skip to main content

Home Decorating Design Dilemma living room

Please help- this room is holding us up from buying this house

13 days ago

So we found a house we really like, except we're a bit perplexed about this space. We would like if it was
a bit larger, but it is what it is. We absolutely do not like the fireplace, and we think we would like to paint
the island a sage green oor something to break up the browns.
Any recommendations on how we could beat utillize the space in the living room? There is another space
that we'll use for late night TV/movie watching but we would like this room to be usable as well. We're
thinking a compact sectional, but we'd also like space for our 8 month old to play while we cook/etc. Also including a picture of the bonus room that
we plan on using for the main entertainment room incase anyone had some interesting ideas..... But it's mainly this smaller room that we're really struggling with. My wife is nervous it' not large enough and doesn't flow well.
Thank you so much

Featured Answer

marmiegard_z7b

12 days ago

Not quite sure what is your question, but the room currently shows a lot of furniture in it so doesn’t look “ small”. Could be the camera angles, though. What are the dimensions? Is it truly small & does best as a cozy “ hearth room” adjacent to kitchen, and you instead want a large second living area with sectionals , big TV ?

Warning: I’m not a big sectional fan mainly because people seem to buy them then struggle with furniture arrangements. So in this open plan space & with a toddler , and lots of toddler stuff rightt now, using the room as a play area, getting furniture that can be moved around better as needs change, like sofa and chairs, might be better. A sectional is more likely to dictate “ flow”. Or to have more limited options if you have very specific size constraints.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Ty Weaver
Original Author
13 days ago
Related Discussions
Does upholstered furniture from Ikea, Pottery Barn, etc hold up?
Q
Comments (18)
Comparing IKEA to Lee is not a fair comparison. Lee sofas are my favorite brand stylisitically, but they are very pricey -- around here they are more expensive than PB. IKEA sofas are dirt cheap. I've owned several and some hold up better than others. Right now, we have the Karlstad line of sofas in our basement - a corner sectional and a loveseat. Both are going on 2 years old and still look brand new in spite of being in my kids playroom where they serve as trampolines and forts just as often as are sofas. But I owned a different IKEA sofa (the Ekeskog) where the cushions slid off the thing every time someone sat on it. They are also suprisingly comfy -- some IKEA sofas are not, so I would recommend sit-testing something in person before buying. If you want to go IKEA, I'd stay with a darker color (to avoid staining). I wouldn't count on washing the slips regularly because they can be a pain to get on and off and they can shrink. The upside is that IKEA tends to keep the same styles forever, so if your cover gets dirty (or you're just in the mood for a change), you can buy a new one for not a whole lot of money. If you've got the money for Lee, it's definitely a better sofa, but for a the size sectional I have in the basement, you are looking at $800ish for IKEA vs. at least $4K for Lee. Even if the IKEA one dies and I have to replace it, I can do so 4 times before approaching the cost of the Lee.
...See More
Holding my breathe.....Thoughts on our family home plans please!
Q
Comments (29)
I think all of us that have been brave enough to post our plans here have felt like they are ripped apart and the statement that there are no good redeming qualities is said quite frquently. Based on this I hypothesize that close to 90% of the houses in the town I live in would ever meet the standards set here. That being said I did get some good ideas that we incorporated (and we used an architect that apparently shouldn't be allowed to practice based on what he designed for us). I found the kitchen forums to be a much more helpful bunch, they give lots of great ideas and help without making you feel like your entire plan is horrific. Frankly, I am so THRILLED that my plan and especially my early elevations were ripped apart. It is because they were ripped apart over and over again, that I will be building a much better, more well designed house. I would much rather live in a well designed house that meets mine and DH's needs and looks like it belongs in the neighborhood, than something that was just so so. After all, if I'm spending 6 or 7 figures for a custom built house, shouldn't I get the best house I can possibly get for our needs? My advice is to listen with an open mind. Yes it's hard at times. I remember several nights where I repeated the same thing over and over (the fact that because of my lot, my house size downstairs was limited) but the good folks here, still wanted to try and figure out how to give me more space. :) Or when they basically bashed an idea of mine (can we say entry laundry?), I felt extreme frustration. However, even what seemed like a silly idea or an undoable idea, sometimes sparked a workable idea that helped improve my house. And I would absolutely listen to the architects on this forum. Without their extensive knowledge, my craftsman house would have looked like a mashup of every applied craftsman gee gaw without having any cohesiveness.
...See More
Need help with setting up living room please!!
Q
Comments (1)
You'll get input if you post current pix.
...See More
Please help with empty, large, living room in my new home!
Q
Comments (43)
Thank you, Mae. I'm definitely trying to enjoy this time, I know how fast it goes. The kids are just REALLY missing our old house. It's only 5 minutes away, but the house itself they are missing. My 4 year old asked the other week "when can we go back home?" my 8 year old can't talk about the old house without tearing up and my 11 year old who used to share a bedroom, is now scared to go to bed and says her room terrifies her at night. I know a big part of the home sickness is the new house doesn't have a homey feel yet. I have been buying soooo much stuff but I couldn't even tell you what. A book I bought for one of my open shelf areas🙄 said exactly what drdeb said. So I have definitely slowed down and decided to do one room at a time. I am just rushing a bit for the kids sake... maybe mine too. I think for the empty wall area I'm going to do family pictures. I know it's not what most designers would do, but I think I can display it in a tasteful way, and my family is really the only thing I love enough to hang in such a showcased area. We just now got family pictures with our newest addition so it might be awhile until I get them back, so I'll still keep my eyes open for something that really speaks to me but I'm not holding my breath. Thank you everyone for all the help once I start getting everything in and put together I will post pictures! Now, I think the next room to tackle will be my daughter's "terrifying bedroom." 😩
...See More
PRO
JAN MOYER
12 days ago
last modified: 12 days ago
The only way to advise you? Go back to the house, draw and measure the room in question. Add every possible dimension. Feet and inches for every single wall, window, opening, fireplace,

Upload it as a jpeg below.

That said? Children grow, they go to school - that's the important thing with any home - school quality. Toys and clutter gets abandoned to ipads. ....stealing YOUR phone: )
auntthelma
12 days ago
It is a lovely home. After you move in, the house will tell you what to do. You will feel whether the room is a play room, dining room or sitting room.

The TV room looks awesome!
auntthelma
12 days ago
Buying a house is complicated. The main criteria should be location, price, condition. Decorating and furniture placement is fun, but not top priority. From the pictures, this house appears to be in very good condition. That leaves price and most important, location. Best wishes in your house hunt.
PRO
Norwood Architects
12 days ago
What would be the primary function of the space? Will it be your living room, a family room, a keeping room? Deciding on its function seems the logical first step in deciding how to furnish it.
ci_lantro
12 days ago
The room doesn't look all that small considering the large scale overstuffed sofa and loveseat. Those and the heavily textured area rug adds visual bulk.

What bothers me a lot more is the two tier island with the offset and knee banging corbels, the cooker on the island with the ventilation hanging over it. And the sink location kinda' far from the cooker & fridge (how far? unknown because of photo distortion...) Would be better to have the sink & DW on the refrigerator wall and the ovens over where the sink is. The two tiers & offset of the island are also visual clutter when viewing the kitchen & sitting area as a whole. The white cabinets/ wood island--harsh contrast that also is visual clutter.
kandrewspa
12 days ago
As the other commenters said, the current homeowners have a lot of furniture in the space, so I doubt it will be too small for you. I don't think they have their furniture arranged the best way either, so it's possible this is at least part of the reason you're perceiving the room as being small. If everything else feels right to you, no reason not to buy this house.

Unless you know you're only going to be in a house a short time, the house should give you a good feeling like your spouse does, regardless of its shortcomings. :-) If you don't get that feeling, then maybe it's not the right one for you (or your spouse). Our first house was a fixer upper that turned out to be too much of a fixer upper, but it was in a fantastic neighborhood, great schools, and had the right vibe. While of course you need to be practical, don't completely overlook the subjective aspect of home buying. There are no perfect houses so it helps to have the right feeling about whichever one you choose.

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Room of the Day: Antiques Help a Dining Room Grow Up

By Becky Harris

Artfully distressed pieces and elegant colors take a formerly child-focused space into sophisticated territory

LIFE Houzz Call: Show Us the House You Grew Up In

By Becky Harris

Share a photo and story about your childhood home. Does it influence your design tastes today?

MOVING 8 Things to Learn From Open Houses (Whether or Not You’re Buying)

By Laura Gaskill

You can gather ideas, get a handle on the market, find an agent and more

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Room of the Day: See the Bathroom That Helped a House Sell in a Day

By Annie Thornton

Sophisticated but sensitive bathroom upgrades help a century-old house move fast on the market

THE POLITE HOUSE The Polite House: How to Set Up an Extra-Special Guest Room

Items beyond the necessities will make holiday guests feel pampered. What extra touches would you include?

LIVING ROOMS A Living Room Miracle With $1,000 and a Little Help From Houzzers

By Mitchell Parker

Frustrated with competing focal points, Kimberlee Dray took her dilemma to the people and got her problem solved

LAUNDRY ROOMS Soak Up Ideas From 3 Smart Laundry Rooms

By Mitchell Parker

We look at the designers’ secrets, ‘uh-oh’ moments and nitty-gritty details of 3 great laundry rooms uploaded to Houzz this week

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: A Minneapolis Living Room Goes From Dim to Delightful

By Karen Egly-Thompson

A Craftsman-style living room gets lightened up, giving a family some space to gather and play

DINING ROOMS Room of the Day: Grown-Up Style in a Family Dining Room

By Jeannie Matteucci

Easy-care fabrics, a lighter color palette and a great furniture save help a Boston-area family get the transitional look they were after

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Right-Scaled Furniture Opens Up a Tight Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

Smaller, more proportionally fitting furniture, a cooler paint color and better window treatments help bring life to a limiting layout

Sponsored

More Discussions

Master bedroom help

13

Help with Family/Living Room Furniture

2

I'm trying to figure out how to put this idea into action.

16

Need help decorating

2

Living room layout help

0