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Design Dilemma
em_c

What sofas and tables would be best in this small living room?

9 years ago

I'm going to be getting some new furniture for this room but can't decide what would best fit. Ive posted about this before and it was decided that aesthetically a love seat either side of the fireplace would look great but I now know from experience that having a TV at right angles to the sofa gives me a bad back so this is a no-no sadly. Therefore I think the only option is a L- shaped arrangement.

The room is 3.15m wide by 3.2 to the chimney breast. The front door opens into the room. There will be a matching cupboard in the empty alcove and shelves above. The TV will go on a swing out bracket in that alcove. My thoughts are a 3 seater on the one blank wall (not the one shown just put it there for scale) and a small love seat in front of the window. Plus an occasional chair under the TV. It's annoying that the front door will open to the side of a sofa but I can't see any other way?

I don't know what to centre to what though. I can't centre a sofa with the fireplace unfortunately so thought a 3 seater filling the space might look less "off"? There is no room for side tables but if I centre a coffee table to the fireplace it won't be centred to the larger sofa. I thought maybe a round table might look better. And then what about a rug? If I get one that the front legs of each sofa can go on it'll be off centre also. My head hurts!




Featured Answer
  • 9 years ago
    I assume you have considered chairs instead of a sofa?

    Comments (13)

    • 9 years ago

      I need to seat a family of 4 day to day and 6 every other weekend so I can't see how chairs would work.

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    • 9 years ago

      can you do a loveseat in between the to doorways, a loveseat where the black couch is , a chair on each side of fireplace?


      try taping everything out to get an idea before you buy

    • 9 years ago

      Ah sorry the couch is on the wall between the two doorways - I can see how that could be confusing.

    • 9 years ago

      so how about 4 chairs and a loveseat?


    • 9 years ago
      The oversize black sofa is going to skew the balance.a lighter colour in a smaller sofa would be a more flexible choice. Please post a plan with dimensions so that more appropriate comments can be made.
    • 9 years ago
      last modified: 9 years ago

      The black sofa is not staying - it's there temporarily but I left it in the pic for scale. I wish I'd taken it now as it seems to be confusing people. FORGET THE SOFA!! Lol! Here's a plan. The grey bits are alcove cupboards - one of which has yet to be fitted - they will have a couple of shelves above them. The 3.2m is to the front of the cupboards. The hearth is 0.3m deep. There is a radiator in front of the window which takes the depth down a little at that point. If you need to know anything else then please ask. Thanks for your help.

    • 9 years ago

      Also the sofa, which isn't staying, is 2m x 0.9m so isn't oversize: it's just a small room. :)

    • PRO
      9 years ago

      Have you thought about taking your plans and plenty of pictures down to a local furniture store? I'm a professional in the stone industry and we are always happy to help clients with similar kitchen and bath layout situations. Most furniture stores employ a few designers to assist their clients. You may have to pay a small fee to use their design services but working with a skilled professional is always worth the cost!

      Emma Clare thanked European Marble & Granite
    • 9 years ago

      That's an interesting idea. What type of furniture store would offer this service do you think? We only seem to have the standard chains round here or antique shops. Maybe I need to travel further afield and find an independent?

    • PRO
      9 years ago

      Not knowing your area I can only sagest that you look on each store's website. Most stores list design help if they offer it. I live in a small city and we have roughly 12 stores that offer design assistance. Good luck with your project!

    • 9 years ago

      So last night I had a play around with paper templates and have found a possible solution: Floating a small sofa in front of the fireplace and flanking it with chairs. This also creates a nice entryway. There'd be 90cm behind the sofa and 110cm in front of it. I can maybe add a little bench and cushion by the front door and drag in a chair from another room to seat extra visitors. What do you think?

    • 9 years ago
      Try your current sofa in that position. I know it's too big to keep, but it will help us visualize whether that layout could work. (1 metre in front of the sofa seems tight to me, but let's see.)
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