Help me figure out my living room!
I’m having major design fatigue.
This is the living room in our new home. I don’t really know what else to do with the space. I want to make it more homey. Give it some more personality. Right now it is feeling a little sterile to me.
This room is open to a dining room on the left, and there are 2 more windows on the right wall, about 4 ft behind the chairs. A ton of natural light. We live on a farm with no neighbors and beauitful views, so I’m hesistant to do anything to the windows. Maybe we should though?
A few things:
-the couch and chairs are new and will stay
-I tried a lighter rug in here and it just didn‘t work with the fireplace. I think the fireplace calls for a little more of a traditional feel than I am used to. Not entirely tied to this rug (9 x 12) either though.
-TV over the fireplace stays. I lost this battle (but won the war lol)....
-baskets around fireplace are temporary. What to put there?
In looking at my phone photos to try to give a feel for the space, I see they are all populated with my puppies. :)
In this photo above, I have a console table against the staircase wall (you can see it right above tbe left side of the couch) and plan to do a gallery wall above that.
I would so appreciate any input!!
Comments (23)
M R
2 years ago
Ignore all the nonsense but to give more clarity on layout, dimensions (roughly 21 x 20 but functionally more like 18 x 18 due to walkways) and window placments in yellow.
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Help me figure out this living room, please
Comments (8)Is there any chance that you could change out the window and door to the sunroom into a pair of french doors? I think it would be a lovely look there, and make much more sense perhaps. You could re-use the drapery if you desired, just hanging the panels on either end. You might consider changing out the spindles to iron spindles or iron decorative panels of some kind. I think the piano is wonderful, and if that is the only place for it, so be it. I would try to tuck it down into the corner a bit more, and take down the sconces. The tall mirror would be wonderful leaning on the wall there, at the keyboard end of the piano, where the bench is. I agree with opening the piano to give it presence, and then adding a wonderful floor lamp near the mirror. I would think about taking the foyer piece and putting that in the DR once the bookcases leave. Then you could put two of the side chairs, one on each side of that, and use the sconces from the piano wall there. By moving two of the side chairs and taking out a leaf or two, you could get your table centered under the chandelier. Rather than putting the flat screen to the left of the fireplace, I would think about putting it on the wall where the tall mirror is now, and orienting the furniture to that. It will fit better with the fireplace and the bookcase if you want a sectional from which everyone can see the TV, and still enjoy the fireplace. The sectional would start from the side where the secretary is, and the other leg would face the fireplace. Replacing the carpeting will make a big difference in the feel of the room. Wood is nice if you can do it, but a neutral berber will create a lighter feeling in the room. A soft grey-green on the walls would seem to work with the fireplace stone and also the wood tones in the room....See MoreCan't figure out my living room
Comments (3)I'd try and focus the seating around the fireplace and leave a path between the kitchen and french doors, to get to whatever is out there. Then I'd put a desk or bookshelves and a chair in the corner under the bar, for perusing my cookbooks, going online while someone was watching TV, doing homework, paying bills, household management, etc. I would try and keep whatever I was trying to do in there out of the path between the kitchen and doorway. That way the spaces will feel more focused, intimate and cozy. On the other hand, if that set-up works for you, then I honestly don't think it is that bad. Just keep on the lookout for art pieces you like and you can gradually deck it out more. Curtains would add an additional layer of cozy. An area rug with a nice pattern in front of the fireplace would "tie the room together." I got a nice wool oriental rug on sale and put it over my living room carpet that was the same color as yours, added an instant feeling of being more than a "pass through" room, which it tended to be also, due to the layout of my house, you had to walk through the middle of the living room to get to the rest of the house. The only downside of putting an area rug over carpet is they tend to shift, but perhaps there are strategies for solving that problem....See MoreHelp me figure out my color scheme! I love my tile choice but...
Comments (30)Yes, agree completely. Gray-blue tinted marble-like surface would work better. I am also beginning to think that white cabinets would be a no-go with this...would really want some color under the countertop to balance out the intensity of tile. The thing is that I was always obsessed with oriental tile patterns but I never thought that using them will also dictate a certain cabinet color. For instance, out of all the choices below (the last photo shows my chosen tile installed), I really think either blueish or gray-ish cabs will work. If I was really brave, I'd do navy blue, but I'm not. What cab color would you do? I also thought about doing different cabinet colors but I fear it would add to the overall busy-ness. Although my kitchen does have very clear zones (island, perimeter, breakfast nook flanked by glassfront towers) so different colors would not be illogical...Btw, I will be ordering painted doors from Scherr's, so COULD do different colors...decisions,decisions!...See MoreCant figure out my new long narrow living room!
Comments (21)we did give you great ideas. you chose to get mad and say we aren't helping you with what you have. You're the one who wrote and said 'it wasn't working". and "you can't figure out how to make the furniture work". Correct? Why is that? because the furniture is too big for that small room and the way you have arranged is not the best layout. That's it. you can attack us and pout for pointing out the obvious, but it's not going to change the fact that your two sofas are too large. no one said anything about having a 'showroom' living room. we were trying to point out what the best solution for your small room would be. (and patricia pointed out a possible fire hazard, and you got upset about that too). That being said, you can either keep your two sofas where they are, or flip them and put them on the other wall.Those are the two choices. Pick one. But don't put us down for trying to help you understand that fitting a square peg in a round hole doesn't work. fpmac,,,,seriously? attacked? nasty? show me where. OP asked a question. we answered it. It may not be what she (or you) wanted to hear, but it's the truth. The sofas don't work. I really don't know how else to say it....See Morehoussaon
2 years agoReally like your furniture and the rug is perfect! You could add a large potted plant near the fireplace. Add printed pillows. I can see checks. Possibly a sofa table with two lamps and some pottery. I would look for a sizable piece of art for the wall between the tow windows behind the chairs.
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Traditional Living Room · More InfoM R thanked houssaon
L.D. Johnson
2 years agoBeautiful room - it feels serene with the muted rug. When you say personality, to me that implies more color and movement. A brighter rug would accomplish that, and could inform choices of accessories and art. Here is a very rough mock up of this rug: https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-vibrant-meadow/Multi/200KKCB15A-P.html
(Note their site has an option to upload your room photo and see the rug in the space).
M R thanked L.D. JohnsonM R
2 years ago
WestCoast Hopeful
2 years ago- PRO
User
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLove your home and the rug works perfectly!
Honestly, all you need to do now is accessorize and style a bit. I would start with inside mount roman shades in flax linen. Even if they always stay open, they will soften your window openings. I would also get a square tufted leather ottoman for function but also to introduce another natural material into the mix. Then, add in a ton of indoor plants, which always add warmth and life.
M R
2 years agoM R
2 years agoOk I am loving the idea of a tufted leather coffee table but not the price of that one ($1800). I am seeing this one (faux of course) for $150 but it is only 28”. Would two be strange here? Or maybe one is enough?
Any other similar items budget friendly?
Below is the coffee table I have and was planning to use, but I could easily use it elsewhere. It is 36”. Thoughts?
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago artemis_ma
2 years ago
PROCelery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoYour puppies are so cute! You can go with two coffee tables next to each other, stationary drape panels and bamboo blinds.
M R thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images- PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoor
I got a lamp for balance.
M R thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images M R
2 years agoM R
2 years agoM R
2 years ago
Alright guys, thanks to your alls help I have 2 tufted faux leather ottomans, Roman shades, and a floor lamp on the way. I plugged in those choices with the rendering one of you made. I’m so excited!! I still need to work on the pillows, adding a throw, and styling the mantle (please send any ideas for the mantle!) But progress feels so good!
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years ago M R
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Hi guys! just a quick update on our living room. I took a lot of advice from this thread. We added the coffee tables which I LOVE, an olive tree, and a floor lamp. The art on thr wall is a placeholder until I find something that is better scale for that spot. We also got Roman shades for this room but immediatley disliked them once they were up and took them down. So window treatments are still up in the air. Making progress anyway!HU-187528210
2 years ago
WestCoast Hopeful