What are the measurements of the room? Draw a simple floor plan. Take another picture with the curtains open so we can see the window. Post all this in a comment. Do not start another post.

How many people use the room?

Tripod lights take up floor space you don't have.

Yes to the above and honestly start by removing the play house it cannot stay there if you want to have an actual LR Maybe dhare how old the kids are too A hint as to budget always is helpful Answer every aspect of this dilemma here in this post in comments

We all know kids are a priority and their stuff tends to take over. But what you have now, is a kids’ bunk room rather than a living room. Do you have another room for toys?

Assuming this room needs to be both toys and tv/lounge, my suggestion is that you visually divide it using furniture. The daybeds can go away. They are not living room furniture.

Move the rug all the way over to the toy area. So the toy area is defined by the rug.

Buy an inexpensive sofa and put it on the wall the window is on, facing away from the window. Put the tv opposite the sofa. Now, stand back and look. Feel the room. What kind of coffee table, end tables, rug and extra chair do you want in your living room?

For now, move the rug, use one day bed to take the place of the sofa, move the tv and start from there.

As well as a diagram with dimensions and a picture with drapes open, what are your needs: amount of seating, storage, kids’ requirements, budget, are you keeping rug and drapes, lighting (are you open to having an electrician add an outlet in ceiling), what’s your style and color preference (include a picture of a room you like). This will help you receive more relevant advice.

For me the dark gray wall color is oppressive. No matter which furniture arrangement you have I would lighten up the wall color. Unless there is a lot of light during the day and you like it dark in the evening? While I do like the rug I think some color would be nice. Have you decided which color the new furniture will be?

okay sorry i forgot to add that everything in LR will be gone except for the tv stand soon. i wish i could have taken a picture of it not so busy. both kids are under 6.

so here i have measured the living room im sorry its not the best outline hopefully this will help.

the window lets in a lot of light during the day, i really don't want to cover it. thats what makes this even harder.

the paint we can change to something lighter perhaps even to the rest of the walls which is a lighter grey?

what are your needs: amount of seating, storage - preferably to seat 6 people , some storage would be nice

kids’ requirement - kids will have their own space downstairs! so this area is off limits lol.

are you keeping rug and drapes - no i am not.

lighting (are you open to having an electrician add an outlet in ceiling - unfortunately not any time soon but we are okay with floor lamps or table lamps.

what’s your style and color preference - i have no style 🤦‍♀️ lol but i like the rustic modern farm house look

(include a picture of a room you like) - ive attached 2 from google images.

ill be honest i have no expierence decorating or placing things or using color, ive stuck to grey and thats all i know. I was going to get a grey small L - shaped sectional to go along the dark wall and a love seat to go against the 9ft wall and a ottoman but the problem is it leaves this whole space in the center and empty corners by the TV stand.

i hope this helps, thanks guys!

You could use this layout for a sofa and two chairs or a corner sectional. This allows you to eventually upgrade to a larger TV screen.

Do you like grey? Or does it just feel safe? Think about your favourite colours. When you look at your wardrobe, what colour are your favourite tops or scarves? It's okay if you decide that grey is where you want to be, but it should be because it makes you happy and not just because other colours feel too difficult.

Whatever colour you end up with, you want to have some contrast and texture happening. For example, right now you have flat grey walls with flat grey drapes. If you were staying with grey walls you might consider either changing the colour or the texture (or both) of the drapes. A deeper shade would provide contrast. Or a jacquard might add a subtle shine and tone on tone pattern.

With regards to overhead lighting, you have 2 constraints: limited floor space and lack of an electrical box in the ceiling. A swag lamp could work around both of those. It plugs into the wall but is hung from the ceiling. The trick is to try to get an unobtrusive chain.

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Thank you beverly for the layout design! unfortunately the way i see it is if anything goes in front of the window will create a much darker space in daylight and makes the space appear much smaller. i tried once before putting small loveseat just to see what kind of feel it gave and it didnt work out. it boxed us in feel.

Hello Jennifer,

thank you for responding,

Do you like grey? - in my head i think it gives me the ”farmhouse feel and its safe”

Or does it just feel safe? -> also yes I've never ventured too far from grey, but i would like to, im just afraid because i dont know what im doing that i would be wasting money on things that might not go well together or clash and i wont be able to return it. ( crazy lady mentality ) i would love to have color in that living room i just need someone to help me understand that it will work. also it doesnt always make me happy to have grey. im just thinking this is a safe color.

the swag lamp is a good idea im not sure how i feel about the chain or what style would suit the area.

Well you only have so much wall space so something in front of a window is reasonable.

I’d suggest this layout - which means you don’t do a long sofa - 6’ wide max. Swivel lounge chairs and a large round ottoman style coffee table will be small kid friendly….and the space behind the sofa could be a sofa table with stools tucked under vs a long wall of storage (credenza height with art and lamps above or full height shelving).

8x10 rug shown above

Lastly, this keeps your TV on the same wall - but I’d suggest you lower yours to be about 6” above the media stand below it. It will be a more comfortable viewing height and will just look better.

Examples of how the wall behind the sofa could be designed (closed vs open storage, how low or high, etc).

Really helpful info; you have a lot of decisions and my advice is to break them into chunks.

The layout is first, which will determine size/type of furniture, to accommodate 6. I really think once walls are lightened and sheers are replaced with blinds (seating will create lower privacy). Having seating in front of windows won’t be a detriment and would be a shame to loose so much useful space,

In order to close up the middle area, and get storage, consider a floating layout (less the chair at doorway) or add a couch/chairs, whatever best suits your needs. Find an app to test different layouts.

A big decision is the couch/sectional style and color, as it’s your biggest investment and will drive everything else. With young children and being a well used room, I don’t suggest going too light and light walls will do the trick. Since you are comfortable with grey, still incorporate but go lighter and use soft earthy accents colors for a modern farmhouse look.

Accessorizing comes last and pour through inspiration pictures and save for reference. Bring home things to test, but start with rug. Paint last.

For your storage needs, take advantage of the back wall (try Ikea) and to balance the TV wall, add art and lower tv.

If you like the layout I provided, you could consider a double lounge swivel like these from West Elm - you could get 2 kiddos on each of these for movie night which would get you up to 6 seated without blocking the windows and without a huge sectional…I checked the dimensions and they would fit:

Or these work as well….

Hello!

sorry i have been MIA, i really want to thank you thinkdesignlive and Maureen, your suggestions are what we are thinking of doing now with the space!

i appreciate you guys taking the time to help! ❤️

I have to ask, for the sofa part could i put a 83.5 inch wide sectional left facing chaise that will be closer to the window? or would that look funny?

Maureen, could i get away with different curtains? we had blinds and got rid of them! lol i really dont like blinds.

thinkdesignlive - could you please tell me the measurements of the double lounge swivel chairs? im thinking this is the way to go with the space i have.

thank you soooo much! 😊😊😊

these are what im thinking of getting for the space if a sectional is not an option.. what do you guys think?

the couch is 75” in width.

the ottoman is 36” wide, also it comes with additional seating!

how is the color? i think it is nice but… well you know its grey of some sorts.

From the pictures, I don't think those 2 greys go together. The couch appears to be a warm grey and the ottoman seems cool, almost bluish. Decide which you prefer, and then choose a different colour for the other. But, if at all possible, see both in person and try them out. Monitor colours are notoriously unreliable, but the "beige" version of that ottoman might complement the couch better.

In a room that doesn’t have a lot of light, i would definitely nix the grey. It sucks all of the light out of the room and doesnt read modern farmhouse which is usually more focused on light and warmth. I think if you painted a nice, warm white, the couch in front of the window would not impact the light so much and I think that layout and furniture set up will be more comfortable in the long term. Try a fresher, lighter color scheme and i think this space will feel more inviting.

I would focus on a couch or sectional that has a washable cover….with kids it is the best investment.