Living Room Layout Help

last year

Hello everyone! I’m stumped on how to lay out the pass-through living room in our home so that it feels warm, cozy, and conversational. Attached is a scale diagram of the room, photos from the listing when we bought the house (furniture, wallpaper, and design choices are definitely not to our taste, wallpaper is almost gone!), and a few inspiration photos of the vibe we're going for.

GOALS: We’d like a space that facilitates conversation and where we can entertain (mostly in small groups). We also need a place to put our TV where my husband and I can watch it from a sofa (we don't have kids, it's just the two of us). We only watch TV occasionally, so it's totally ok if the plan has a TV that does some James Bond thing like flip down from the ceiling or pull out from the wall.

CHALLENGES: The room has two doors: a large opening that leads to the dining room and a regular door that leads to a hallway with the staircase to the second floor. There are baseboard heaters along the two outside walls and three windows, so furniture placement is a bit tricky. We also live on a working farm and do not want to have to cross a rug to get through the room, since we tend to have muddy/sandy/snowy boots and aren't great about removing them at the door.

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We're open to any type of furniture that will work best in the space and to suggestions about replacing the brick fireplace surround and mantel (we have to have significant work done on the fireplace and chimney anyway). I'd like to avoid two matching sofas or loveseats, since I'll be sourcing most of our furniture from Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist and those are the hardest living room items to find.

Thank you for any ideas or suggestions!!

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Comments (6)

tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
If a TV can go to the right of the fireplace, the current layout seems fine with the sectional square not rounded, and pulled away from the baseboard a bit.

The recliner seems fine by the entrance and there is room to maneuver around it.

I have been in a farmhouse with literal gravel and sand all over the floors so at least get some jute rug runners or long indoor/outdoor carpet runners to walk on throughout the house and that you can take outside and shake out or rinse off.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I am confused what are all the pics added to the comment are thye ideas you like or what. Waht you show in the pics are very traditionl syle is that what you want ? I do not think a sectional works in a traditional space ever . A sofe is the first thing IMO since you want thta for sure so get that then we have some clue as to what to choose for the rest . I agree matching pieces are probably no going to happen off craigs list so start building the sapce with the sofa. If tyou raely watch TV then make thta a choice to not drive al, the othe rchoices .. For me the FP redo will drive many choices so wai until thta is done for function . Do you need a FP is also a question . Are you going gas insert ? How often do you use a FP so many things to consider in a new space .Hot water or electric baseboard heaters ? I ahve hot water baseboard heaters they really have had very little influence on my furniture laout but electric are a fire hazed . I need info Post all things related to this post here now in comments DO NOT start another post .
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Addie Leader-Zavos
Original Author
last year
Hi Patricia -

Our goal is to have a detailed idea of what we want the space to be and how we will lay it out before we buy furniture, pay for renovations, etc. Buying furniture and doing renovations will happen over time.

- The pictures with green wallpaper show the actual room. Those pictures are from the real estate listing. The recliner and sectional are not our furniture.

- The other three pictures show the style and "mood" we want to achieve in the room. Yes, we want a fairly traditional style. The house was built in 1941, so we think a traditional style suits it.

- Yes, we definitely want a wood-burning fireplace. We had a wood burning fireplace in our previous home and used it frequently. We expect to use the fireplace here even more - probably every night during winter.

- The baseboards are hot water. We live in an area that gets quite cold (-9F last night), so efficient heat circulation is a significant concern.

Thanks!
PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
last year
Your info, pictures and inspiration pictures help a lot!
PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
last year
Hello Addie, Please let us know if you still want help.
PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
last year
last modified: last year
Since you are doing an extensive renovation, here is a suggestion. Move the fireplace into the corner. That will open up the wall so you can put a console and TV on the wall to the right of the fireplace.

I know that you have not been here for a while but I posted it anyway just in case you come back. Best wishes with your renovation.

Room without the console and the TV is hung on the wall. You can get apps that make it look like a picture that is hanging over the two chairs. There is more than 2 feet between the two chairs that lead to the hallway.

Buffet table under the windows instead of two chairs.