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Design Dilemma
laurarobertson

Desperately need help for living room!!

13 years ago
We have a long,narrow,living room in our modular ranch. Can you say bland, bland, bland?? The couch is too big (I'm ready to give it away)and the cat is the only one who uses it, the recliners have to stay, but there is no good place to put them so you can still watch tv, but stay out of the way of the front door which is our main entry. Where to put a Christmas Tree? Where to place furniture? I avoid this room at all costs because I never feel comfortable in there, it just frustrates me to no end. There is no other room in this little house to spare. Help???
Featured Answer
  • 13 years ago
    My guess is you have the TV in the area which should be a dining area. I would move it - will cost to change the connections, but will be worth it. Put the TV and the console under it on the wall opposite the double window. Lower the TV to about 10" above the console. Turn your sofa (if you keep it) and put it under the window. The two loungers will turn around and face the other direction. Lower the sconces and put the mirror vertically between them. If you do a dining area, move the mirror and sconces to that end. If you get rid of the sofa, put the loungers in front of the window and the other two chairs at the end with the sconces. You need one rug for each end of the room - same colors but not pattern (homedecorators.com) I would try and go for a dining table and chairs on the small end. A rug should be 4 feet wider and longer than the table top so you may not have room for one. Just the table, chairs, mirror and sconces would look nice. For now you can put the tree there and get the dining set next year.

    Comments (22)

    • 13 years ago
      Start by removing everything, mirrors, wall sconces, art, and drapes from the walls. Then take out all the small tables, rugs and personal clutter. This will clear your head and give you a fresh eye on the room. Your sofa is large but still might work if handled correctly. You need to post more pics of the room taken from all four corners. Be sure we can see the doors and windows that are involved.
    • 13 years ago
      These are from different angles.

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    • 13 years ago
      These are from different angles.
    • 13 years ago
      It seems like you have too much stuff in for the size of the space. Since space is limited it seems unreasonable to be taking up a lot of real estate with a large sofa you are not using. The sofa looks good. Why do you not use it? Is it in bad condition?
    • 13 years ago
      First, way too much furniture in the room, definitely declutter. I think what might work best is moving your sectional--long part of sectional against your mirror wall (with the two light sconces). I assume it will fit without jutting into the hall? Get a corner tv stand and put the tv to the right of the window (you can always reroute cords under the floor if necessary). Take the mirror, guitar and paintings down from that wall. Move one of your rugs over the couch area. ...so many other things going on in this room, so I would say start with that first.
    • 13 years ago
      I would get a new sofa. Turn it and put it in front iof that big window you have by the front door. tv I would put on the opposite wall where you have the mirror and guitar. the xmas tree can go on the wall with the wall sconces. I seriously think you should rethink the two single recliners. they dont work for the space at all. Tooo big. the two single ikea chairs might be better.
    • 13 years ago
      I would get a new sofa. Turn it and put it in front iof that big window you have by the front door. tv I would put on the opposite wall where you have the mirror and guitar. the xmas tree can go on the wall with the wall sconces. I seriously think you should rethink the two single recliners. they dont work for the space at all. Tooo big. the two single ikea chairs might be better.
    • 13 years ago
      I looks like you could use some more storage. How about a wall of cabinets where the tv is now for coats, shoes, etc. I think white cabinets would be better and you may find reasonable prices at ikea for a wall unit. I'd move the tv to the opposite wall and take put the sofa under the window and simply turn the recliners facing the tv. A lot of editing with wall scones, art. Two area rugs for each side of the space. For your tree..float in the "entry" space.
      Tudor Kitchen Remodel · More Info
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      Leave sofa as is. Move tv to opposite wall where picture now hangs. Move black and red rug in front of sofa. Turn or angle recliners to face tv. Put mirror where tv was and put sconces on either side. The picture can be moved to where the mirror was. You can possibly use the square end tables as coffee tables on rug in front of sofa but I am not sure if tat would work.
    • 13 years ago
      Your living room reminds me of the living room from the blog aka design. ( http://akadesign.ca/) If you move the tv where you have the mirror and put a smaller couch in front of the window. It would give you so much more room. This is her living room from aka design. It's small like yours and her layout looks fantastic!
    • 13 years ago
      I LOVE Stephanieterranovas advice!! The blog she's referring to is my kind of style! I also love the suggestion to add storage cabinets to the wall where the tv is now. LOL, my husband is gonna strangle me he just hung it there! We have a dining area in the kitchen already do no loss there. The space to the left inside the front door is so awkward to me. I hate the coat rack in plain sight and the shoes cluttered by the door but never thought of freestanding closets for storage. Ikea does have some very clean like looking pieces I can use. Now if it weren't three hours away... Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. Now about color ?
    • 13 years ago
      Thanks Laura! I do love her style too! It's so comfy yet colorful and slightly vintage. My favorite! From what it looks like your couch is grey so what about a light grey or greige? Plus it will still look good with the dark chairs you have. Oh and I have those wall sconces too btw! Lol looks like we have really similar taste :)
    • 13 years ago
      I was typing on my phone earlier and my 50 year old eyes and fingers don't like it so much ie: all the typos. The decor I own is the accumulation of my "Fiesta" phase, LOL. I have long-since switched my taste to a natural, neutral, almost all shades of white with black-brown accents. Talking my family into parting with the colorful things has proved to be a bigger challenge. They want to hang on to everything! Does anyone else have this problem? I'm just not that attached to "stuff" anymore so I'm weeding pieces out quietly. I just can't take the clutter anymore, it's overwhelming to me. The couch is going for sure, it's just too big and takes up precious space. I do love the sconces and mirror, that's about it.
    • 13 years ago
      i am going to Ikea Sat you must live in Oregon...UGH!!! You might think of a room divider as well.
    • 13 years ago
      How many in your family?
    • 13 years ago
      I am in my 50s too and at this point I think it's natural that one would accumulate a lot of stuff. If you or others are having trouble getting rid of stuff then store and rotate.
    • 13 years ago
      I think it would be a good idea to move the coats to the dining area and away from the door (maybe in the corner on a clothes tree?) but I don't think you should get any large furniture pieces until you get your family/living room situated.
    • 13 years ago
      At this point in my life it's my husband and me, and our 21 year old daughter who's on the verge of moving out on her own. Our married daughter has a three year old, and a new baby on the way, they live closeby and are here often. My husband is one of seven, who are all married with kids and grandkids. I am one of two. he has a HUGE family, I have a mother, brother, his wife and thats it. We don't entertain in the winter months. Instead we have people over during the summer when we can be outside at the pool. We live in the country so there is lots of room at that time of year for all the nieces ,nephews and assorted kids to run and play.
    • 13 years ago
      At this point in my life it's my husband and me, and our 21 year old daughter who's on the verge of moving out on her own. Our married daughter has a three year old, and a new baby on the way, they live closeby and are here often. My husband is one of seven, who are all married with kids and grandkids. I am one of two. he has a HUGE family, I have a mother, brother, his wife and thats it. We don't entertain in the winter months. Instead we have people over during the summer when we can be outside at the pool. We live in the country so there is lots of room at that time of year for all the nieces ,nephews and assorted kids to run and play.
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      Make two distinct areas. Put the recliners facing the t v and the wooden armchairs with the sofa. Hang two of the plug in wall sconces above either end of the coach. Unite the spaces using identical rugs. Follow the suggestions of removing everything from the room. On the wall where you have a wall light (I think it is across from the front door), get a couple of Ikea tall cupboards for the coats and boots.
      Bogart Flat-Weave Wool Rug · More Info
      Rugs in the pinky red of your contemporary print.
    • 13 years ago
      Hey, I am already a pack rat!!

      I understand the need for a lot of seating, but I think that the furniture needs to be arranged
      in 2 well defined areas.
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