I like the new configuration with the chairs in front of the fireplace. I think a tufted upholstered bench would look great in front of the bay window. I like that idea for wxtra seating if needed and it won't abstruct the view or the light from the window, something with a mid century vibe..

I like that bench Theresa, I’ll look for some similar ones. If I do go that route I’m thinking something brownish/tan.

I borrowed a fake plant that was by my front door. I think if I’d have a plant in this corner, it’d need to be something a little bigger. I would’ve liked to have the bench come closer to the rug, but with the rug being centered with the fireplace it would leave an awkward space behind the bench. I can return the bench if this doesn’t work but would like to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

I like bench location a lot, but agree the plant needs to be bigger, even think bench could be longer or put another plant on other sidebtoo.

Thanks Theresa...I can't seem to convince my husband that this configuration works best. He can't understand why the chairs would be 'blocking' the bookcase/fireplace. If I can convince him, I'll buy a larger plant. I like the flexibility of a smaller bench for instance around Christmas time I'd like to have a tree in the space along with the bench if it fits. Balancing it out with two plants is a good idea though, or I may push the lamp nearer the bench, if I keep this layout.

LOL, to me chairs are not blocking fireplace. don't know if this helps, but rooms need layers and the chairs are layered in front of fireplace. good luck trying to sway him. agree bench offers flexibility. the nice thing is that to me there are options with the chairs, the room can look very nice too with the chairs in front of the bay window.

I’ve guilted him into accepting it so crisis averted for now...lol thanks for all the help 😊