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lmn513_gw

Can't live with my living room...Layout help please?

15 years ago

I need help with my living room layout. I would like to get new furniture, but I'm not sure what to get, where to put it and what size the furniture should be. I'm thinking of getting two chairs facing the sofa, but the chairs would obstruct the view of the TV. Perhaps I can mount the TV to the wall with an adjustable tv mount?

Although the room is rectangular, it's difficult because each wall either has at least one window, door, entryway or fireplace.

I've attached a picture with the dimensions and the current layout (which I hate).

We use this room for watching television and entertaining guests. I would like our fireplace to be the focal point. That is depicted on the center-bottom of the picture.

They only pieces that I would like to keep is the one couch thats not on an angle and the TV.

I would appreciate any help or ideas. Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful:

Comments (12)

  • 15 years ago

    Yikes! You have more things in the way of furniture layout than we do in our Gentleman's Parlor. I feel your pain. We have one full wall opposite the fireplace, though it's more of a walk way than a place for a sofa and I hate having a walkway between those viewing and the TV if it can be avoided.
    A couple questions...
    1.Is that a window or a door opposite the fireplace?
    2.How high are the windows off the floor?
    3.And what were they thinking when they designed this room?
    That last question I've asked myself about our home quite often over the last six years. Though we picked out the floor plan and made a few changes some rooms are still difficult for furniture layout.
    Note to self: If you ever build again make sure you have a 3D visual to play around with furniture placement before you break ground.

  • 15 years ago

    Why not keep both sofas in the center of the room (the one exactly where it is) and the other facing it? You could have a glass coffee table in the middle of the sofas (less visual weight) and place the TV above the fireplace. Invest in a beautiful screen or frame for the TV so it doesn't stand out when not turned on.

    There also seems to be a little wall space where you could find a narrow table, perhaps a vintage drop-leaf table (affordable and great character) that you could use as a mini bar for entertaining. Finally, you could place one or two small ottomans either under the table or along another wall and use for additional seating when necessary. One last thing - you have lots of windows, which isn't a bad thing - play it up with great window treatments, I don't know your decor, but even beautiful casual long linen drapes would look great. Have fun!

  • 15 years ago

    justgotabeme - To answer your questions:

    1. Opposite the fireplace is an entryway from the foyer
    2. The windows are 31 inches from the floor
    3. The house is over 100 years old, so maybe various escape routes were popular? I dont know... :-/

    bepeace - Thanks for the feedback. I like your suggestion about the table and the extra seating. I was thinking about placing a bench in front of one of the windows. My fiance go back and forth about mounting the tv above the fireplace, but we've decided that we would like to avoid it if at all possible.

  • 15 years ago

    Another suggestion for the TV is the same layout as I mentioned before, but sacrifice the window opposite the couch that is currently in the center of the room, use long drapes and place the TV and the stand in front of it. You could keep both couches facing each other or use one couch and add two chairs to face opposite the couch.

    One more idea - how about building or placing floor to ceiling bookshelves in the NE and NW corners in your layout? They would be functional and architecturally interesting - especially that the house is over 100 years old - how charming!

  • 15 years ago

    I have pretty much the same problem. I just bought some mission furniture and don't mind the back of the couch facing my dining room, so now, no one gets hurt! It is a serious challenge. In this pic there is a sunroom entry a bay window and a large entry to front hall on the walls that you can't see.

    Here is a link that might be useful:

  • 15 years ago

    This is the only thing I can think of now for you in keeping your current sofa and TV and adding two chairs. It was hard to read the dimensions so I'm not sure the console table will fit where I put it without angling it like you did in the other corner. Though I think the TV would look best mounted to the wall, to the left in the drawing on a swing arm, I couldn't easily draw it that way with the program I was using.
    I'm not sure how easy it is to find swivel chairs, but they would allow you to have the fireplace as the focal point and still watch TV without having it mounted above the fireplace.

  • 15 years ago

    justgottabme: Yes! excellent plan! The Tv needs to be in that corner next to the fireplace -- either mounted on the wall or sitting on a console or cabinet. Having a cabinet in that spot would anchor that whole corner.

    And more excellent ideas above too! Love the idea of bookshelves in each of the corners -- perhaps just try basic Ikea Billy shelving -- or other build-it-yourself shelves (try stores like Targer or Walmart)-- just to see if that plan will work for you? Or look for vintage shelving or bookcases on your local Craigs List!

    Swivel chairs can be found -- check your local Craigs List!

    But for now -- once you move the TV -- try placing one sofa facing the fireplace -- and another one facing the window -- forming the classic L-shape.

  • 15 years ago

    Thank you Jan. My first thought was your plan with the sofas, but they won't fit that way. I even drew in a loveseat, where the chair on the right is in my drawing, but it left too little room for walking behind the sofa to the main entry opposite the fireplace. I do like the idea of bookcases in the corner being an avid reader and ex-reading teachers assistant, however I'd add corner cabinets instead to soften the corners a bit. I also added round end tables. In my opinion they, along with the corner cabinets, make for a more comfortable walk way.

  • 15 years ago

    I'm bumping this baby back up since I took the time to do the work I want the OP to see it.

  • 15 years ago

    Thank you so much for taking the time and for the great suggestions! I can't wait to find the furniture and try it!

  • 15 years ago

    Oh good, I'm glad you saw it lmn. I wasn't sure what you had drawn in the corner by the fireplace. Was hoping it wasn't a radiator that couldn't be moved.

  • 15 years ago

    Actually, it is a radiator, but I'm hoping it won't be a problem. We had a new heating system (geothermal) installed and we'd only turn on the oil furnace as backup. We do have a duct in that corner for the newer system. Maybe we can keep the duct closed.

    We moved the couch and TV in to place and we like it so far! Can't wait for everything else to fall into place.

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