I know you have included four photos, and I thank you for that. I would really like to see how much natural light you get from the kitchen window. I spend most of my time in the living room. I don't have a family, so the dining room table is a paper organization station!!!! I have my meals in front of the tube. I can't really tell from the photos, but it looks like you have most square footage in the middle of this space. I would make the front of this space the dining room and the middle the living room (depends on where you spend the most time). If this were my house, I'd paint the brown wall either a bright light griege, or a very light yellow or green. Since you have such a small window in the front, I'd get a front door that is mostly glass (with a darkening shade for privacy). Lighting will be important for this area. In the space you chose to have the living room, put a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner at chest height. Ceiling lights are not at all flattering in the living room. Get sheers and a darkening shade for the front window. Make sure you take full advantage of the natural light coming from the kitchen, as that will also light up the rest of the space.

Do you have a floor plan? At 1900+ sq ft that seems an odd LR. What are the area's dimensions?

Thank you Elaine for you input!

Jck910. Here is the floor plan

How many will live here? Do you all watch TV together, or can each bedroom have a TV and a place to sit? You can open the dining area by the kitchen with a banquette or bench on the wall and a table with chairs on the traffic side of the grouping. If the living area is only 11 feet wide you need to use apartment sized furniture. Lots will depend on how you plan to use the space.

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Family of 5

And yes, we do watch TV together. 3 kids that always want my attention

Thank you for input!!

I was just going to ask if you were willing to open up the 2nd BR downstairs to create a better TV/lounge area off the kitchen and then use the long front space as a sitting room/DR but no TV. BUT, I see you have 3 kids so I am guessing that's not an option!

I never thought about that! That will work too. Kids can share a room!!!!

Was just going to suggest removing wall of bedroom 2. Gcubed beat me to it. Or if you don't have to have the car in the garage you could push the LR wall out into the garage

Not much common space for a 4 bedroom home.

The suggestions are great BUT if I decide not to remove any walls and work with the way the layout is, what do you think? I do know that a lighter paint will help brighten up the space and apartment size furniture was mentioned, but how to arrange it?

I thought this was a good article on how to decorate small spaces.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/g32223836/small-living-room-ideas/

I'm not sure how you can arrange furniture in that narrow space to accommodate 5 people. But perhaps you can get a long console table to put under the front window. Maybe narrow drawers so it can be a drop zone as well (though you may need something by garage door too). A console with open bottom would be good so that you can store 2 rolling ottomans underneath (can be pulled out for feet rest/"coffee table"/extra seating). TV mounted on wall. Long sofa along opposite wall. And then a low-back swivel chair on kitchen end of sofa. That will still leave a walk-way from front door to kitchen. Get an L-shape banquette for along the peninsula and curving onto the wall. 2 small scale chairs on the other side of an oval or rectangular table. If the swivel chair is low-back then those on banquette can still view TV. Rug to ground sofa area but I would not have a permanent coffee table. Have a small table between sofa and swivel chair. The other end can use the console table to place drinks, etc.

I think long-term, consider taking down that 2nd BR wall. It will give you more family space for hanging out.

Theresa what a great article!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Gcubed. I visualized everything while I read. Thanks for being so detailed.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND. Model home images of the exact layout. Theresa, they have the drapes hanging high like the article you shared mentioned!!

I have a yard though!

LOL about the yard. great that there is a model to see what they did.

are you going to be purchasing new furniture for the living and dining area?

Yes. I have to purchase everything.

does your penninsula countertop hang over for bar stools or not, I say that because if you do built in seating it could be different based on that. heres examples,like the idea of bench seating so the bench can also be storage.

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They do hang over. These are really great ideas. I would have never thought about this

have you by chance created an idea board on this site to put all the room ideas you like, that can be very helpful as you determine your style and furnishings you like.

I did! So many things to chose from

just saw you have started one. great!

Thanks Theresa!

I like this pic from your ideabook, is this the direction you are thinking for your living area?

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Yes but the couch in the opposite side

I love the light colors. And a little nook similar to what you suggested would flow it’s this too I think