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Floor layout: couch against wall?

2 years ago

Hello! Attached is a photo of current floorplan, which shows living room and dining room. On the other side of the living room are french doors that open out to an attached, furnished deck. I don't like the fact that the living room sofa is up against the wall, but I also want to ensure good flow/walkability. Thoughts, please, oh wise ones? THANK YOU!

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Featured Answer

Karen Haynes

2 years ago

Can I ask why you don't like it against the wall?

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Comments (12)

Emily
2 years ago
Try placing the sofa with its back towards the dining room. Place the two matching chairs opposite the sofa or perpendicular to it where the sofa currently sets. If adjacent to sofa keep the smaller chair about where you have it. Turn you rug 90 degrees and pull everything in just a hair closer.
Mic Broox
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you, Emily. I’ll experiment with that. Does your guidance change knowing that there is a fireplace opposite the sofa as it is configured in the diagram? Truly appreciate the help!
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To be able to see the TV from 15' away, you are going to need a very large TV. Which, IMHO is awesome. But, maybe not so much for other people. The recommendations are distance away in inches divided by 3. So 15' is 180" divided by 3 equals a 60" minimum sized TV. You will probably need to make the area by the stairs a conversation area with 2 chairs and a table. You will probably need to float the couch in the room. I like a raised hearth, but I like traditional styles. I think it helps anchor the fireplace and balance the mantle. The built in entertainment center...for the TV?....and the storage are eating up valuable wall space. The two doors on each side of the fireplace preclude your ability to put flanking chairs on each side of the fireplace. There are 6 areas of ingress/egress in this space. That is a lot of walkways!!
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Do you see potential problems with the couch/sectional not providing a lot of space between the hallway and the room? Or perhaps I need to find smaller furniture or move the couch closer? I think the previous owners also made the room a dining room, which is why the chandelier is there. However, not pictured is our kitchen that openly connects to a room with a fireplace, and we're planning to make that room the dining area. Thank you for your opinion!
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I don't think the model layout hinders conversation but it's not enough seating for 6. Use newspaper or blue painters tape to layout the furniture in different configurations. Try the 2 sofas facing each other. 1 on the wall where the cabinet is now and 1 opposite. Another way would be 1 on the 3 windows wall and opposite it. 2 small scale swivel chairs could be added
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Thanks Theresa...I can't seem to convince my husband that this configuration works best. He can't understand why the chairs would be 'blocking' the bookcase/fireplace. If I can convince him, I'll buy a larger plant. I like the flexibility of a smaller bench for instance around Christmas time I'd like to have a tree in the space along with the bench if it fits. Balancing it out with two plants is a good idea though, or I may push the lamp nearer the bench, if I keep this layout.
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heathermalia
2 years ago
I'd just move the whole setup as is closer to the fireplace. How did you make this mockup btw?
Cecilia
2 years ago
I think your floorplan looks perfect as is!
Mic Broox thanked Cecilia
Emily
2 years ago
It should be fine. Give it a try and see if you like it. No harm or expense in that.
oreet
2 years ago
I like the set-up as is, but if you want a change I would find another home for the sofa and bring in your chairs into the middle of the rug to create a conversation area. I think that after you move your furniture around a few times you’ll realize what you have now is the best scenario.
Mic Broox thanked oreet
Mic Broox
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi Karen - I think it might be an arbitrary emotional reaction. When I was younger, I always had furniture against the wall because I lived in studio apts. Do grown ups put some of their furniture against walls? :)
Mic Broox
Original Author
2 years ago
@heathermalia - thanks for making time to respond. Idk yet how to reply to an individual comment, so am hoping you'll see this. The mock up is in the tool that Modsy uses and sends out
heathermalia
2 years ago
I'm here looking at my own living room which I realize is very similar to your mockup. my couch is against the wall --even though it could move up a bit in my opinion. this is how my husband likes it because he likes to lean his big head on the wall lol. I think either way would work.
heathermalia
2 years ago
And cool about Modsy!
Emily
2 years ago
The other thing you might try is a similar arrangement to what you have. Move the rug and sofa toward the fireplace about 18”, so sofa is off the wall. Flip the chairs so they’re all opposite of their positions now. Hopefully you have enough room on the other side of fireplace to place that chair their. If not you can just use the same chair positions. Have the two matching chairs straight on instead of having the one at an angle.

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