Layout for dark living room with one small south-facing window

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hello

I’m in the process of buying a small house (62m2) that has plenty of design and layout dilemmas.

Most important is the living room, which you walk straight into from outside because there isn’t a separate hallway. It only has one window (south-facing). Most of the room is dark and windowless. I’d love some ideas about layout and light to make it a more attractive, light-filled room, please.

Here’s a picture of what the current owners have done, which I find depressing and gloomy.

The window is on the right of this photo, opposite the back wall.

The room is 18m2 in size.

The dining table needs to be in there somewhere because the kitchen is teeny.

Thank you for your suggestions.

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Comments (6)

HU-187528210
3 years ago
Don’t see a black wall but can you give us more details. What does this room connect to. Is there a better place for a table. I would probably do a sectional on the window wall with a rug and coffee table. I have no clue where the kitchen is I’m relation to this room. Please share more pictures. I’m thinking if there’s an opening to the left to make that space the dining area. Show us more so we can understand better
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I think the other owners did a great job of light and colorful and nothing gloomy at all . Maybe you need to post some pics of what you think is what you want. 180 sq, ft is a nice sized room and it seems to handle a LR and dining space no problem. As fro brightness lighting is your friend and lots of it all LEDs 4000K will be a good start. Is that cabinet a built in ? I looked at your idea book and saw many great ideas for this space so not sure what your issues are.
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The tables and blue chair may be darkening the room a bit (if the wood has a dark walnut color to it). How dark is the tan on your walls? Like others said, a photo would be helpful, since I can't really say where in the room would work to put a light. Recessed lighting works well, but I've always found it a bit cold and impersonal. You could use it for extra lighting, but I think there should be a main light fixture that adds character to the room. I don't think pendant lights would look right in your living room. I would consider a small chandelier or a hybrid between a pendant and flush-mounted light. I don't know how high your ceilings are. Also, track lighting which is focused on lighting the fireplace area would look really nice. AND, if possible, a couple electric "candles" in the windows would add warmth to the room at night, if you have a place to put some. Where I live, people keep them up year-round, not just for Christmas. It makes your home inviting from the outside and inside. If you don't have a suitable window ledge, there are some that are held in place by the sash. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Cu5KbEkQCao/TQorZ248YmI/AAAAAAAAAdo/QTi958qgPW4/s1600/CandlesIntheWindow.jpg https://www.irvins.com/product/Cloister-Window-Light/LACT--TNSM--K15-21/ Finally, do yo have any table lamps? Or are you only relying on floor lamps?
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This reminds me of my first condo. The layout was so similar. I had a sofa and two small chairs, but I always wished I had a sectional to fill up the space and accommodate lots of seating (and laying around!) The sofa shouldn't have a very high back or too overstuffed as then it will look crowded. Plenty of large (20"x20" throw pillows will do the trick) Consider a tv easel for easy locations and optimum viewing in front of the window and a long console behind the sofa along the stairs. You still have plenty of room for a small scaled lounge chair and footstool and to have easy access to the terrace and dining room. I'm not a big fan of tiny furniture in small spaces. Less furniture but bigger is so much more functional. Large colorful art over the fireplace and over the sofa will give you the color if you can't paint. Keep the window treatment simple, like off white sheer panels, but don't skimp, they should be full and luxurious (3x the width of the window even if you keep it opened). Hope this helps.
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Every house plan results in compromises. Only Escher can create a perfect plan without them but few builders are willing to attempt building his designs. :-) For me it's difficult to comment on your living room without seeing your plan. I'm a fan of traditional interiors vs open so I think that's a good move on your part. Fenestration will be important though. I also think that in most cases a bit of separation between the house and garage is very beneficial from an aesthetic standpoint as well as providing more window options. I have a strong preference for windows on at least two sides of each room, lots of windows on the south, limited on the west and extremely few on the north. Our new house (http://bamasotan.us) is limited on the north but has gobs on the west (somewhat protected by a porch and balcony) and not nearly as many as I'd like on the south. The first blog photo with the four windows and furnace is our family room so the four windows look west and the window on the far right is south facing. This is the mostly the total of all windows in our family room (there are actually five west facing windows but one is cut off in the photo). I'd like to have had more south facing but that wall also has a fireplace and a TV next to the fireplace as well as a conservatory on the outside that makes a window difficult. Our lot is on the east side of a lake so west facing windows for lake views was kind of important. Other elements (fireplace & chimney, TV placement in family room, bed in master, master closet placement) limited south facing windows. Our kitchen is in the middle of the west side so has lots of west facing windows but is limited otherwise. It does have one north facing window but that is to a porch and a porch wall so limited light but better than nothing. From within the kitchen you can see through a hallway and the scullery to a small north facing window but otherwise it's just the west windows.
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@kdaustin, we have tried to mockup your room with minor modifications. Styled in Scandinavian this layout has more emphasis on the seating area. the seating arrangement is socio petal which makes inviting gesture to anyone entering the room. Grey sofa looks just fine but does not hesitate to play around with bolder color here. ample space available to have large screen TV with storage around if you are looking for storage in this room. A separate dining space is created around the corner near the window. We have created more layout for your room where we have used room separator and created a cozy rather welcoming space to watch TV it also has a secondary conversation area which you can view here. You can also view this room in a 360 photorealistic view here. You can add or replace furniture and move them around to create your own layouts in interactive 3D designs here and also render your own photorealistic images! Do let us know your feedback on designs we are happy to collaborate and make the perfect designs for your room. Happy decorating !!
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yilk h
3 years ago
Thank you for your comments
Gillian Handyside
Original Author
3 years ago
https://gallery.roomsketcher.com/project/?l=en&pid=8931859
Gillian Handyside
Original Author
3 years ago
One option would be to turn the main room (5.34 x 4.05 = 21.6m2) into an open kitchen/dining room and use the current kitchen in the extension (2.64 x 1.87 = 4.9m2) into a snug. The current kitchen is on a slightly lower level, 3 steps down from the main room.

I’m not sure how to approach the layout as the main room is almost square, the only natural light is on the south-facing side, coming through the entrance door, the window in the main room and the window in the current kitchen.

I also need to create a lot of storage space as there isn’t any built in at the moment. Some sort of storage for coats/shoes by the entrance door would be helpful. The entrance door opens to the left and there isn’t any room behind it for coat hooks or a boot bench.

Suggestions most welcome.
Gillian Handyside
Original Author
3 years ago
The other is to keep the kitchen where it is (cheaper and easier) and turn the main room into a dining room + living room + utility room.

How best to do that in the current square format, which, as I said earlier, has no in-built storage and natural light only on the south-facing side.

Thanks for any suggestions :0)

Layout for dark living room with one small south-facing window

Comments (6)

HU-187528210

Patricia Colwell Consulting

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yilk h

Gillian Handyside
Original Author

Gillian Handyside
Original Author

Gillian Handyside
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Layout for dark living room with one small south-facing window

Comments (6)

HU-187528210

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Related Discussions

yilk h

Gillian HandysideOriginal Author

Gillian HandysideOriginal Author

Gillian HandysideOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Gillian Handyside
Original Author

Gillian Handyside
Original Author

Gillian Handyside
Original Author