Awkward shaped living area, need some help

last year

Hello! I am new to houzz and just bought my first condo. I'm really looking forward to getting situated but am struggling with how I can set up the layout of the "living room". It is small and has an awkward diagonal wall where the kitchen is. I think I'm only going to have room for a loveseat or small sofa but it seems like it is still going to be awkwardly situated in the room. I'm hoping that someone has some ideas for me and can help me out. Thank you!!

Featured Answer

Denise Marchand

last year

Beautiful apartment and gorgeous floors! Best wishes in your new home!

Here's a plan that works for your space.

Tuck a large sectional in the corner under the window. Three openings into the kitchen is not necessary, especially the back opening to the suggested dining room, which will now be the common tv wall. Instead of closing it up, install a bi-fold door, or decorative screen, or even the Ikea fabric scrims over the doorway.

Anchor the seating area with a large area rug. An inexpensive way to get a custom look with a rug is to choose a flat commercial carpet and add a solid 6" border and contrasting color binding.

You can add bookcases flanking the fireplace for accessories and books and art to feature that nice fireplace.

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Comments (18)

Elise D
Original Author
last year
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
will you have a tv in here?

do you need a dining room?

is this more of the "formal" livingroom?
Elise D thanked RL Relocation LLC
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KW
last year
last modified: last year
@Elise D - nice space - lots of natural light. When looking for seating, don’t limit yourself to love seats. Look for sofas labeled ”apartment”size which range from @ 60” - 74” which is outside dimensions including arms. These would be long enough to lay on or seat 3 average people. Looks like you have nice long balcony - don’t know where you live but plan on setting it up with nice seating too - it will expand your entertaining area in warmer weather. I’m guessing your front door is on lower level?

PS - before buying bigger furniture pieces, when you’re considering a piece, tape out the measurements on the floor or use big cardboard or paper cutouts to help visualize the space item will take. Walk around it to make sure there’s enough room!
freedomplace1
last year
As one option, you could consider four chairs with a center cocktail/coffee table or ottoman. Do you need a tv in the space also?
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Ohh boy! I want to remove this wall between kitchen and living. But I guess it is there for purpose. You have your FP as focal point, so place furniture facing FP.

Some kind of

Round table in dining if not enough room for rectangular one. And play with layout a little bit.
decoenthusiaste
last year
What is considered to be the front door to this condo? The openings in the kitchen are wasting a lot of usable space. Could you close the pass through and pre-wire it for TV. How about closing off the door farthest from the dining room? I think you'll appreciate the opportunity to upgrade the kitchen and utilize the new walls. You'll also gain walls in the living area. I too would use four swivel chairs grouped around a coffee table or hassock so everyone can turn to TV or to the FP or to the view. Be very aware of scale; as mentioned, apartment sized seating is a better choice.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
i love the idea of mounting the tv on the passthrough. if you didnt close it you could even just put a cabinet on the kitchen side of the wall?
Elise D
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Hi All! Thanks for the responses. To answer a couple questions... I don't need a full dining room. It'll just be me living there and I just have a small dining table. I've considered even switching the dining room and living room. I think I would like to have a tv in the living space to make it a cozy spot to be and watch movies. The front door is on the ground floor and doesn't affect the space at all.

I do wish I could remove the wall from the kitchen. It drives me a little crazy... especially since the angle doesn't line up with the fireplace wall. However I don't think it's currently in the budget as I'm working on doing the floors and a couple other things first.
housegal200
last year
This is totally a room where 3-4 small scale, but very comfortable arm chairs, with a couple on swivels for TV watching, would work great. Add a round coffee table (a hassock as shown below for putting feet up) in the middle with an interesting light--arc lamp or pendant--centered on coffee table.

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These chairs are too high , but you can see how well floating several comfortable armchairs work. Measure carefully before you choose furniture so that you have clear walkway. Three chairs might work best.
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If you get a couple upholstered dining chairs for a round dining table in the corner, you can pull them into the living room space as needed. Definitely consider some great pendant lighting and a rug to anchor living area to define the spaces.
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
Something nice about celery's layout. The far corner could be bench/banquette and eating table.
partim
last year
I would remove that fireplace so fast it would make your head spin.
Elise D
Original Author
last year
Thank you so much everyone for the ideas! I really appreciate it. I’ll have to play around with some tape and measurments now and see what seems to work best :)
justcallmepool
last year
I think I would switch up the labeled DR & LR Like Denise's layout, and have your seating area in the squared off corner by the big window. Then you could have a small round table with some nice upholstered chairs act like a foyer table most of the time but eat at it when needed.

Celery's option is good too! I think with that you could even scoot it more towards the hallway and have room for a small table in the corner to eat at. You could position it tucked in the corner when you don't use it, and pull it out when needed.
momof5x
last year
I am thinking rather than several chairs go for one curve sofa and a round compact dining table or any other round table. It will give the impression of having more space: example below.
everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
New day to see again - Denise's bistro type of set in an 'empty' spot seems ok. DR could be an office/ computer space.
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RL Relocation LLC
last year
yes this is why I asked if you needed a dining room. the layout can be flipped. I would put the tv to the left of the fireplace still on a pull-out swivel.
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Annette Jaffe Interiors
last year
It looks like since you don't need the dining room, you could easily use that space as your living room. It might be a good idea to look into apartment sized furniture as it is typically smaller and can fit in small spaces better. Here are a few ideas from our designs. Also if you want a TV, you might be able to put it on an articulating arm to the left of the fireplace.
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