Clueless on living room

9 years ago

We have a large living room, when we moved in I was just filling the space. I knew I was getting my childhood piano so I bought a cheap love seat. Now it is too small. There is a nook on the other side which made sense to add chairs but there is an 8' gap between the chairs and love seat. The room is 18' long. I just try and ignore this room as I walk through, which is every day. I have no inspiration for the walls, above the fireplace I just threw a mirror up. I want to eventually get rid of the carpet and do hardwood. I need ideas on furniture placement. I really want to donate everything and start over, except the piano is staying. Please help! I want it to feel young and fresh but I just can't figure it out.

Featured Answer

coopermcboo

9 years ago

Well, I don't think the room is horrid at all! Without spending a lot of money right now, here's what I'd do:

1. Reposition your piano so that the bench is angled in the corner and the piano is projected into the room.

2. Move your love seat and center it on the fireplace.

3. Move your chairs to flank the fireplace (both on an angle), facing the love seat. Position the ottoman in front of the chair on the left (as you're looking at fireplace)

4. Remove the small table and other stuff under the windows.

5. Remove the gold mirror -- and perhaps use it on the wall to the right of where you'll be sitting to play the piano. Hang it much lower than it is now - and use it as part of a gallery wall you can start to build as you find pieces you like.

to buy:

1. You need a coffee table. You could repurpose an old wooden trunk, if that's your taste, or get something that's on the chunkier side.

2. The room might benefit from having an area rug in your new, redefined "fireplace area." Make sure your furniture (chairs, love seat) are all touching it.

3. You need a sofa table to put behind your repositioned love seat. Use it to display family pictures, a few books, a trinket or two. This will help separate the piano space.

4. Find artwork that you like -- piece by piece. I like graphic art, so I'm a fan of allposters.com - you don't have to buy it all at once. Be sure to hang it low.

5. Lighting: maybe buffet lamps on the sofa table? Not sure where have electrical outlets... don't use your overhead lighting.

6. Get a Kallax double tiered bookcase (Ikea) and put it on its side where you now have your two chairs. Put a fun lamp on that.

I think it's a great space!!

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Comments (10)

cpaul1
9 years ago
It's too much to say in a forum like this because you need everything. The first thing I would do is paint it a neutral color to match the rest of the house. I would put the "couch" in the center of the room facing the fireplace. I would pull those two chairs into the room to make a seating arrangement with the couch. But the most important thing I'd do is get someone who can help you whether you have a friend with decorating sense or you need to hire some professional help ... you will not be able to fix this on your own.
joyce20
9 years ago
try bench seats under the window,roman blinds on the windows.the couch in the middle. You want to have an area for conversation.

piano where the two chairs are?
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Shelby
Original Author
9 years ago
Understandable this room is horrid, so I should try and make it into two spaces? I thought since it's one room to make one large space. My mother told me to put the couch towards the fireplace too but I thought that would look odd with the back to the piano. There are so many doors that I didn't know how to create different spaces.
Shelby
Original Author
9 years ago
I was thinking roman blinds but each window is only 16" wide and once the screens are in for the summer I don't have enough room to mount them between the molding. I drew a red line where the screens go. Unless I mount one large one on the outside of the molding
joyce20
9 years ago
Yes i see why roman blinds may not work.If you move the piano to where the 2 chairs are I know it's not ideal but you could put a sectional where the piano is along the 2 walls and around coffee table. take a color from the fire place to repaint to help it blend in better. buy furniture with the wall colur you have now in them.
Jay L
9 years ago
I think coopermcboo hit the nail on the head with her suggestions. I absolutely think this is something you can do on your own! No need to hire someone out.
PRO
Live Good
9 years ago
Definitely when you're ready for all the new furniture, we might have some decorative pillows!
mandy_moo_pants
9 years ago
I don't think it's horrid either, just unfinished. Everything you've chosen is fine, including the blue paint color, you just need to move the furniture around, add a few pieces, and get some art. The love seat (or couch if you get new) should definitely face the fireplace as suggested. Make that small change as a starting point and everything else will come together
Shelby
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone! So when it's slow at work and have an idea for the house I mock it up. Don't look too deep into the colors I used, the program I use is more mechanical engineering than design. Same with tables, etc. I just threw ideas in.
I think I have a good idea on how to move forward now. I think I dreamt too big with the floor to ceiling bookcase though. I wasn't seeing the room as two spaces before.