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Help! Narrow Living area with TV, Fireplace and Large windows

12 years ago
I am struggling with how to arrange this room now that we have painted the walls. I have to keep the brown couch and perhaps the brown leather chair and would like to bring in two bent wood arm recliners in a sand color.

We have discussed getting rid of the TV cabinet since it seems too large for the room and instead, putting the TV in the right corner on a perhaps a small corner unit. I am challenged by the narrowness of the room, the fireplace AND the TV and the large picture window. This room is also part of a bigger room, with our new kitchen (in process) and eat in area.

The color on the walls is Sherwin Williams Tradewind and it is more blue than I had anticipated so hope I can make it all work. My curtains are called khaki but after receiving them, they look to be more of a grey color. I am not sure all the colors go together or how to tie them together. I am also unsure about the area rug. Our old rug was a 8x10 size but now wonder if we should go with a smaller one and not put any furniture on it other than our coffee table. Also not sure what colors I should look for in the rug. If I should go with primarily blue or brown or try and tie in some grey and ivory since my curtains are reading that way. The rooms dimensions are 12'11 wide and 19'6" long with an additional 18" beyond the fireplace hearth on either side of the fireplace.

Please forgive the "in between" state of my rooms. We had cleared out the rooms while the painting and cabinet installers were here and I am slowly putting items back into the space but of course, now find myself stumped. Whatever assistance you can provide would be so very appreciated.

Comments (25)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    turn the dining table. is there a leaf in it. if so take it out. this is going to opening up the space and get rid of the straight line effect you have going. Get some area rugs, this will help define spaces. then put two chairs wall mount the tv where it is, put the console table you have beside the sofa under it. take the two chairs and bring them to the left and right of the tv. get a round coffee table. the wainscoting in the dining room, where does it begin and end. you may want to eliminate it. ..eventually add some recessed lighting to the dining area, and re center the light once you turn the table it may not be. i like your rugs and your curtain choices. the other thought...turn the couch to face the fire place, two chairs on the current tv wall and tv in the corner by fireplace. here are 3 ideas l like the top and bottom left.
  • 12 years ago
    I agree with turning the dining table. Right now it is giving the room a tunnel affect. This will also make room for an L shaped sitting area that will work better for tv viewing. O love all the colors you have chosen I think the soft blues and creams will help lighten up the room.
  • 12 years ago
    There's already too much too-big furniture in the space; I wouldn't try adding any chairs. If the hutch will come off the top of the console, I'd remove it to open up that wall. And this is one place I'd probably skip the rug. The floor is beautiful, and leaving it bare will make the room feel more open.
  • 12 years ago
    Your colors are good. The single best thing you can do for this space is to get rid of the hulking TV center. Bring in a credenza that is at least 25% wider than the TV. Wall mount the TV above it or set it on top with a swivel base so you can turn the set when necessary. Turn your sofa to face the FP and place the two chairs on the window side, facing the TV. Turn your dining table too, and anchor it with an area rug 4' wider and longer than the table top. As for a rug in the seating area, be sure it anchors the seating pieces, not the coffee table. I prefer a rug that slips under the front 1/3 of the sofa and extends about 10-20" on either side of it. The chairs don't have to sit entirely on it, but at least their front feet should. Looking at your rug choices, going down the column, I like top left, middle right and the bottom one best. Any of those will pull your blue down from the walls, and that's a good thing. The frames on the two photos by the FP are making big dark 'blotches' on that wall. I'd frame them in something lighter and maybe metal, since you don't have any shine in the space. You need to replace the low end table and the lamps. Here's a chart to help with that.
  • 12 years ago
    I've removed the hutch and moved the pictures from the fireplace wall to the right of the TV. You have too many small items that disappear on the mantel, so I've replaced them with one piece of pastel art in a light frame. A few pillows and a throw that echo the color of the wall; finì.
  • 12 years ago
    Not sure why you have a lonely table and lamp in the corner, but I replaced them with a monstera deliciosa.
  • 12 years ago
    How about swapping the corner chair and the plant in Grover's pic? Seems like the chair in the other corner would be better for conversation and balance the room.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Some thing that match the pillow's from Grover and ad color to the room
  • 12 years ago
    I like fair lightings suggestion. The second picture on the right. It will prevent the glare from the window onto the tv and open up the space by not blocking the large window with the couch.
  • 12 years ago
    Super suggestions! Thank you so much! I will try a few of these ideas, take pics and upload for advice, comments, thoughts. I never thought of turning my dining table but yes, that makes perfect sense. We use this room to watch TV and so it is always a challenge trying to balance having enough seating, balanced in the room while still allowing for TV viewing. And of course, the Fireplace and tall windows have presented their own set of challenges so I appreciate a fresh set of eyes and the suggestions you have given.
  • 12 years ago
    is it "out" to put the tv above the fireplace/on the mantel? put sofa where tv cabinet is (good to see out windows) and chairs where sofa is. and yes, turn the table.
    Teresa Reed thanked Joni
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Having the sofas along the longest wall emphasises the length of the room, so changing the layout and the largest sofa across the room facing the fireplace might help. The dark brown unit on the left also narrows the space. The angled high ceiling also makes the room appear longer - a lower ceiling might help although that might not be possible/desirable because of the end window, and the angled ceiling does add character. Change the focal point to the fireplace and consider painting the wall either side of the chimney breast (and maybe the breast itself) a different slightly darker colour to the rest of the room, with the rest of the room much lighter (off-white). Smaller lighter furniture would also help improve the feeling of space.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I had a family room shaped just like this, and the same amount of furniture, but we had windows on BOTH sides of the fireplace. The only practical place to put the TV was just where yours is, and our sofa was in the same spot as yours. However, we moved the chair you have to the right of the fireplace to the TV wall, left of the fireplace and set on an angle, to better balance the room. We put a floor lamp behind it. Try a smaller chair or one on casters so you can easily pull it over to the other side for family TV watching. I like the ideas about turning your dining table, removing the hutch from the entertainment stand, adding lightness and color with pillows/throws, and I'd also ditch the chair ottoman to further open up the space. I'd also consider replacing the dining table with a round one, and painting the fireplace a light color.
    Teresa Reed thanked augustlan
  • 12 years ago
    all I can say is reface the fireplace or paint the brick a light color perhaps white tone on yourlower wall,,that will brighten up the whole room,put the couch facing the fireplace with a sofa table behind it,continue wainscotting ,chair rail effect right through Put the tv on the large wall without that large tv unit.a sectional would be great for more seating and use the 2 chairs angled at the fireplace.flip your table width wise
    Teresa Reed thanked Ruth Felice
  • 12 years ago
    I think I'd remove the tv cabinet, find one for the corner, and place the sofa on the long wall. I think that would open up your room to look at the window instead of a big wall of tv
    Teresa Reed thanked txrlj
  • 12 years ago
    I was just going to say that, but I would hang it o n the wall maybe with wide floating shelves for cable, dvd speaker, whatever. Move one chair and small table/lamp in corner by window and move the other chair AWAY from couch...then brighten up the space with whites or light greens or blues...that's about all I could handle right now...oh, you could paint the fp a nice white/black?
    Teresa Reed thanked gracey999
  • 12 years ago
    I am not sure if you are on Facebook, but this was posted on there too. I thought that I would comment here too in case you are not on there. I had a very similar set up, and dilemma!! I had hardwood installed (dark too), rearranged it, added an area rug and a few other touches (new coffee table) and am much happier it this way. Just thought that I would share.
    Teresa Reed thanked lindabrennan
  • 12 years ago
    Large light colored rug. Glass topped coffee table. I like the redone images above.
    Teresa Reed thanked amyconnors
  • 12 years ago
    white wash the fireplace bricks. just a light coat of very thinned down paint will make it look like white brick which will make the room look bigger.
    Teresa Reed thanked sallyann1102
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    You are correct, please remove large TV cabinet and use a shallow console or nothing with TV above. Two chairs flanking the fireplace would be nice!
    Teresa Reed thanked Gray & Walter, Ltd.
  • 12 years ago
    The dark, bulky furniture needs to go. Smaller pieces and lighter colors everywhere. And, rearrange the furniture to break up the tunnel effect. Can you replace the fireplace?
  • 12 years ago
    Gee, Rilla, maybe they should just move. ;-)
  • 12 years ago
    @lindabrennan, YES! I love the new look of your room and you are spot on! Our rooms are very similar so it is extremely helpful to see how you placed your furniture! Your room looks wonderful. Thank you so much and thank you to all for your comments and suggestions! It has been a tremendous help and gives me a great vision.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I think lighter, more contemporary furniture, a light colored natural (sisal?) rug, some green plants and art with lighter frames would make it look less heavy. I know its heresy, but I'd think about painting the fireplace or at least lightening the color of the mantle and using lighter decor on the mantle.