Considering not having an area rug at all.

The rug needs to double in size.

When designing this space, you want to accent and work with the long room. Don't make it choppy.

Based on your pix, you have chosen the right end for your dining space - beside the kitchen, This makes sense. Rooms need a focal point, eg. windows, a fireplace.....what is the focal point in your living room?

Placing the furniture against the wall emphasizes the long & narrow architecture. So I would re-arrange the sofa and aim it to the focal point, for ex. if there are windows at other end of room.

The above layout is a nice solution - it leaves both rooms open to each other. You can also decide to break them, as I discussed above.

Place a sofa table - rectangular table - behind the sofa, facing into dining area. This allows you to use table for lamps, for softer lighting in dining area.

Or put a folding screen behind the sofa, which can block the view from LR or be placed on an angle to add colour and a different texture.

Art work adds colour & another texture to rooms as well. Sofa cushions also add colour & texture.

in last pic, the floor lamp is not in best placement for full effect; art work is too high and adds no colour or texture. Ask yourself whether you need a coffee table? Not every room does. Another thought, a circular coffee table would reduce the 'long' look.

Decide on accent colour you want to use to enhance the look of your sofa, re-arrange sofa, add some more seating with poufs, which can also act as tables and have fun.

The photo attached shows room similar to yours - the focal point for LR is the fireplace, so sofa faces FP, and then other seating faces windows with ocean view. The circular table beside the additional chair breaks up the "long" look in room, just before entering the dining room.

The table in DR is similar rectangular stye, placed in different position, with hutch on one side & large, colourful, unframed art work on other wall. Dining area open & colourful, and you can see pink cushion picking up colour from art work connecting the two rooms.

Varun, you can use artwork to define each area, living and dining. You can use colors in artwork to connect this areas visually as well. For example, one of the first three panoramic pieces would work above the sofa with some of the last three verical ones in the dining area. And you can check out our page for more art ideas... Raisa

A good thing about what walls is you can jazz it up with any color you want to match furniture, art style, or theme. Here is some of my art that would go with your blue color pallet.

Here are some more views of the room. Definitely agree that the rug is too small. I can't position the couch to split the room, as it would block access to the stairs. I might be able to have it in front of the bay window, but then I'm not sure what I'd put in front of the tv area. Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork; I have a lot of blank walls still throughout the house, and I may well end up reaching out to you for some of yours.

You could place a settee, or occasional chairs there, and angle the TV toward the seating. A large coffee table and rug, and occasional tables anywhere you might want to place a glass.

Hi, i'm no designer but i think if you were to add a bookshelf or display unit opposite your stairs it will bring the two rooms together. Your sofa looks so lonely on its own add an ocassional chair facing away from the window.
I also think you can add more cushions, in mustard/yellow/gold.
once you have that you can add two art pieces on the wall that completed your furniture and speak to each other

I think you have to do something so when people coming in and out of main door, it doesn't distract those in sitting area. There may not be much you can do about the noise of TV or chatting of people greeting each other at the door but you can at least add a room divider to obscure immediate view of those sitting watching TV.

I would remove first of all the white cabinet near main door and place a partial screen there as shown below, you can also place sofa near the bay windows and use back of bay window to place vases or other decor. Then you can add an extra armchair at an angle in the space where your TV is now besides the stairs.


( divider example)






Another layout idea:

ok, these add'l photos make a huge difference - always difficult to get the whole picture only looking at photos.

You need to re-think the use of the space you have. What is your living style? have company a lot? can tv go in any other space?

I love the bay window - it has a built in window seat which I definitely wouldn't block with sofa. If you can find long cushion to fit here, or foam cut to fit & have cushion made, it would be great reading, watching tv seating. This is where you can enjoy use of colour in finding a print or solid material in colour(s) you like.

Your blue rug could be placed on floor in front of window seat

Appears your living room is too small for your lovely couch: you may want to consider replacing with individual chairs.

For e.g. place a comfortable chair with ottoman or a recliner (personal choice here) in corner where tv is now. Move tv onto wall where couch is & add more seating. A book case/armoire may look quite nice on wall facing stairs? or on wall where sofa is now with tv in it.

the dining table is too large for dining area as well. It looks crowded now & will be even more so when company there & chairs are all over the place.....if you have leaves in table, take out & place table length-wise in the area rather than width-wise & see if it looks better, or replace with a round table which would be a better fit in small space.

rectangular furniture does not work as well as curved or round pieces which soften the angles of the room & make it appear & feel more spacious.

Pieces which work well as seating, side tables are stools/poufs/ottomans, especially with storage.

Suggest going thru pix in Small Space on Houzz to give you ideas. Have attached image of stools & 2 shots of condo staged where living room was smaller than yours. Had to be very creative there with use of 2 seater sofa & extra seating, and then had to create dining area with round table & chairs - FYI

@momof5x, I like your divider idea, the cabinet there is so functional though- keys, gloves, hats, throws and spare pillows all live inside.
@sharon, I noticed in your earlier comment you mentioned the arc lamp wasn't placed effectively, can you expand on that?
the dining table is rather large, unfortunately past the return date; it's actually shown there without the two leafs! I think I will put the end chairs in the basement, and rotate the table.
@ivybaker, I like the bookshelf idea.

as far as getting additional seating, the loveseat is from Thrive's Nixon series, should I get the matching Nixon armchair and ottomans? should i get the additional seating in the same grey color?

I'd measure first, especially if an ottoman is planned. If you go with another piece from the collection, a coordinated look is a better approach than a matching one.... mid-century styled pieces with straighter arms might fit better, and would look well w your sofa. And, if you keep the cabinet, I'd suggest re-colouring it, perhaps to go w new bookshelf. You might also consider using your bay area as a console behind your sofa.

We would suggest either getting a larger rug, perhaps one with more pattern in a lighter color so it pops more against your floor. If your budget is tight another great idea is to put the rug in front of the couch between the couch and the tv instead of under the furniture. This makes the space look more full without needing such a large rug!

Varun,
Good idea rotating table & placing extra chairs in basement. You will see a space difference visually.

Re: arc lamp, I thought the distance from sofa was too much. It's a huge lamp & needs space to make a statement and provide light for reading w/o being bonked on the head.....see attached photo of client's LR using this lamp - base not showing

Is there any way you can "trade" sofa for chair & ottoman? Gray is a good colour & can easily be perked up with throw & pillows.

Putting the sofa floated to the center of the bay window really makes the entry into the living space a bit cramped.

Turned the table and removed the end chairs

There are a few adjustments you can make, if you like it there: By moving it a bit back toward the window and cheating slightly to the right, and moving the TV stand a bit into the corner, you can gain a few inches. That white cabinet really does not playing nicely with others, does it? Something w a smaller footprint there will help your room, no matter where the sofa lives.
If you don't like that idea, back the sofa goes to the long wall, and any added pieces must fill in around!

Varun, Table looks better now. Do you like the table position better?

@sharon, i do like the table better like this. i don't think i would exchange the sofa for a chair and ottoman - it's just not enough seating. perhaps i'll put a chair angled in the corner where the arc lamp is now.
@studio10001, thinking about getting a couple of these http://www.dwr.com/product/drum-pouf-high.do?sortby=ourPicks to fill in the space around the sofa.

glad suggestions are helping you find the right furniture layout in your rooms....re: stools, great addition for extra seating, tables - how about a bit of colour? These come in so many styles & colours now. There are examples of more colour on the link you added above.

Also look at some of the websites I look at daily for quality at good prices: Hautelook, Gilt, Joss & Main & Wayfair.

so I go to Joss & Main & one of their events today is....ta da!!! How do U like this one?
https://www.jossandmain.com/Pouf-Perfect-Cora-Pouf-in-Multi~CUG9539~E4548.html

Would definitely work with your grey sofa & introduces some colour in a more subtle way which you may prefer.

If you like, buy 2 & they can be positioned together, apart, with or w/o a tray on top to use as side table or together as a coffee table....

The style and double-duty aspect of it make it a good accent piece, but the height makes it a weak side table option: it is just even with your seat cushion (@17"), and should be in the neighborhood of 25" to be even with the sofa arm.
CB2, West Elm and Blu Dot might have some useful things. What is your thought about nested sets?

https://www.jossandmain.com/Stein-World-Leroy-End-Table~SM5128~E4821.html

because of open design, which is always great in small space, this would be good option for side table for sofa or chair

Hi! I'm considering buying a new place with Cornell Homes and I was wondering if you would be willing to discuss how you like your new place so far. Any problems with their construction? Thanks!