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Living Room/Dining Room HELP

9 years ago

Hello everyone! I need your help!

We moved into a new construction home a month or so ago... I've been slowly assembling the furniture and whatnot because this house is so different from our last house (MUCH smaller rooms) that I couldn't re-use a lot of the furniture from our other house.

Also, ignore some of the clutter in the dining room (my "work from home" setup on the dining room table. And the pack-and-play... and the small child within it... haha! Also working on our big pile of artwork and deciding where it should go, so the walls are only partially filled.



Anyway, my big issue has been the living/dining room. It's a smallish space that is complicated by a fireplace in the center of the room that really demands to be the focal point.

I purchased a small couch to fit into the space--but now that it's in, I think it might look better with a small L-shaped sectional. The only issue is that the sectional would need to be less than 90" x 90" to fit into the space. What do you think?

On the "dining room" side of the space, I want to replace the secretary desk thing with a buffet that fits underneath the window over there. Good idea?

I plan to put three barstools under the counter--just haven't bought any yet. Would love any suggestions for counter-height stools that aren't super expensive.

Looking for any suggestions really, other than BUY ALL NEW FURNITURE, because a lot of this stuff is newish :( I hope it isn't helpless.










Comments (22)

  • 9 years ago

    General dimensions:


  • 9 years ago

    I think your home looks perfect! I would not do a sectional. I think your sofa is fine. You have extra seating that can be pulled over from the fireplace if needed. When budget allows, I'd look for a smaller coffee table (yours looks very much like the Ethan Allen coffee table we had). I replaced ours with this rattan trunk and put a tray on top. It's the perfect size, provides much needed storage and was budget friendly from Target.

  • 9 years ago

    The "living" section of the room doesn't seem well laid out for either conversation or TV viewing. What if you flip-flopped the room and put the dining table on the opposite side of the fireplace? It looks like there is more room on the current DR side that you would let you lay out a more functional living area. I'd let go of the idea of making the fireplace a focal point for the living area; I think that will just force you into a less functional layout. It might be prettier (or more magazine-worthy) with the fireplace as the centerpiece, but with a baby and a pack-n-play to worry about, I would think function would trump everything.

  • 9 years ago

    I think you just need some throw pillows for your sofa, maybe some curtains.... and art. I also think the buffet idea is a good one.

    The only thing that really stands out to me is the fireplace area. The two chairs look very cramped. Maybe you can move one so that they are facing one another?

    Your place is lovely. Love the beams!!

  • 9 years ago

    You have an adorable baby, and house too!

    I would look at backless stools for a less cluttered look at your peninsula.

    You say you have some art to hang. This forum is a great place to get help with where to hang those pieces when you get ready, but don't be in a hurry until you get other things in place. And don't hang too high. That's mistake most people make. There are some guidelines on-line about height above furniture, between pieces, etc if you want to plan ahead.

    I agree you need a smaller coffee table. And curtains or side panels in a neutral shade if you don't need them for privacy.

  • 9 years ago

    I think curtains would be nice in the room, maybe just side panels if needed. Yes, I think you should replace the desk with a buffet in the DR. If you dont need extra seating, the sofa seems fine. It will be difficult and expensive to find a nice sectional to fit into 90x90. Smaller, lower bar stools with curved or low backs will look nice.

    Cooks

  • 9 years ago

    I also agree plants would look lovely too!!

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks everyone! I agree we need pillows/plants/decor BADLY--I've just been trying to get the furniture layout right before I plant my design roots, I guess... if that makes sense! haha.

    As for this layout--we've lived with it for a month or so and it works well for my husband and I (and child). It only starts to get awkward when more than one person comes over. We've had three people over and the two chairs facing the fireplace got turned to face the left side of the room, and then I just kind of perched on the fireplace hearth. It worked, though.

    But we don't have people over too often... usually just one other person.


    I'm going to try to rearrange the furniture on my design software some, maybe switch sides--although the door on the right side makes placing a sofa over there pretty difficult as well. I had a layout that had the couches and chairs facing each other on either side of the fireplace, but then there was hardly room for a dining room table.

  • 9 years ago

    Nice house!

    Challenging floor plan, I know things sometimes look better on paper than in person, but I would try something like this...

    Those are suppose to be two ottomans across from sofa.

  • 9 years ago

    Great house and cute little baby!! I like artillery's idea of the chairs facing each other, plus art, curtains, and outsideplaying's idea of backless stools. I think a sectional will close the room off too much to the kitchen. Your kitchen and beams are lovely!

  • 9 years ago

    I really like your home! I love the windows and the symmetry between rooms. I would add drapery. Drapery would add so much elegance and soften the rooms so much, however consider whether or not your baby will pull them as this could be dangerous. I would also move the chairs into the living room or have them flank the fireplace. I like the plan that Kitch4me drew up. Plants would also be nice, make sure they are toddler friendly. I also like the backless bar stools, I wish I had done that in my home. I think some head chairs that are different from the other chairs in fabric would look great too.

  • 9 years ago


    Because the space is very open,& the fireplace so beautiful, it will be the focal point regardless. Maybe if you switch sofa and chairs out as above? I think it's more suitable for conversation and TV viewing. The sofa may obscure the fireplace a bit, which I know is the whole focal point thing, but you have to live in your home and it must function. It won't cost a thing, just some moving of furniture & you can just sort of try it out. Décor wise-this room is awesome!

  • 9 years ago

    I wonder if you could do something like this with your two chairs and put a small ottoman in between. I know this is not the style but the layout might work.



  • 9 years ago

    UPDATE TIME! =D


    We purchased a small sectional--which got delivered yesterday.


    I think it feels a LOT better.


    The rug is 6x9---seems like it might be a bit small? Maybe I should get an 8x10? I cant extend it all the way to the TV cabinet because of the stupid fireplace hearth :( Any color/pattern suggestions? I need some color in this room!

    My current plan is to purchase one of those large square ottomans to go infront of the couch, probably in an easy-to-clean fabric/leather and fairly padded for the clumsy child learning how to walk! Do you think that would look okay?


    Also, the art above the TV is bugging me. I don't know what it is about it that is bothering me---what else would I put there? nothing?




  • 9 years ago
    • What a difference ! Looks so much better. I would suggest putting some bold art , with high color over the fireplace. Something with a lot of color, and contemporary. I can't see exactly where the rug ends, but if the room can take it , a larger rug will make the room look bigger. No more leather in the room, as you suggested you night get on a large square ottoman. You could get a cowhide, though. Also the art on the wall above the tv and the playpen do not look right. The art belongs on the left side of the double window. A nice modern chrome shelf with the art standing on it maybe ! Just saw rug. Definitely get one larger, and I would advise against the border on the rug. The border gets dirty much more quickly.
  • 9 years ago

    maybe a corner shelf above the television with stuff on it, and then move the artwork somewhere else? I know I need something left of the window, but didn't really have anything on hand that fit the space!

  • 9 years ago

    That tv corner is awkward. Can you get high, corner piece, that is light and airy, and more contemporary. Something you can put the tv on, and the tv could have a cabinet underneath, and maybe a couple of shelves above. I do think that it should white, and modern . The corner looks bottom heavy, and white or some other light color that is close to the wall color would look much better. The windows look nice and clean, and let the natural light in. At most i might put a mesh shade in the a color close to the wall color, or something in a natural bamboo look. I can't see what is on the leather chairs, but they could use a pillow, maybe in bright mongolian lamb, ( they have many on this website for sale ), but I would keep the backgrounds of the room, which means basically, the floor and walls ( which forms an envelope ), and bring in color on the pillows, or throw, and art work that is either black and white photography, or high color art work, that shows up somewhat solid. Nothing faded, or feminine. The room has good bones, and it needs strength.

  • 9 years ago

    Oh, I just looked and it needs something metallic. Either in picture frames, or a mirror on the wall to the left of the window. Candlesticks on the mantle would be good. You can mix your metals, but all the neutral, and the natural needs some glamour and glow ! You can hang a lamp on the wall opposite the tv wall. get a mid century arm lamp to give you light , and make it either brass or chrome. Bronze would be to much like the rest of the room, and you need more contrast !

  • 9 years ago

    That arrangement looks much better! I wouldn't hang any art over the tv. At first I liked the couch, but when I saw the sectional it makes the room look bigger. It fits the space perfectly. A square ottoman looks like it would work well. You could bring color in with a rug, and a few pillows in the color you want to bring out.

    I don't think the 3 art pieces by the tv look right. I don't think I would do anything over the tv since its in a corner like that. I think the other art over the pack and play looks good, or something to the left of the double window may look good , something more vertical and a bigger size possibly.

  • 9 years ago

    It looks very nice. Love the sectional and also the idea of an ottoman.

    Also, time to start baby proofing, especially the edge of the hearth.

  • 9 years ago

    i just looked up some products on Houzz. For the tv you could look into Tvilum product 30816262 . There are many other tv stands that are similar. you need something on legs. It really should be off the ground, As far as coffee table, since you want something soft, for the baby, look into "Santa Fe Cowhide Quatrefoil Pouf, product #37276919. There are many many iterations of that also .