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Awkward Long Living room problems

3 years ago

I’m running into issues with furniture placement in our fairly long living room. We have 1 long sofa & 1 loveseat with a coffee table & two end tables. Our living room opens up to our dining room on one side, and the front entry on another side with a large window on a third. We also have an off-centered wall that we feel only makes sense for a tv but kind of throws off our layout, hence why I’m here. I’d also love to get an area rug to help define the space, but i can’t see where it’d go! We have an awkward gap between the couches but if I move them closer, it cuts off the opening to the dining room & also leaves an even more awkward space behind it. All advice is welcomed! 😊

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BeverlyFLADeziner

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

This layout should work for your room. Place the largest sofa centered on the window, place the smaller sofa at a right angle to it. I can't tell from the strange angles of the photo if the wall where the TV is currently is the best for its placement so I am offering two locations.

The corner is going to demand a MUCH larger corner table than what you currently have along with a larger lamp. That's because your seating is so very large.

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Comments (13)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
3 years ago
Could you please give us a floor plan with measurements? Is it possible to switch the position of the tv and the loveseat that backs up to the brown curtain? ideally, a rug needs to go under an entire seating area. The seating needs to be close enough to each other so you can have a comfortable conversation.
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geokid, that is actually what I think my husband and I will be doing! What a coincidence! Over the weekend, we tried almost all the layouts suggested (much to my husband and everyone who had to help's horror), even went back and forth a few times, and have settled on two arrangements that will work best for us. In either arrangement, the sofa is going to face the fireplace. We'll have two slimmer side chairs with a opposite from the sofa. We most likely will have the TV mounted on the long wall with a smaller cabinet or mounted cubbies/shelves (something) for the electronics. I might add in a small tufted bench opposite the TV if we need more seating, but the two side chairs should work for now, and when my family/friends come over to play video games (which seems to be really often lately), we'll pull the chairs over. But realistically, we all sit on the floor. The piano will stay along the stairs, and to balance the open wall space between the piano and the sofa, we'll mount some shelves for decor and books. We tried mounting the TV over the fireplace, and I surprisingly liked it, too! It totally cleared up the floor space and made everything so open, but...it was kind of uncomfortable to look up at the TV. I'm only 5'3"; I don't mind a few minutes like that, but not for a couple of hours and not for game-playing. It's fine for my husband, though. I'm still keeping this an option, as I think we won't really know what'll work for us until we start buying some new furniture. I tried placing the piano in the dining room; no good because it ate up too much room. The bookcases are currently there, and I kind of like it! LOL. We have no dining table yet, so it feels like a special reading room. Haha! I like the idea of the bench along the window. If our chandelier was centered in the room, would it look weird for the table to be off-center? Otherwise, my plan was to buy a narrow table, have bench seating on one side (probably closer to the bar area) and regular chairs the other side.
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My living room is very similar, 12 x 25. My entryway is closer to the corner, and built-ins flank the fireplace. Different, yet harmonious rugs break up the tunnel (facing different directions helps too, I think). The front third has a smaller rug, running away from the entry, a piano and a round table centered on the rug. It can look nice but people just throw stuff on it. The center of the room has the larger rug, the FP flanked by armchairs placed away from the built-ins. Sofa facing FP, but not centered. Rug is not quite centered either. Does not bother me. My problem area is the back third, a corner filled with windows and a corner with a small TV that is hard to see. I am imagining that your room is somewhat formal like mine? With all the windows, I can't imagine a den-like room. I am seeing 2 loveseats perpendicular to the FP, facing each other, small table in between. With a rectangular table on the wall facing the FP, with 2 small chairs on either side. The back third would be good for some floor/reading lamps and comfy armchairs - more a private space. A round game table and small chairs would be useful, for cards or puzzles or what you like to do.
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Sofa on long window wall will look and feel the best and make the room inviting when you walk into it from the front entry. TV on the short wall opposite the sofa; pay to have the wiring redone and move on......you cannot make the space bigger but you can make work well....PS what and where do the stairs go? Do you have an upstairs? What are the dimensions of the living/dining room and kitchen.
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You said your needs are a place for your books and a place to work from home. I completely understand why you don't use the desk in it's current place because you're looking at a wall. If you rotate your desk and place it where the sofa table is, you'll be able to look out over your room and even see outside if you keep binoculars in your drawer. :) Place your built-ins on the back wall and leave large open spaces to hang artwork in, then store office supplies like printers, scanners behind cabinet doors. My printer and other unattractive electronics are on slide out trays. Plan ahead and get sufficient electrical and/or HDMI cables to power everything before you put your bookcases in. I like Jinx' idea about wrapping the bookcases around the corner because as much as I love books, they can look like a lot of clutter and there's no way I'm turning the spines to the wall. You can group the books by color or size so they look much more tidy and keep the back wall as an attractive focal point that is also very functional. Lucky you!
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Andrea Wiesner
Original Author
3 years ago
@elaine
jessupjl06
3 years ago
It’s a tough space for sure. I think I’m leaning towards Beverly’s 2nd layout.

If the tv feels too far away then I’d probably put the tv on the wall where the loveseat currently is, Center the sofa on the window then lose the loveseat and instead get 2 chairs for opposite the tv wall that could be pulled in a bit (not pushed back against that small 6ft wall. Chairs would allow you to define a seating area without totally blocking a path from the door to the dining area.
Dawn Martinez
3 years ago
Yes, Beverly's 2nd layout is what came to mind also. An L with the sofas would make it feel like a more pulled together space with people on the sofas being able to carry on a conversation. Get a rug to define the space as well, since it's open...with only front legs of sofas on the rug.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
Can you slide your furniture into the positions suggested in my 2nd floor plan and then take a new picture? We will be able to add rugs and make more suggestions.
Andrea Wiesner
Original Author
3 years ago
Here is the update
HU-187528210
3 years ago
Much better. Definitely needs a rug! New coffee table new curtains would also add a lot do you want to repaint? 😬 add moldings? All this would add SOOO MUCH!!
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Love the decorative pillows that are on the sofa. Those should be the accent colors for this room.

Here are some primitive subtle color rug designs that might work for the room.
PRO
User
3 years ago
The new arrangement works great. Next, move your corner side table closer to the couches. I would also rotate the other side table so the long length of the table runs along the edge of the couch. Now all you need is a rug and an indoor tree or maybe even a floor lamp.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
If you like this, you can order the smallest size rug and check for quality and color first. It's going to be a thin rug for this price, but that's not always a bad thing.
Andrea Wiesner
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for all the help so far! Right now, our dogs bed is in the corner between the couches & im thinking of getting a blanket ladder also. Shopping for a rug online. The tv stayed on the wall in Design A, so now we’re trying to think of what to put in the space to the left of the long couch. Bench, accent chair...
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
Does everyone want to sit on a sofa? You could add one lounge chair to the area.

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