Why not place the couch facing the fireplace and move the chair to where the couch is? You could still see the tv ok from most of the couch and the chair. You might even have room to place the striped chair next to the leather one. It might work a bit better if you could move the tv toward the glass door, but don't know if that's possible.

Your room is perfect for angling the couch, but that's a tough sell because we are so used to having things line up with our wall. I'd sure try it - where the table between the chair and couch is.

If you are married to the tv there then I'd suggest another large bookshelf with an entertainment center. The wall is very empty, has no weight. Not to mention it would free up your coffee table for the sofa.

The sofa is usually across from the television so, that's pretty much where it would stay for me.

Your glass display table with the lamp is blocking your entry space into the living room arrangement and would be nice by the chair...I'm sure you use this to hold drinks etc for both seating areas so better for you to have the coffee table in front of the sofa.

I doubt the slipper chair is used much but I'd still move it up to the fireplace.

Thrift stores, salvation army is a great way to find inexpensive entertainment centers.

Finding one that wouldn't need a paint job would be a miracle but you need a dark color over there anyhow. Forest Green.

Hope this helps.

Olychick, I like the idea of the angled room, but not sure if I can live with it, since I am very symmetrical. I will give it a try. Elaine Wilson, you are right about needing something on the tv wall, but instead of an entertainment center, what about maybe a picture collage, with a small piece under it?

What does anyone think about a small sectional sofa instead of the sofa and Recliner?

I'm amazed at the amount of people here who expect posters to be able to just go out and purchase a whole new set of furniture because they can't visualize or except the conditions of what the posters needs.

They are asking for arrangements per their current circumstance.

Good gosh. You have to work with in those boundaries.

Really, could you just go out and purchase new furniture becauae a poster does not think what you have works?

And no, I don't think a picture collage will do the trick!

I think weight would do the trick. Balance.

You can't cure everything, if not anything with a collaboration of pictures on a wall.

But if that's what you love, well yhats it...and then, don't ask for advice.

As Bunny Williams says, "If you love it, it will work".

Over thinking anything is a highway to hell.

I said that, not Bunny....

She isn't that cool.

Elaine, you and I and the op are the only people who have posted on this thread and you are the only one suggesting new purchases. What is this?

"I'm amazed at the amount of people here who expect posters to be able to
just go out and purchase a whole new set of furniture because they
can't visualize or except the conditions of what the posters needs."

Your doors really have given you a challenge. I wondered about the view behind the brown chair? Is that the dining room you speak of? I think I see a china cabinet. I might try putting the couch across that length of the room, build a visual wall for dining..open up the room to include the book shelves. Get rid of that hall and increase the overall size of your living space. I agree the TV needs a more substantial piece by it, but I would look into more of a credenza than a HUGE entertainment center. Funny how the TV COULD fit into the bookshelves given how they are not full and their shelves are removable, giving you the entertainment center mentioned above.... Between the bookshelves and the china you have enough tall. Maybe re-arrange the book shelves, flank them on the TV, it appears they are more than one piece stacked next to each other. If the shelves come off the cabinets you already have all you need for an "entertainment" center!!

Yes, your correct. I did suggest she make a purchase at a thrift store.

I didn't make myself very clear.

I meant overall on the forum Ive seen it.

Anyways, forgive me for being offensive.

arcy_gw I love the idea of taking out the wall - I have thought of that myself, so I need to look into it and so if it is even possible. Also, you are right about the bookshelves, they are 4 separate units, so they can work as the weight that Elaine Wilson said I need, but then I need something on the other wall. Sigh. I am going to try to move the sofa today opposite the fireplace to see how it looks breaking up the LR and DR. Keep them coming - this is soooo helpful!!

Hi Donna --

Lots of ideas upthread to try; I'll throw a few more out in case you want to add them to your to-do list. Mine also seem to require some heavy lifting, sorry 'bout that!

I'd "ignore" the fireplace a bit more...don't let it boss you around re placement. I think you can create a more connected seating area that works for guests but doesn't interfere with TV watching.

So:

(PREP)

• first, roll up and move the rug (more on that later)
• take away the table/lamp that's between the sofa and brown chair
• clear off the piece under the TV
• move the china cab in DR to another wall there (seems like the opposite wall would work?)

(NEW SPOTS)

• move the couch forward at least a foot (more is fine if it doesn't feel awkward re hallway -- hard for me to tell)
• move the brown chair closer to the sofa, angling it the same way as current position
• put a table/lamp to the right of the brown chair (could try former partner OR smaller table/lamp over by FP)
• put the piece under the TV in front of sofa (new coffee table!)
• move slipper chair up by FP; try it both angled toward sofa and straight across from it; move FP tools to other end of hearth (if you like the chair up here, it may need a little side table...or it may be ok sharing coffee table)
• as discussed, break up bookcase and use at least 2 units for TV (I think you could use the full bookcase on this wall, it wouldn't bother me)
• try rug rotated 90 degrees from current placement -- right now due to its size, the furniture isn't relating to it as well as it could be (and it runs up against hearth)

I think rug may actually work better under future DR table or in space between sofa and bookcases -- you could make that space a reading nook, a craft zone with a small table, or...?

Looking forward to seeing how things work out!

Posting to follow.

Lol, blowing everything up.

So I have tried a few of the small things that I could do on my own without any help (can't move the bookcases). Here are the issues I am running into - the slipper chair is blocking the glass door, the brown chair swivels, so having a table next to it does not work, and the slipper chair clashes horrible with the rug (no biggie, but I just wanted everyone to know that I recognized that :) Thoughts? Oh, and the china cabinet cannot go on the opposite wall or else it will block the entrance to the kitchen. I have included a floorplan and 3D rendering to give you all a better idea of what we are working with here. Thanks!

I like what you've done with moving the furniture around. I think the slipper chair looks fine with your rug, but it doesn't really matter as the rug needs to be bigger or turned the other way or just get rid of it. You have a nice carpet already. I would also add a dresser/breakfront/doored cabinet (can't think of the name) under your TV. You need something to hide the cords etc. and the TV needs an anchor under it.

Move the coffee table closer to the sofa. I'd also get a Ficus or Fig tree for the corner beside the TV and slider door. I'd also get some new throw pillows and redo the things in your bookcases to make them more decorative or more balanced on the shelves.

The one thing that struck me is how the ornate gold decor on your fireplace screen doesn't seem to go with your more modern decor. You could just spray paint it black and it would recede into the background. After seeing your pretty slipper chair, I would try to find a new rug that will have some of those more lively colors and a more modern pattern. Something in blue and white (perhaps wide stripes) would really make a great difference, and then you could try to find pillows that will go with that color scheme. It would pull the whole room together. I like the new furniture arrangement, it looks much cozier and well thought out.

I agree that it looks better. I think the rug and chair are fine together (on my monitor). I actually like them better next to each other than when the chair was against the wall. Does the chair actually block the door from being usable or just visually block it?

The rug is a bit small for your space, but if you plan on keeping it, maybe change the direction it's running (I think maybe you switched it already) and scootch the slipper chair a bit closer to the coffee table to get it away from the door. Or maybe leave it that direction and pull it closer to the couch, which would bring the slipper chair in a bit, too.

Look around your house for a dresser or console to try under the tv. It would add a lot - or maybe that's where you're trying the bookcases? So many good pieces of furniture available on Craigslist for little $, if that's an option.

Keep working on it; you're getting there.

From what I can see of the pics, it seems your arrangement makes sense with the couch facing the tv. What is/was throwing me off, but you since moved it was that side table floating between the chair and couch.

What about the china hutch on the wall as you walk in the door or would that be too crowded? Or the china on the wall just to the right of where it is now.

OK, I got my table for the DR - the china hutch will need to stay where it is. I still haven't gotten anything to replace the coffee table for under the TV, so I put it back there for now, but it is definitely not staying! I have tried the sofa opposite the fireplace - what so you think? Please ignore the pile of extra stuff in the corner by the bookshelves. Just don't have enough room to stash it right now!)

I may have someone who wants to buy my sofa and recliner. If I sell them, any suggestions of what I should replace them with?

I haven't read through all the poster comments so please forgive me. I am posting from what I see on your pictures. If it were me, I would move the book selves to the small area to where your secretary is. It appears you can separate them and perhaps place 3 on the end wall and one on the other creating a reading nook.I would angle the recliner chair in the corner with a floor lamp. The secretary could be moved opposite where it is now so visually hidden. Your future dining room table could be placed in front of the beautiful double window with a lovely drapery in the future. You could then place nice artwork on the wall where your bookcases are now. I would angle your couch moving away from the dining set. You could then place an end table to the right arm of couch with the slipper chair angling in. Use the existing table under the TV for a coffee table. I would scoot the area rug horizontal and away from the fireplace with couch and chair legs almost touching rug edge. Looks like you have plenty of end tables. I would place two of them underneath the TV and large throw pillows stacked underneath. You really have a neat space with many options to work with. Have fun, Good luck.