Is there enough room to position the sofas back to back?

Okay, thanks er612. I already like the pictures you put in - I've thought about that, but now that I see them, it definitely works!

There probably is room for sofas back to back, but that seems weird in this room for some reason. I'll have to see how that would work.

Back to back sofas will work if the TV is centered on the wall opposite the FP so they counter balance each other. Center sofas under the fan and add the favorite chair of the man of the house at the TV end, and the other chair at the fireplace end. When you shop for new tables, you can also look for a sofa table to put between the sofas, if they are too far away from TV/FP after adding coffee tables pulled 12-18" from the sofas. Then get a side table for each chair. Tables should arrive 1" above or below the chair arms.

I think your room already is good and the furniture works. Possibly the low paneling anchors a tall room. Is there another room where removing it would be even more 'needed'?

If the shades are fine, why remove? add curtains over them, and there's 2 layers to shield sunlight, so I don't understand removing them.

Hello Amelasue,

May we have measurements of the room? This room has great potential.

MAE

Mae, the room is 18' x 19'.

Thank you Amelasue. I hate to ask but would you mind doing a rough drawing of the room that includes the windows and openings? With their measurements as well? That will help me to do a 3D rendition for you. Then I can show you different ideas for the furniture layout.

MAE

Mae, I certainly will do a drawing, give me a day or so! Thanks for help!

You bet!! Happy to help. See you then.

MAE

Following

Mae Day, the drawing above from er612 is a better drawing than this one I have attached here! Lol.

Hello Amelasue,

I will start on this tomorrow. I may need measurements of the openings into the kitchen and of the fireplace. Actually that would be helpful. Also, are you watching the TV from the kitchen while you eat? How do you feel about painting the room? How many people use the room daily and how many guests do you want to accommodate? I will check back in with you tomorrow.
MAE

Good Morning Amelasue, May I have the measurements of the fireplace and openings on either side of the fireplace? That will help a lot. Do you watch TV while you are eating in the kitchen?

MAE

MAE, Fireplace is 8' 2" wide with 17" deep hearth. The openings on either side of the fireplace that give access to the rooms are 67" each. We sometimes watch tv from the kitchen; that's why the tv is in the corner of the family room now. Putting the t.v. on the fireplace wall is not an option at this time, but I would consider centering it on the opposite wall instead of in the corner. Yes, definitely need to paint the room. With the two couches and chairs, there is plenty of seating. Are you thinking there is too much seating now? Right now, it is just my husband and me. When our kids and grandkids come home, it still works because the grandkids are little and spend more time on the floor!. Right now, we don't spend that much time in the room because it is not very inviting- seating, lighting, etc. Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

because you need to keep the carpet and wainscoting, I suggest painting the wainscotting and walls warm white. furnish, re-evaluate, and if you still don't like it, paint or whitewash the fireplace too.

consider getting a new fan, yours is pretty dated.

the far wall needs something like a big entertainment unit to fill the space, centered right in the middle. or a large, wide bookcase. the tricky part is the piano -- that might need to be moved to another corner, or to another room.

OR..... remove the mantle from fireplace, hang TV above -- but only if the furniture can be far back enough that you're not straining your neck. for the back wall, do a giant bookcase, wall-to-wall. (maybe even built-in if you can afford it?) it doesn't need to be filled with books, you could alternate books & collectibles.

this room seems big enough that you can place a couch in front of a bookcase and still be able to walk behind it.

Thanks Amelasue,

Sorry I did not get your info until just now. Sometimes my internet lags. Thank you for taking the time to get the measurements to me. That will help a lot. I promise I will work on this. I may need to start on it tomorrow because it is getting late where I am. So glad you are open to painting because that will make a big difference.

Take care,

MAE

The main question about the TV is; Do you watch it while you are eating in the kitchen?

Are you open to removing the wainscoting? MAE

Good morning to you Amelasue, keep asking the question about eating and watching TV only because I was trying to come up with a way that you can do both in the living room area. It does look as if you use your easy chairs most of all to watch TV. Would you be open to sitting on the couches to watch the TV? Or do you prefer your easy chairs? I only ask these questions because I’m trying to come up with the best layout for you to be comfortable in. Hope you’re having a good day. MAE

Hallett & Co. - yes the dark wood is an issue for me; my husband likes it and doesn't want to change anything, so it's a struggle to update our rooms. Thanks for your suggestions!

Mae Day, yes we eat in kitchen and sometimes watch t.v. from there. I did explain our usage of the rooms in my earlier posts so thought you had that info. We usually watch t.v. from the separate living chairs, mostly because of the current layout of the couches. All that can change if we come up with a better layout! I would like to remove the wainscoting or at least paint it, but my husband loves it and I'm trying to keep peace in the house at the same time give this room some personality! Thank you for your comments!

Build long, low shelves across the wainscoting wall, same height. Put TV on top of it as well as art in a gallery wall. It's funny, the wainscoting side looks so dowdy compared with the rest of the room--almost like two different rooms.

Little Big House · More Info

Also, move your big pieces away from the walls so they're closer together and get an oversized round coffee table to give that cozy feeling of gathering together. Pick something up on a frame so you don't add more bulk to the room. Also an arc lamp over the coffee table as in photo above would center the space. The nesting coffee table below is hefty enough to fit in the room, but up on legs, it allows for open space.

Menlo Park · More Info

Thank you Amelasue. Sorry I did not see it in the earlier info that you watch TV while eating. Thank you for clarifying that for me. Much appreciated.

I understand about the need to "keep the peace". This is good to know.

I will submit some suggestions for you to present to him for his consideration. Let's see what he thinks and we can adjust accordingly.

MAE

housegal200, the wainscoting is on 3 walls, the entire room! I think that is my biggest issue! Maybe a different paint on the walls and I could live with the wainscoting. I know we need more lighting.

Mae Day, unlikely that I can succeed in painting the wainscoting. Maybe with other changes, it won't be so distracting.

Idk if this was talked about - bit more neutral paint, softer contrast with beams?

Okay, no painting the wainscoating. Got it.

I am working on the 3d rendition right now. so I will let you know as soon as it has been completed. The wainscoating is slowing it down.

May Day and everyone - I will be absent for a couple of days - a new grandson is arriving and I'm in charge of his older sisters! Likely be back over the weekend!

some tough love here: so, we already discussed the furniture arrangement and sizing being wrong for this room. but the thing is, this furniture is also very dark, earth toned and bulky. nearly all of the inspiration photos posted in this thread have contemporary or mid century inspired furniture in lighter and/or or more neutral colors. also none of the inspiration photos have carpet, or that color of brick or wainscoting. so it's not exactly a fair comparison.

regarding the refusal to change the wainscoting and carpet: I feel like you're trying to keep too many of these elements and expect the room to magically transform. if you absolutely must keep the wainscoting wood tone, then I feel like that carpet has got to go. paint the walls and then address the furniture.

what style are you going for? more modern like in the photos we posted, or keep it traditional?

It's a nice space. Carpet can work well in family rooms, home theatres, etc,. and your carpet looks to be in very nice condition.. If you'd like, you could layer a rug or two. And I would simplify the mantle. Something like this, but not as wide + I like black.

Here is rug shown above:

https://rugs.com/light-blue-8x11-modern-classical-area-rug-6260022?rt=bbsize

Other than that, I really like all the wood detail in the room. I would consider going more modern/streamlined/sleeker with a new ceiling fan. And maybe also bring in some new, fun table lamps, for a change of pace.

Okay Amelia, I finished. Here goes.

In this rendition you will find:

1. 2 callapsable TV tray. My husband and I use ours every evening to watch TV with our dinner. This might work for you as well.

2. 2 couches similar to yours. I am not certain of the length of yours but the ones in the rendition are both 3 seater sofas.

3. 2 table lamps similar to yours

4. 2 chairs similar to yours.

one large TV console with LOTS of storage for toys, etc. for your little ones.

5. 2 floor lamps

6. Wall art

7. 2 tall planters to add some green and soften the room.

8. Open space for the littles ones to play and sit.

9. NO area rug because rugs on rugs can be toe trippers. You can add color with pillows and the wall art.

Amelia you do not have to much furniture for your growing family. Before you know the littles ones will be bigger and fill up the couches perfectly!

Hope this helps.

Best Wishes to you and yours,

MAE

Congratulations!!!!! See you then.

Here are the rest of the pictures.

This may not fly with your husband but I thought that I would give it a try. ;-)

I typed it wrong. I meant another ceiling paint [than white], for softer contrast with beams...more blend with the entire room.

Art, color, fabric window treatments, furniture grouped for conversation or watching tv together. No more brown anything!

Hope all went well with the new baby Amelasue. Cangratulations again on your grandson!!

I put together some more furniture layouts for your viewing pleasure this time I added toys and seating for your little ones.

The first one is my favorite layout so far because it gives you so much more room and a better seating arrangment for your family. MAE

Hope this helps, enjoy.

The next ones have the TV in the corner mounted or set on a corner TV console.

The next set of pictures is a layout similar to what you already have but with the TV in a console for storage (toys, etc.). I remember you said that it would be okay to move the TV over on the wall so that is what I did with this next layout. Again TV trays make it possible to eat while watching TV. It works well for my husband and I.

So here goes in case this is what your husband will prefer.

Best Wishes to you and yours,

MAE

Happy Easter to you and your family Amelasue. MAE

Hello Amelasue,

Sure hope we haven't lost you. Hope all is well with you and your family. I hope you get a chance to see the renderings we put together for you .

MAE

Hello Amelasue,

I hope you'll be able to come back and check out the renditions that we did for you. You have a wonderful room with a lot of options for you, your husband and your family to enjoy. I sure hope to see you back again . I look forward to helping you find just the right fit for your family room. If I can ever be of any help in the future please know that I would be happy to do so. I can be reached at callmaeday@msn.com

Marcie

Just returned home after spending almost 2 weeks with an 8 yr old, 5 yr old, 3 yr old girls and then the new baby boy! Wow, that was exhausting but loved every minute of it! I reviewed all of your comments, suggestions and printed this discussion to go over this evening and come back with some of my thoughts! Thank you all! Be back tomorrow! Really, really do appreciate all of the input! Thanks!

How wonderful!!! Hope you are getting some rest. Nice to have you back.

Best wishes,

Marcie

I like your space and think it has plenty of personality!

First thing I would do is paint a nicer color, maybe just a warm white. Get a new mantle made, a boxy one that runs across the whole wall. Remove the wing chair, I don't think it goes with the rest of the aesthetic. I would center the TV on the wall opposite the fireplace (with or without a storage unit) if possible.

If you'd like to play with furniture arrangement yourself, get some graph paper and mark out the room to scale. Make little furniture cutouts and play to your heart's content! Easier on the back. The arrangement you like best may change over time, too. It took us many years to come up with our best layout.

I like the one with the recliners in front of the fireplace.

Hello Amelasue,

Marcie here. I hope you have been able to rest up after your adventure with the little ones and your new grandson.

I want you to know that I am here to help and understand how important it is that your family room works for you and your husband, as well as your children and guests. With that said; I want you to know that if none of the renditions work for you and your husband I am willing to work with you to find out what will. Here to help. Please let me know. I can also be reached at callmaeday@msn.com if you like.

Marcie

Best Wishes to you and your family Amelasue. If I can ever be of any help please feel free to contact me. My email is callmaeday@msn.com

MAE