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Narrow Living Room Layout

3 years ago

I need help buying new furniture for this space.


It is 14' X 20'. Fireplace/TV on shorter wall. I need seating for at least 4, comfortably, and able to watch TV. Also, there are French doors on one long wall and a sliding door on the other long wall... would prefer not to block them, however, I'm finding that my furniture choices will be limited if I go with anything but a sectional; willing to do something different! The drawing shows where the current sectional is and I know if it too far back in the room.


Another BIG problem with the current layout is that the way the sofa goes across at the narrow part of the room, it cuts everyone off and the flow is not good. Guest tend to stay out of the room. I would like the layout to be more inviting!


What would you do with the furniture layout in the room?




Family Room Layout · More Info



Family Room Layout · More Info



Family Room Layout · More Info


Comments (14)

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Well. It's your basic builder nightmare. Honestly, you are rather stuck unless you give up the concept of having a sofa. . Unless desperately needed? I'd lose the french doors. Failing that? It's four comfy chairs around a cocktail table.

    WHAT IS BEYOND THE FRENCH?

    I definitely would not do a sectional.. That's however, just one of the reasons the room doesn't invite you in. : ) Think you need to pick a poison, and drywall is cheap, or the only other way is TO block a slider., and I didn't include that.

    You've no coffee table, no conversational arrangement.....not enough lamp light, a bigger rug? Yes to that, and there are tons of fabulous broadloom selections with great texture that can be bound to the inch.



    OR.........





    I AM ASSUMING the slider leads to deck or patio..........

    If a living room behind the french door? It's an all too common idiocy from a spec builder! Two rooms of seating next to one another. ......as are the 8" of slider out of a family room space. leaving one wanting access from the more logical kitchen!,

    lLast???????




    psaag thanked JAN MOYER
  • 3 years ago

    Thanks, Jan! You are so right in all this. Beyond French doors is a living room… s that they are next to each other. We do sometimes use these doors, however to enter the room. And yes, the giant glass doors lead to the patio. they co have easily put this door in the kitchen as you mention.


    This room has been a pain since the day we moved in. Howver, the existing furniture is falling apart and i just have to pick something.


    I am thinking that either the first or last layout you posted might work. i might like the last one best, but need to see what needs to be done to move to TV.


    if we move the Tv, would you put it in a case peice or hang freely on the wall

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    As I said........it's pick a poison. Without making a remodel expense and mess? Accessible to all exits/entry points, the four chair concept can work very well.

    Post a pic of the living room - and ask yourself if you really NEED to cut through to the family room. I really hate to block an exit to outside, or put bulk in front of nice light.

    I actually turned a similar set up to a DINING room for a client......in that idiot "living" room space and turned her former dining space into a "she room" just for her,. She doesn't miss the living room one iota.

    Hard to say a better few options, and lets fact it..........people head to the kitchen, no matter what.

    A tv move? Not generally a big deal at all, and free hanging over a console is always neat and tidy. But again.........I'd really think hard as to needing the french doors unless they provide the only light in the living room: ) Consider it adult space, quiet space, with or without a tv, perhaps. Or a music room..or or or.....??? ORRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

    JUST MAKE A DIFFERENT "opening: YOU HAVE 62 INCHES......OPEN 36 OF THOSE NEAR THE FIRE END. ditch the french.

    Apologies for ugly sketch



  • PRO
    3 years ago

    One of my favorite layouts is the 4 club chairs around a table or ottoman. I've done it for several clients, and they all love it!

    For this client she already had the wooden armchairs, and wanted 2 more, but fully upholstered. They never used this living room until we redesigned it.

    Suburban Living Room · More Info

    For this client we purchased 4 new club chairs and an ottoman to complement the patterned rug:

    Refreshing a suburban home · More Info


    psaag thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
  • 3 years ago

    Although i like the look of the 4 club chairs, it does not make sense for my space. we are already using it everyday . i will try centerthe sofa on the wall with the French doors and see how it looks . what if i just overlap the doors with the sofa? will that look bad?


    here is a picture of what is on the other side of the doors



    foyer



  • 3 years ago

    No overlapping or cornering! Have you tried the sofa and two chairs in this problematic room? You may do better finding new pieces for the other room, if those fit in here.

    psaag thanked decoenthusiaste
  • 3 years ago

    since the french doors open into the other room I wouldn't worry about the sectional overlapping that space as long as you move it off the wall. the 4 chair thing is brought up as a solution and I did try it for a little while. although it did work, I hated it! didnt work for my home even though it is just me and my husband (retired never had kids) I never realized how much I enjoyed sprawling out on the couch.. I really missed having it in the room even if it wasn't where we sat 95% off the time. I would start by centering the rug with the fireplace (long side parrelel it betwwen the 2 doors) then center the sectional on it even if that requires the back legs to be off it. gives you a walkway around either side so you don't have to walk through the middle of it. it may seem a little tight at first but you'll have 2 ways to get throught the room instead of 1 and it's not like a hallway with walls that close you in. I like trying lots of different ways with my furniture.... living with it a week or 2 before desiding it doesnt work. the big thing is centering on the focal point if the room. if you don't it will always feel "off". I am NOT a professional but like to feel good walking into any space.

    Article Key Measurements To Help You Design The Perfect Living Room · More Info

    psaag thanked Cheryl Smith
  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Here"s; the thing: Inches on paper do not tell you a lie. irrelevant picture from the we can do that. Those can only be suggestive. / Designers aren't brain surgeons, .........they are creative planners. They may "see it in their heads" before you do, but they verify on paper. They don't order a stick of anything for a client until they have seen it that way.

    If you are going to block a door?You don''t need a door. I see no reason your living room, even from THE ONE ( can you spare it lol ? ??) picture............needs to be open to your family room. What if it had been closed from the start? Wellllll you wouldn't have ha this problem, right ? Yup......right : ) But you "go that way" ..only because you CAN.

    You have 62 inches beyond those doors and drywall and paint are pretty cheap.

    You really want to look at doors growing up out of the sofa back? :) It will make you crazy, form BOTH sides of those doors - guaranteed.

    A 14 x 21 space is a nice generous family room. Use it well.



    psaag thanked JAN MOYER
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Ok, my husband helped me move around existing furniture to the family room and we put together the room as the layout. Not exactly best size peices but overall idea. Yes, the French doors are still there ;)

    what do you all think? It even might give some space in the back corner for a case piece for mini bar or appetizer station for parties (where the birds are).









  • PRO
    3 years ago

    That arrangement is SO much better! Next I would plan for some occasional tables in the seating area and add table and/or floor lamps. Turn off all those glaring overhead lights.

    psaag thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I'd say that is better by a factor of 1000? !! It's an inviting arrangement with a message, ...."come IN sit, chat, lets watch a movie!!"


    Also, for those who may happen here......

    Inspo pictures are great. But when you gaze into any empty or unsettling room-, have no clue what to do? Purpose, planning and inches matter.






    Questions such as "What size sectional in my living room...." ? A tape measure and some lowly graph paper and a pencil can answer the question. The paper won't lie to you. Brutal truth come out, such as how about NO sectional?

    Inches................no LIE. Now, how about a table, some lighting that doesn't shine from a ceiling?

    Sounds like a plan !

    You don't need the doors.......: ) If you do? A single french.......28 inches. Closer to the book case.

    psaag thanked JAN MOYER
  • 3 years ago

    Thank you all so much. The room FEELS better with this arrangement. Now to start Shopping. Ive noticed several floor sample sales around so trying that route first.

  • 3 years ago

    WOW! What an amazing improvement.

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