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Home Decorating Design Dilemma living room

Need Help with long narrow living room

bostonmamatofive

3 years ago

Hoping for some help!

Our living room is long and narrow 12.5 ft wide X 25 ft long.

We are a large family of 8- kids range from 11-0 and actually still enjoy (it won't last!) sitting all together watching tv, movies etc., so I am trying to maximize our seating for this season of our lives (soon they'll prefer watching tv in basement with friends I know!) while not clogging up the space and still giving it a light, airy feel.

Hoping you can help with the following:

- Rug size-

currently is a 8.5x12 but I think it needs to be more like 10X14 appreciate any thought on this.
Cannot go wider than 10 ft due to hearth.

Is it ok that the rug goes into the two entries walkways to the room?

Please recommend ideal rug pattern for long narrow space, geometric, stripes, neutral?

- The weird ends of the room-

what to do on the ends of the room?

One side has an antique writing desk, add more to this side? what, maybe just a plant in
the corner?

The other side has nothing really, should I add a built in bookcase (see pic) to that
opposite wall? We could use more bookshelf space

Kids do have some things on that side (books, sm. basket with toys) so maybe define as
a small kids space? it's inevitable that their stuff does migrate from basement playroom.
Keep in mind, this is the entry we typically enter from through the kitchen.

- Furniture and lighting suggestions-

Open to any thoughts on current furniture/layout, especially recommendations for ideal
chairs in this space, I have not yet purchased.

What to do on antique desk side? loveseat (already have) or purchase two chairs and sm
table to balance/mirror other chairs/table at other end.

Add scones to other each built in flanking fireplace, to add light? but not increase space
taken on floor space. Other lighting suggestions?

Appreciate any advice you can offer! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Comments (10)

ashtonchic
3 years ago
How about pictures so we can see what you are talking about?
bostonmamatofive
Original Author
3 years ago
Sure! Thanks. Pictures show a sectional which is not working I don’t think and does not show tv in its new location above fireplace (just got socket installed this week)
Also does not show built ins that are going in soon.
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Not sure that having the walking path meander from left to right is the correct solution for this room. I would change the furnishings arrangement in front of the fireplace to this. Your coffee table seems a bit small for the other furnishings. The silver mirror fades into your wall color. I have changed it to a black frame.
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One idea might be to add a very short wall on the left as you enter the living room so the opening to the living room is the same width as the entry ... and, by doing that you could put wall to wall built ins on that end of the living area, with or without a tv, and still create two separate sitting areas. I don't understand the "bar" against the solid wall behind the pantry and refrigerator. If you changed the pantry to a "butler's pantry" with a pass thru window, that would have made more sense. Is your "bar" a cabinet something built in? Have you considered either closing or narrowing the door between dining and living room and/or creating your pass thru bar there with your piano in the adjoining corner adjacent to the fireplace near the dining room wall? https://www.decorpad.com/search/butler-pantry-pass-through
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It's gigantic. I'd be trying like hell to avoid that. I'd use the dining table in the dining room for a combo desk /office. I'd buy more flexibility.......comfortable flexibility. A tv can mount flat to the wall, With an IR repaeater, it needs no console beneath. The cable box can go anywhere. I'd get a nice deep and comfy 84 inch sofa, put a console with lamps behind. Add two super comfy chairs and ottomans. A nice generous, light and open cocktail table. Lie down! watch the tube! Put your feet up! Add a little ottoman for a perch at the cocktail table. People love to sit and reach a snack. Add a low table between the chairs at the fire......open and light. Ten x 14 rug to ground everything. ( dotted line ) Go set yourself up in the dining room, to work, and just clean up when you have guests !! No matter the sprawl, no more than three folks will ever sit on that beast of a sectional : ) Two chairs and a total of three ottoman plus at least two on a sofa............for gatherings gives you seven seats. A smashing piece of art over the fire too.
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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.
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ashtonchic
3 years ago
I would get 2 full sized couches to put facing each other perpendicular to F/P and 2 chairs facing F/P. Clear coffee table. Your ceiling looks kind of low for TV over it.
User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Hmmm. It looks to me like you are planning to buy two lounge chairs and put a round table between them. Instead, I would buy 2 swivel chairs, and eliminate putting a round table between them so you can easily swivel the chairs all the way around to face the windows. In each window I would put a chaise lounge that has bench storage. I'd put the two chaise lounges facing each other. The idea here is that the kids can sit in the lounges and read by the windows of they like, and have conversations with whoever is sitting in the swivel chairs.

here's my idea for an affordable stain resistant swivel chair

Lane Home Esseentials Chromatic Mocha Swivel Chair · More Info

Here's some storage chaises

Nailhead Trim Velveteen Button-Tufted Storage Chaise, Brown · More Info

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at the opposite end of the room I'd build one long activity table, wall to wall, something very simple. I'd add chairs for the kids so they could sit and draw, or do puzzles. I'd put shelves and cubbies nearby for them to put their stuff away.

trellis curtains

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maybe this rug

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ashtonchic
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

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bostonmamatofive
Original Author
3 years ago
Ashton thank you. I tried the two couches and did not like how crammed they made the entry into the room. Tv does fit!

Ital mover thank you. I like the swivel and chaise storage idea. Curtains and rug are a bit modern for my taste but thank you!
User
3 years ago
if you specifically liked the chair, maybe one of these rugs

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Abani Mesa MES150A Rug 7'9"x10'2" Blue Rug · More Info
User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
just remembered I was looking at this rug the other day and was thinking it would be impossible for kids to ruin it. Wouldn't go with the chair in the photo I posted, but would go with any solids

Victoria Area Rug, Charcoal/Multi, 9'3"x13' · More Info

if I picked that rug I would change the fireplace screen to something more antique looking

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i think you might be able to put your antique desk to the left of the fireplace

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obviously none are your room but you get the idea
anj_p
3 years ago
This doesn't really help you now but the TV over the FP will be too high. We have that set up now and it sucks.

My cousin's living room is exactly the same as yours. The issue is the two doorways - if you put a couch and coffee table there AND poufs you lose flow.

She did a TON of different configurations and finally landed on the one that works. She has two chairs adjacent to fireplace with a round ottoman. She put a sectional in one corner for another seating area, and a desk and piano on the other side of the room. It makes for really good flow, and a multi-use room. She doesn't have a TV, but you could put your TV on the wall you currently have your couch, on an articulating arm.
PRO
JudyG Designs
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I had that room, and I feel your pain.

Okay, let’s start with t v and storage. Either purchase or have built-in, a console which runs under the windows.

This inspiration photo is for a t v, wall to wall storage running under two windows, only.

For the present time, keep sectional as positioned.

Move the random chair, add another for either side of antique desk. Remove the lamp and add minimal floor lamps for lighting. Ottomans provide even more seating.

The biggest bang for the buck is to invest in a fireplace bench. I still have, and will always have, mine. The first thing my husband and I bought after we were married. It is wrought iron, 1840, Victorian with a seat which has been reupholstered at least 8 times. It allows casual seating for guests…and guests gravitate to it. Alas, finding one now is price prohibitive, but a seating height backless bench will be a savior.

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