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sandra_lynch83

Decorating Small Living Room

9 years ago

I was hoping for suggestions on wall color, wall decorations, lighting, coffee tables and rug options. I have two new white couches and three boys ages 6, 9 and 14. I do not have to use the chest or lamps in the photo. I do not have to keep the current color. I was thinking of some abstract art with pink and/or mirrors. I was also thinking of a glass and metal (gold or silver) clean lined coffee table.

I am on a small budget but would save up for the right art, pieces, etc.

Thanks for the help!





Comments (32)

  • 9 years ago

    Can you take a picture looking towards the door from the other side of the room?

    Sandra Lynch thanked emwallace25
  • 9 years ago

    I think that the green walls and the chest look good with your couches. You need a rug, more lamps, and wall art.

    Sandra Lynch thanked yvonnecmartin
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    If you're looking for a wide range of wall art visit http://mndphoto.com Thousands of options

    Sandra Lynch thanked M&D Photography
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    White sofas with boys 6, 9, and 14 is incredibly brave!

    I suggest you save some photos of your favorite living rooms into an ideabook. I looked for white sofas with green walls (which look great in your room) and came up with these:

    Drawing Room · More Info

    Family Home Re-Imaged for Empty Nesters · More Info

    Sandra Lynch thanked groveraxle
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    The photos I see so far look cluttered. I think the floor plan should change first. The chest is is a small piece taking up lots of space where one of the couches should be. The wall art will then fall into place. Wall art is personal and should reflect you!

    Sandra Lynch thanked Belltown Design LLC
  • 9 years ago

    @sandra Is that the Emerson sofa from Ethan Allen? I loved the white fabric sample but all I could think of was ... chips and salsa! LOL And three boys, you are brave!

    Room is off to a beautiful start! I love the green!

    Sandra Lynch thanked User
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    I think a glass table would work well. Hancock & Moore makes beautiful tables. Worth looking into, though they are on the pricier side. Good luck!


    Hancock and Moore Jinx Nickel Rectangle Cocktail Table · More Info

    Sandra Lynch thanked Seldens Furniture
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Fall in love with a piece of art and you'll probably find the paint color in the painting. With white sofas you are totally unlimited.

    Sandra Lynch thanked decoenthusiaste
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    You've got a pretty open canvas at the moment. We just put up a post (and corresponding idea book) with some versatile living room design trending ideas we've been seeing quite a bit of lately. Here's a link. Maybe some of these with spark some inspiration!

    Sandra Lynch thanked User
  • 9 years ago


    Savannah Rug & Reviews | Joss & Main · More Info
    too pink?

    Sandra Lynch thanked havingfun
  • 9 years ago

    I love it!

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Love it!

    Sandra Lynch thanked JudyG Designs
  • PRO
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think you could reposition sofas.

    Left sofa is overlapping your path to the kitchen. Move it in so the back is aligned with the corner of the green wall. Now move the other sofa closer to the window. Your “ living” room is really in the confines of the wall the chest is on. Make sure all three pieces are now centered. Put the floor lamps at the other ends of sofas. Do you have another end table? If so, you could use both as coffee tables.

    Consider a larger rug….just make sure it doesn’t interfere with your path to kitchen.

    Private Waterfront Condominiums and Estates · More Info

    Sandra Lynch thanked JudyG Designs
  • 9 years ago

    I would consider putting the sofas in an L shape with the right sofa pushed back closer to the windows and the second sofa on the wall where the chest is currently. You could then put the chest on the wall with the thermostat. This would allow What am I seeing that is black and L shaped on the floor under the window? Another option would be to push the sofa closer to the windows, leave the chest where it is and put the other sofa facing the chest. Is there a TV in the chest?

    Sandra Lynch thanked katinparadise
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    A few questions to clarify the use of the space. What is the purpose of the room? i.e. TV? living room, social gathering place, formal, casual? Do you like the current wall color? It looks nice with your sofas; if you like it, I would keep it. What is opposite the sofas on the left side of the front door? Your sofas have clean, modern lines and would work with a modern glass coffee table, but not sure I would recommend glass with kids. You're off to a beautiful start on your living room space.

    Sandra Lynch thanked Julie Murray
  • 9 years ago

    Beautiful pieces to start but concur with Katinparadise - I would move the sofas to wall and window with chest on thermo wall..

    Sandra Lynch thanked jdgail
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    If you're looking for a wide range of wall art visit us at http://mndphoto.com Thousands of options.

    Sandra Lynch thanked M&D Photography
  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Here is some decor that might go well with your white couches.

    Upscale Family Home: Living Room · More Info

    Upscale Family Home: Living Room · More Info
    Also since you have your couches set up like this at the moment, here are some ideas for what you can do:
    La Canada Blvd Residence · More Info

    La Canada Blvd Residence · More Info

    Sandra Lynch thanked Coco Maison Design
  • 9 years ago

    I applaud you on getting the sofas that you want. You did not let having three boys influence your decision. It is nice to see, as there are so many posters who can't get this or can't get that....because they have small kids....Bravo!

    Sandra Lynch thanked shirlpp
  • 9 years ago

    Our OP seems to have disappeared on us. Sandra Lynch, where do you be?

  • 9 years ago

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you to everyone for the helpful suggestions!

    Here is how it looks arranged the way you suggested. I like it and it really opens the space but now the couch against the largest wall is facing the kitchen(you can see the gray counter top in the lower left corner) which is not the best view.

    I was thinking of a metal and gold coffee table with clean lines but should it be round or square and about 38 or 40"? I found a large piece of art (abstract with pink, yellows, greens, blues) for above the couch.

    I am not sure what to do about the kitchen and dining area which is where I was standing when taking this image. How best can I keep the area flowing given it is all open and such a small space? How do I select overhead lighting, counter tops, cabinets, a table and chairs?

    Thanks so much!


  • 9 years ago

    What about putting a chair across from the sofa - would that help. You also need artwork above the armoire.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Sob….will you try the sofas my way and take a picture?

    Now the chest is in your pathway.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The green is pleasant, and with white and wood too.... staying green? The rug style would determine the direction? could be elegant or feminine-delicate pattern, or bold/ contemporary?.....

  • 9 years ago

    Here it is (ignore the chest- pretend it is just not in the room!)


  • 9 years ago

    In terms of rugs I was thinking elegant and or feminine but not too bold/contemporary.

  • 9 years ago

    Which do you prefer Sandra?

  • 9 years ago
    The color combination you have now is very attractive. You might want to look at rugs with a pattern or design which includes the green color....a stripe, trellis pattern, or even a Persian style with many colors including the green. The rug should run lengthwise from the tall cabinet to the door OR beyond the door, and the width from the floor heat vent just to the doorway which shows the stairs. The left sofa should not block the doorway...it should sit on the rug leaving a passage behind it to the stairs. The sofa on the right could be moved to face the tall cabinet, with all its feet on the rug, to the right as you enter from the front door.
    You may want to measure the room and draw it on graph paper, and use cutouts of your furniture to try several arrangements.
    The room would look more finished with a few pieces of art on the walls. If there is no fireplace, the tall cabinet makes a nice focal point with a piece of art above it.
  • 9 years ago

    Oh, did not realize that the front door was right there. How do you feel about putting the back of one of the sofas to the kitchen?

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'd put the armoire back on its original wall and hang the violins to the right of it. Then I'd either have sofas facing as you did originally, or one sofa facing the window and the other facing the armoire (which would be a great place to hide a TV). If you did the sofas in an L-shape like that, it would help define an entry space from the front door.


    As JudyG notes above, your living room is the space within the confines of the wall the armoire is on and the window wall from the corner to the door. I would not expand the boundaries outside of that. Putting the armoire across from the window creates a traffic pattern crossing through the room.

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