This is our future home. It is staged in this picture, that's not or furniture. I like the layout in the picture, but it would not work in real life for our young family.

We are wondering where can we place a large television in this area. Ideally it would be mounted on the wall, but it can go on a console too.

We have a theater style recliner (3 adjoined recliners), brown leather, manly, big. It's almost new, so we will use it here (no additional den or TV room available). I like individual swivel chairs, so you can face your guests, look out the window or face the TV, but maybe in the future if this setup doesn't work and we sell the big recliners.

Should we swap out the living room and the dining room? Would it be weird to have the dining set next to the window?

There aren't any other walls to set the TV or large recliners up against. The entry is to the right side, next the two blue chairs, the kitchen is open (see corner of the countertop), and the other area to the left is the hallway to the bedrooms.

Please help.

another view

another view, from the main entrance

here is the big brown recliner sofa that will go in that space. I'm thinking it can only go on the wall where the dining set mirror is (swapping out the living and dining areas). Put the TV on a console where the oversized clock is (I don't want holes in the wall, until we figure out if the placement works). The husband can keep his individual swivel brown ugly recliner (not pictured) and it would "float" between the dining area and living room area. He's mainly the one that is a dedicated TV watcher. If rather look out the window and not cover it or have my back against it.

Thoughts?

I would put the tv on the wall where the pale greyish picture is (eye level when seated). And then put some seating facing it. So, your husband uses the swivel chair, and the rest of you nonTV watchers get that triple brown recliner piece?

If I were you, I’d save up for a sofa with a low back, so you can see over it to the TV.

Mrs. S, the husband gets the swivel recliner by choice. He bought the triple recliner two years ago for the Super Bowl. He has watched 2 Super Bowls from the old individual recliner, it's his favorite thing in the house. At one point we had 8 reclining individual/combo seats (we have a large house, but are downsizing), he still sat in that one only and would ask people to move if they took "his" chair. He is open to selling it if it just doesn't work out, but we at least want to try it because it's comfy, has electric recline function, has cup holders and trays. The kids don't really sit on the couch when watching TV, they'll lay on the rug, bounce around, or watch a couple of shows on a tablet instead.

My parents and a close friend will be coming over regularly, so I want them to be comfortable and interact with me and the kids, only occasionally watch TV. I think they'd enjoy the recliner, even if it's not directly facing the TV.

I don't know if having the triple recliner where you suggest would be too overpowering. It would have the back towards the kitchen and would be immediately to the right of the main entry.

I've attached a picture of how it looks from the back at our current place. It creates a barrier behind it (fireplace here, but it would benefit the kitchen and front door at new house). If there's space, I could try to soften it with a sofa table behind it. It might work as a place to put our car keys, etc. I'd have to try and report back.

P.S. yes, odd layout with the kitchen right next to the front door. The window over the kitchen sink faces the street, but it's what fit most of our requirements in a runaway housing market

Yes, the console table would help.

If you find that triple recliner comfortable and functional, that is fine. To pretty it up, I'd do the console table behind, which could also have a couple lamps on it. I'd hang some colorful throws over the backs of each chair in that triad, to downplay all the brown-ness and make it a little fun.

Of course the backs of the chairs make a barrier behind it! That defines a walkway around the back-side of the big piece. That's what you want.

Lastly, you will enjoy your TV more if you lower it about 18 inches or so.

To address your question about flipping the dining area: I think you could hang the TV where the mirror is, but you can't fit the triple recliners and 2 swivel chairs---they would be sticking out into the path of the hallway. You could try it, but my guess is that you need the TV on the longer wall.

Than you for the illustration! Here is a better pic of that area and the front door. I feel like there are already enough distractions (see the step) walking in, and not enough space for a show right there as you walk in.

I'm not a fan of the triple recliner, and have refrained from ordering anything else until I see the space with our current furniture (we have the triple recliner and a single swivel recliner only). The must've been a full wall that got taken down to open up the kitchen, so the open floor plan is bright, but creating a furniture placement problem.

That is one strange entry step, and a trip hazard. But I dont see an issue with the furniture placement. Other than the size of the room, what is the problem you see?

If you take the picture of the room as it exists now, and just flip that gray sofa around with its back to the step, hang the TV on the wall---it's fine. It's a small room, but with all that movie seating, it seems the TV watching will be very important, and it's that way for a lot of families.

Personally, I would have a sofa the size and shape that exists in the existing space (that gray sofa above). I'd want to be able to see over the back of the sofa--and have it not take up that much visual space. But other than that, it is a solution of layout that is best for that space.

It is interesting to see that last photo with the entry step. It changes the whole vibe of the room. Now I understand the OP's dilemma.

My random suggestion (unrelated to the TV and the couches - tho I agree the recliners do not seem to fit in the space, either style wise or size-wise) is:

If there is room, put a bookshelf or some type of console table along the side of that step as close to the length of the step as possible, perpendicular to the door.

It could serve as a "landing pad" for keys, purses, etc. and also could prevent any tripping over there. Then there would only be one "step" right in front of the person coming in the door, which is somewhat more normal.

So I see that the two suggestions so far are to place the TV on the large wall closer to the window, and the sofa across from it, closer to the entry.

What about placing both where the current dining set is staged, flipping the pictured living room and dining room?

The TV on a low console where the oversized clock is. They would be less glare, and it's still visible from the kitchen.

There seems to be the same amount of space there, versus right smack at the entry and the distracting step. I have only seen this place in pictures. [There is a door to the garage and another to the backyard to the left of the painting in this picture].

Would it be strange to have the an oval medium solid wood dining table with six low-back chairs by the large window facing the street?

The kids and I use the dining set more than the sofa (crafts, puzzles, eating, homework), or we're on the living room rug playing with toys. The husband is the more "dedicated" TV watcher, and he's happy with the individual recliner. My parents are older and will likely take naps on the triple recliner during visits.

I just noticed that the reclining sofa could be split up into 1 one seater and 1 two seater!!!! Need to see if the power-recline would still work for both.

here is the picture

Have you heard of Craig's List? I'm sure the recliner sofa will be snapped up in no time and you'll have some cash to invest in seating more suitable to the entertaining you do.

We still have to take the theater recliner with us, even to sell it. We don't have Craigslist at our current location. At least the husband has accepted to sell it.

I will probably buy a loveseat and a swivel chair instead. Seems like nobody likes seating in the middle seat of a sofa, and we don't have much space in this combo arrangement.

Any opinions on swapping out the living room with the dining room?

I don't think it matters much, but as others have pointed out to you, having the couch (and maybe a sofa table) backed up to that step, provides a visual/physical barrier that may prevent someone tripping down that stair.

But when you move your stuff into the house, you can arrange it however you like, and try both locations. Perhaps there is too much glare from the window to watch the TV when it's near the window.

Investing in a loveseat will be a repeat of the recliner mistake. Loveseats are made for lovers and only one person will usually sit there unless there are a pair of lovers who gravitate to it. The best investment in seating is a 3-seat sofa and 1-2 armchairs. I'm trying to figure out the fridge and the console table locations. The overhead light there would provide an opportunity for a chandelier above a table, but I'm thinking there isn't room if the fridge is right there and can't be moved. If you entertain with dinner parties, leave the table where they have it. You don't want to schlep food around the counter to the front window area. Most people don't want to be watched while they eat either. The best idea here is to move your stuff in and buy some "Moving Men" so you can slide things around easily and try different arrangements.

Comments noted.

I'll place something next to that entrance step.

I do think it will be easier to watch the TV the further away it is from that large window. Most likely using the layout in the illustration and recommendations here.

I'll have to see if it feels strange to have the dining area close to the window, but window coverings should help with that.

My dining area at our current bigger house is further away from the kitchen, but in a bright location that everyone likes, so it won't be an issue bringing food/dishes and leaving them in the peninsula at the new place.

I'm leaning towards replacing the theater seating with a swivel arm chair (that could face the window or the TV) and modular sectional, or just one of the 2 pieces. We keeping the individual swivel recliner.

I don't think I'll ever buy another 3 seat sofa. It irritates me to see that middle seat almost new, when the other two look worn (even leather). We do have outside space for large gatherings.

When in doubt, rearrange

There is no way I think you have space for a sectional. Be sure to measure!

It looks like you should easily be able to place the TV on the wall where the art and sofa are now, just turn the sofa around to face the TV and float it on the rug.

It will have to go on the wall that the large picture and clock are on. Otherwise, you'll have a bad problem with reflections from the window.

Yes @tatts. That's my reasoning also.

I think the area where the oversized clock would work since it's away from the large window and it can still be viewed from the kitchen. I won't have it booked to the wall, only sitting on a console, to try it out first.

@shari13: I am putting any kind of large seating purchases on hold until I get to arrange everything we currently have in the new space. Measuring is key. We're one week away from moving in, and I have only seen the new place in pictures.

I have searched into modular options for future furniture rearranging options. Being a family with young kids, I know our needs will change.

I'm researching modular sectionals, reversible sectionals, apartment sized sofas, swivel upholstered accent chairs, sofas that can be taken apart (burrow.com), and even considering a bench for the dining table.

@Nicola Interiors: thank you for including a picture. I see your vision and I'm sitting all these great suggestions in my head as possible layouts. That's not my furniture in the picture, it's a staged house.

It'll all come together soon.