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HELP front door opens right into sofa

8 years ago

We just bought our forever home, and while over time we’ll make it our own there are some things about it that I really hate. It’s an old home that was updated by the previous owners. The living/dining room is really long and narrow, there is no hall closet or a place to set things down, and the front door opens right into our sofa. We’re open to all suggestions! Thanks!


Comments (32)

  • 8 years ago

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  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Congratulations on your new home!

    Thank you for posting all the pics! Can you put together a sketch with all the dimensions including measurements for windows and doors and post here in the comment section. There are some very talented people here that can show you the best layout for your furniture in this room.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Beautiful colors and finishes. I can see how the layout is awkward.

    You could place the sofa where the wall unit is and move the wall unit to the side wall with the white console. That space seems wasted. Unfortunately this puts a path through the seating.

    You could also swap the sofa and the recliner or pull the sofa closer to the TV.

    How much space is behind the recliner to the white console?

  • 8 years ago
    Sure! I’m obviously not a professional but here’s what I got.
  • 8 years ago

    I would try moving the entertainment center to the far blank wall, with your sofa or loveseat facing it, and the second piece in an L shape, with it's back to the kitchen wall but leaving a walkway behind it between the kitchen and bedroom. Get a tall sofa table with shelves or drawers to use behind the seating that faces the entertainment center for your storage (in the walkway between the seating and the dining table). If this is your forever home, you might consider switching the front door with the double windows, so you could walk into the space between the dining room and the living area.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I tried to figure out how to swap the dining space and the living room but with so many windows, there is no place to put the wall unit.

    I'd like your furniture in an L facing the dining area, with a TV lift console as a divider between the two areas. People entering the home would walk into the open seating area.

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  • 8 years ago

    tqtqtbw has a good point.

    Another way to tackle the lack of wall space is to use drapes on your windows so they create a 'soft wall' effect and you place your furniture in front of the curtains. Similar to the insp pic below


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  • 8 years ago

    Emily White can you move things around? I'd love to see some of the possibilities. The easiest to try is move the sofa parallel to the love seat.

  • 8 years ago
    Yeah I can definitely try. The tv is mounted to the wall so I can’t move that right now. When the kiddos are napping I’ll move things around!
  • 8 years ago
    I really hate to put anything in front of the windows we have a view for miles of rolling hills which is why we bought the house.
  • 8 years ago

    Very small sofa back table with taller items to serve as a "buffer" entry? I like the current layout...

  • 8 years ago

    I would spend the money necessary to move the TV to the wall where the mirror is, removing the top from the entertainment unit and wall mounting the TV on an articulating arm so you can adjust if for best viewing. Put the large sofa where the TV is now with a big piece of art hung 5" above it. "L" the love with it, facing the TV, more or less where it is now. Place the lounger between the door and window, angled toward the TV. I don't care for the oak tables myself and would replace those with glass and metal. Then consider a better solution for shoes.

  • 8 years ago
    Okay I can try that. Thanks! We’re getting rid of the recliner.
  • 8 years ago
    I’m also planning on ordering any new pieces I may need but I wanted to figure out arrangements before I bought anything!
  • 8 years ago
    Okay how do we feel about this? Do I put end tables on either end of the sofa? Would it look better with two chairs instead of the loveseat?
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Put the wall unit on the wall with the photos, put the large sofa on the wall unit wall, love seat facing wall unit, chair with back to wall unti and if it doesnt swivel consider replacing it with one that does.

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Better

  • 8 years ago

    You have room for a console behind the loveseat that can be used for storage.

  • 8 years ago

    ^And an area rug to tie it all together.

  • 8 years ago
    Does the coffee table need to be centered on the love seat and the sofa? That’s where it is now
  • 8 years ago

    Sofa. Bring the LS closer to the sofa. Move the coffee table closer to the sofa .

  • 8 years ago
    Closer as in towards the TV wall unit or sideways?
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Center the sofa on the wall and go from there. Coffee table closer to the sofa. Sit on the sofa and try to put a drink on the table without getting up. The coffee table needs to be useful. Make an L with the sofa and the loveseat.

  • 8 years ago

    Perhaps floor lamp to right of sofa and end table on the other end. Love seat moves toward sofa/t.v.

  • 8 years ago
    How about this? I don’t know how I feel about the floor lamp there...??
  • 8 years ago
    Oops here’s the other photo
  • 8 years ago

    I like the pair of tables and lamps beside the sofa. Bring them closer to the sofa. (Make sure they are useful.) The floor lamp is nice beside the loveseat if it is out of the way.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Looking much better. Coffee table 18" or less from the larger sofa. I would move the love so the arms of the two sofas are only a foot or so apart. You'll know if that is too off balance. When you shop for new pieces, consider some "C" tables instead of the coffee table. You can get them with wood if you want to keep that idea going. That will open the floor space for the kids to play yet still offer a place for drinks. I love the floor lamp and already expressed my feelings about the oak end tables. A credenza under the TV only needs to be 25% wider than the TV, so you may be able to get a new one that allows the return air vent to be properly exposed. Paint the vent to match the wall color so it is less obvious.

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