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Furniture Design Dilemma living room

Any ideas for this awkward living room?

3 years ago

Was hoping someone could give me some good ideas for furnishing this living room. My house was built in 1924 and this is a small awkward living room, with no real good wall space for furniture. The furniture that's in the pic below is already the result of some redesign. The bench that is in the middle of the room is not usually there - we keep it off to the side (off camera) where people can sit when walking in and out of our front door and taking off shoes, etc. We slide it to the middle when we need the extra seating as that's a major thoroughfare up to our staircase.

Anyway, I'm not so unhappy with the layout, but it's not the most comfortable room to sit in. The mini-sofa off to the right is very uncomfortable to sit in. I like sitting in the big arm chair but there are not many other comfortable places to sit in the room.

Also, I would like to turn this into a music-room. Was thinking of getting two floor standing speakers for the sides of the fireplace - but there's really no good listening positions for good sound and comfortable seating to sit and listen to music.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to improve this layout? Thanks!

PS The fireplace works and we like to use it - if that impacts anything.

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Comments (4)

Nancy Ingram
3 years ago
Without room dimensions, I can’t say this would work but turn you rug the other direction butted up to the hearth. Then set up the furniture like a lounge with all club chairs.
hominamad
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks. I was hoping that I could find seating for 5-6 in this space, but it could be tricky. I could put 1 or 2 more club chairs, but I'm wondering if there's any way to fit a small sofa there, or where that would even go? The piece that we have now, on the right (West Elm) is ok, but very uncomfortable. I would love to make this a comfy place to hang out by the fire.
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Can you move the sectional more floating in the room instead of shoved up against the far wall, making a possible walk way on that side. It would open it up a little. Show a picture of the other areas of the room or from a different perspective. A colorful throw over the back of the sectional and some colorful art and pillows will help a lot. Looking at the before pictures gives a better look at the room. Have you considered putting the sectional against the wall cawaps put the art on and the TV on the opposite wall you would not be blocking the room so badly with the big sectional since most will be against the wall. It looks like it could work and you can still have an open view of the fireplace.
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I would agree with the previous comment, finding a counsel table for under the tv with open space underneath to store ottomans or even a built in or floating media center. ( I used something similar in my 80’s living room update). An area rug will help make the room feel more inviting, cozy, and curated. It also looks like you tv is mounted much too high for ergonomic tv watching. The center of the TV should land somewhere around 61 to 65 inches from the floor. I would also agree with removing the dog crate and pulling the couch away from the wall a bit and getting end tables or purchasing a dog crate end table (I believe some are even sold on Houzz). Next you should layer in lighting with either a floor lamp, wall sconces, or table lamps. And to make the space feel a little more lively you can add a faux plant or two and include a large piece of artwork over the couch (nothing too dark or visually heavy though)
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What is your decor style? Are you keeping the wall color? What is your budget? The blank palette is actually a gift. You won't have to undo or make do with someone else's choices or mistakes. I would definitely put some large rugs on your list to help define your spaces. Properly hung curtain panels will also warm up the rooms and ground them. The kitchen lighting looks blah, I would definitely replace them. Keep in mind that the house is filled with warm tones so greys and cool colors, although popular, will be hard to work into the space.
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Is this just LR? This is a spce very close in width to yours with a door way in the center on one wall but we used the space for both LR and DR.but it was about 10 meters long . So you can have more LR furniture if this is only LR You can see the entry door on the left in the bottom pic.There is also a doorway to the music room on the top right in that same pic.
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jck910
3 years ago
What is the length from the stairs to the FP wall? A sofa there and 2 chairs where the sofa is now and a 3rd chair facing the FP
hominamad
Original Author
3 years ago
It's around 78 inches. I suppose I could fit a small sofa in that space.

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