we still cant add pictures today?

To, thank you so much for your input! Do you think painting the shelves and beam white would help too? I’d love to replace my rug... I just can’t seem to find a rug I love! I’m trying to replace my dining room rug too. The only rug I’m drawn to lately is teal. I’m not sure what would flow with teal... or if teal would work in my space. I currently have a lot of earth tones... which I feel are making a bit of a comeback.the olive green rug is my dining room rug. The teal rug is what I’d love to replace it with.

Your dad is very talented! The bookcases are lovely. I think the suggestion of turning the rug and moving the furniture in closer is a good idea. I think the console would look good under the clock - anchor it in a way. I have a mantle clock on a window ledge that I glance at when I want to know the time.

Just another few suggestions you might want to try.

Would your tv fit on the console - on either the clock wall or where you have the letters? You could just put a piece of art above the fireplace.

Perhaps you could make the bookcases look more built-in with the fireplace by putting a matching shelf across to join the two of them and then put matching paneling on the wall above the mantle and below the shelf.

When I had young kids I had an area behind the sofa for all the toys. The kids played on the carpet in front of the couch, but having bins etc behind the sofa made for an easy clean-up at the end of the day.

Great suggestions!

This layout will work for the room. Too bad that bookcases can't e moved. They really weight that wall. Placing one between each window on the side walls would be nice.

I love this idea, but I feel that you might think my room is deeper than it is. I feel like I don’t have enough room between my tv wall and couch now... won’t that make it feel too tight of an area if I move the couch up? How much room between the wall snd couch is typical?

I just can't see the lovely bookcases and beam ruined by painting them; they are wondering as they are. As others advised, the bookcases need to be moved, but I understand you cannot do so for now.

Honestly, take down the picture with the quote that is behind the sectional down and the HOME letters above the play set, they are truly very dated, IMO.

Agree with you that a larger rug with work better, as will pulling the chair forward.

But please, remove the clock and perhaps find a picture that will compliment the one in your dining room and hang it in place of the clock. If your patio is covered, perhaps you can put the clock on a brick wall that is covered. Just find another place for it.

Your TV is not very large. Here is a chart for recommended distance.

@BeverlyFLADeziner how are you able to post picture?

do not take down the picture with the quote, leave that as is, once you move the sofa, that will become a viewable gallery wall, also its your house and you should have the things you like, not looking to be so generic. I dont mind the HOME letters either. but focus on that stuff after moving the sofa and chair, i did the same mock up as Beverly I just cant get mine to post.

https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/b7610dbc0244a770_6481-w77-h77-b1-p10--.jpg

You ladies are amazing! Thank you for the help!! I’ll play around when I get home!

I was thinking along the lines of Beverly’s drawing. I think this would actually expand the look of your room. If possible (are the bookcases screwed into wall?), I would place one between windows and one across from it on wall where sofa currently is placed. It will balance out the room.

Thank you! I love your ideas. I’ll share these with my husband and play around with the layout of the room tonight.

What should the space be between the end of the couch closest to the wall and the wall be (circled space)?

How much space should there be in the circled space?

Another idea to avoid having to paint the cabinets completely would be just to paint the back wall of the cabinets to match the wall…this will lessen the heavy impact of the dark wood…the picture doesn’t reveal if there is space to separate the units from the fireplace a little…so the fireplace doesn’t seem so crowded/tiny…compared to the cabinets

Also without measurements of the room size/spacing of windows , rugs and furniture….. in the drawing…it isn’t possible to offer accurate suggestions on spacing…

Just move it forward until you like the space you have to walk around, I would guess about 2-3 feet.

I’ll try to get a better visual with measurements, but this is a rough sketch of my layout

the front feet of the sofa land on the rug, the rug should not be butted up against the fireplace leave the rug where it is and then turn it length wise, then bring the sofa forward.

Thank you! Do you think I can make the 8x10 work if I pull everything closer?

seeing is believing! lol

Can those bookcases be moved? Are they screwed into the wall?

The best way to offer measurements is on graph paper..then show whole room size…....window… doors …fire place…cabinets …locations….each square can represent either 2 or 3 feet

Thank you. I’ll try that!

Rug 10’=120”. Sectional 118”. 8 x 10 minimum size. But for your room and overall look a 9 x 12 would be better. Other furniture would sit on rug such as a guest chair or bench. Get 1/4” grid paper. Each square equals one square foot. Easiest to use. Space from fireplace best at 3’. I can do scale layout for you tomorrow but no time left today.

Thank you flo!!

I put an initial scale drawing together.
But, your post cut off some dimensions so I need a bit of clarification. This is scale 1/4” = 1 square foot. Each square is one square foot. I put your sectional in, per your posted measurements. I added guest chair. I put 48” x 48” coffee table leaving 18” from edge of seats to edge of coffee table. A small table by guest chair for a book or drink. I put 9 x 12 rug (dotted line) to show how this size anchors your room and keeps sectional well placed on rug. I put a console between windows on 14’ wall and you will need lamps and other layered lighting to be determined. If you post measurements I need I can improve the drawing. Hope this helps. If this room is wider than I show I will create Option 2 with two sofas and different layout for you tomorrow. Nite for now. 🙂

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to sketch this up for me! I truly appreciate it.

Afternoon! I tried perfecting the drawing using your photos. ALL MEASUREMENTS MUST BE VERIFIED, but here is another approach. We stretch out on sectional to watch TV. 🙃. Are you replacing current furniture or using what is in your photos? I tried scrolling back to see if you stated your desires, but Houzz isn’t cooperating today. Sorry for repeating if you already answered this question.

Here is Rev. 1- Option 2. This option has updated size of room. It shows 118” sectional that is 40” deep. I put a 40 x 40” ottoman but it could be any style/form. Just showing size. I added compact 32” x 32” swivel chair and kept reading area. The swivel could swing to reading area for parties and conversation. Thoughts?

It was suggested to paint the inside of the cabinets but another option is to just get some foam core and paint it or wrap it in fabric. Removal wallpaper could also probably be used. Brightens it up and removes some of the wood from the room.

I do agree that the beam is very heavy looking, especially in that prominent position.

@Flo Mangan there is a wall behind the sofa, she has a gallery on now.

the more I look at the sofa and the room the more I wonder about turning the sofa

Thanks RL. Here is Rev. 2-Option 2

Do you think painting the bookshelves and beam alabaster white to match the walls would improve the feel of the space?

First, you need a larger rug. At least front legs of furniture should sit on the rug. You could paint the bookcase white to reduce their visual impact. I would find another spot for them in your house. They dwarf the fireplace. I am not a fan of these large clocks so that is very distracting. It looks like you have room to push the main furniture together another 6-8” then turn the console table to use behind the sofa. I need more photos to get better sense of the total space. Regular head on photos. No panoramic views. They distort perspective.

You might be able to just turn the rug to get furniture on the rug?

I think a lighter 9x12 rug (and yes, a soft teal on an off white or cream background works in your house) will “lighten up” the room. Then you can assess whether or not to paint the beam and either paint the bookshelves or just wallpaper the backs to complement the room decor (but in a light color).

Try reversing the sectional, as Flo suggested. Or separating it, though 2 parallel couches might make tv viewing harder.

Oh Gosh, I like what she did on the clock side with the console.

Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I appreciate all of your input! Shirlp thank you!!

If you like it (the clock) it’s a personal choice. I pretty piece of artwork would brighten up your room. Just giving my best design insights. No offense intended. 😊

I still think putting the sofa where the chair is and chair opposite would be better and open up the room to the entry.

also you can move the furniture in a bit. The anchor is the rug not the walls.

For now if you like it this way, I would pull the rug away from the fireplace, turn it so the longer side runs with the FP wall, and move the sofa forward a bit.

I would put then put the bookcases together on the wall u have the college on now.

I would not paint them. moving them will let the beam shine a little more, dont paint it either. This will also open up the space and allow you to dress the windows up.

It's been a couple of years and we're finally getting around to addressing this room. We purchased the console table a few years ago and love it. Now we're going to paint shelves and beam white and replace the current mantle with an updated shaker mantle surround. We're also replacing the mosaic travertine stone with ledger-stone.
I've been reviewing everyone's advice on pulling the couch closer to the fireplace and chair. I agree it'll look better and cozier. We're going to also add a coffee table. My question is... will it look funny to have 2 feet of space between couch and wall?

Step one in updating process- painting the beam white!

The room looks SOOOO much brighter! Well done!

Thank you!!! We're having the shelves painted in March! Can't wait to share the pictures!