Most awkward living room design ever! HELP!

2 years ago

Hi there! I've lived in my house for almost two years now, and haven't been able to sort out the living room! I blame it on giving birth exactly three days after moving in, in the midst of a double bathroom reno, and the endless projects we've had ever since (125 old house).

For a while, we were using the couch to bisect it length-wise, but that broke things up too much. Currently, we've got a really awkward couch facing a barely-fitting tv stand table, but now we don't have room for more seating. Part of the problem is that the short wall currently housing the TV/record player/speakers is only 56" wide. I've thought about extending the wall to make it suitable for a couch, but then it would be facing _away_ from the front door, and you wouldn't be able to see if someone walked into the home.

Can anyone figure out how to increase seating while still having room for TV/record player/speakers??

Thank you!! Pics below. Please excuse my toddler mess and toddler play area wool rug. And yes, those drapes have got to GO.

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Comments (12)

User
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
How about mounting the TV into the corner, at an angle where it faces into the room. put a corner media stand under it, for the speakers, etc.

Ergode Zena Corner TV & Media Stand, Espresso · More Info

Aspyn Wood Media Corner TV Console, White · More Info

Replace the drapes with shades that don’t take up wall space.

Cordless Cocoa Havana Flatweave Bamboo Roman Shade, 48" · More Info

Now you can center a sofa further down the wall. Move your end table to the other side of tte sofa in the left corner of the room and put a lamp on it

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if you don’t need the tall bookcase in that room, remove it entirely so you can have a chair and floor lamp there. Put a small drinks table nearby

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If you must keep it in the room, you still have room for a chair. (This also comes in brown) It would be better if you had a lower bookcase if you need one.

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I thnk you could also add a low chair right in front of the window in the configuration I’m suggestingn. This comes in lots of patterns and colors

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different rug or just any solid for color would do

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eofung thanked User
User
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

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Bisera
2 years ago
I would maybe move the sofa away from that corner closer to the center of the room, put the end table on the other side, maybe get a small loveseat or a couple of chairs facing the window, and mount the tv on one of those stands where you can kind of move/angle it depending on where you're sitting
freedomplace1
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
The first thing I would suggest, since you have a toddler, is to replace the coffee table with an ottoman style. And one with storage might also come in handy.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/winston-porter-hovhan-24-wide-faux-leather-round-storage-ottoman-w002595324.html?categoryid=46573&placement=1&slot=5&sponsoredid=d4e8e5619ab9a606a14d2e0d13184a826f498fe45f01ed3877af4de3a6d8b16f&_txid=I%2FWEwmDAm6WY5kafqjzkAg%3D%3D&isB2b=0&auctionId=68b3c18e-df0b-4b4e-a646-79348ea53252

I think your instincts are good as far as sofa placement - w/ sofa facing door area. I would not want to place the sofa right in front of the door - but would there be room to slide sofa down a bit so that it is more centered on the wall, without the sofa being in direct path of front door? If so, I would slide sofa down a bit and put tv in the corner. You could even just use a shelf console there.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/ebern-designs-french-tv-stand-for-tvs-up-to-50-w005062826.html?piid%5B0%5D=625389365

ETA: With that arrangement, you should have room to add a chair facing the window; and maybe a streamlined recliner could work for you there.

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HU-187528210
2 years ago
Is there another way to enter the house? Do you use the living room as an entry way/ pass through?
.....

I think I’d do two sofas facing each other. Centered on the wall. Yes to new curtains. Mount the tv on the opposite bigger wall.
New rug, new light fixture.

If you use the doorway to pass through we’d need to come up with a better plan. This shouldn’t block the entrance but won’t give you 100% flow.
eofung thanked HU-187528210
er612
2 years ago
What is to the left of the sofa?
PRO
User
2 years ago
Need more info on the space. What is to the left side of the room, another walkway? What room is behind the camera, dining room? A floor plan would be helpful to understand the space more.
eofung
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you to everyone for these suggestions! I would love to be able to move my couch down, but at the moment, there is a record holder unit. I am now trying to convince the old man to let me move it into the attic, but it may be too hot up there for our vinyl.

The living room leads to the dining room (in the direction away from the window). To the right of the couch is that LP/record holder. The depth that you're asking about is about 33", so not very deep at all. The corner across from it which is currently housing out bookcase is even less.
Emily
2 years ago
Would the stereo cabinet fit where the cabinet now sits below tv. If so, I’d move it there and then move sofa down as several have suggested. Then place one or two side chairs in front of window. Using ital mover and freedom place 1’s idea of a corner cabinet or corner shelf I’d move it in corner where the bookcase is currently. If you use the shelf then you can add the ottomans and it gives you two more seats when guests are over. Plus if they’re storage ottomans you can throw a few toys or a blanket in them. Bookcase could possibly go to the right facing side of sofa. I might even paint it the wall color so it blends in. I liked the idea of a large storage ottoman in place of the cocktail table.
MarleneM
2 years ago
You mentioned closing up opening to entry. It’s looks wide and I think you could gain wall space by making it narrower. Right now I see your media items and bookcase in three different areas. If you had it all along the long wall it would help streamline the room. TV on an articulating arm would be a plus! Put sofa in front of windows with a chair where tv is currently. I would extend curtains to cover wall, or most of it. That way you wouldn’t have to worry about centering under window which might make it easier to add chair. In corner where you now have bookcase I would add a comfy reading chair with a floor lamp. Attaching a layout to give you a visual.
User
2 years ago
Can you move the record holder to the other side of the couch? Can you move it to where the bookcase is and move the books to another place? Would the ones you want to keep in the living room fit in a smaller bookcase that you could put near the window so you could get rid of the big bookcase and put the record holder there? Could also use a bookcase under your TV.
User
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Some possibly useful items for you. If it’s ok to store the records in groups in different parts of the living spaces, you can do that attractively with double-duty furniture and organizing containers, instead of having one cabinet that dictates your entire living room arrangement.

Kate and Laurel Garrod Record Storage End Table, Black · More Info

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Bush Furniture Anthropology Record Player Stand with Storage in Rustic Brown · More Info

Record Carrier Case · More Info

Everett Record Player Stand, Mahogany Finish · More Info

Lavish Home Stacking Modular Cube End Table Shadowbox, Black · More Info

Design Imports Polyester Cube Chevron Aqua Square 11X11X11 inch · More Info