Why does the tv need to "above" the fire at neck crane height, when you have the entire office wall?

A fire is one element and is in the space, and doesn't require your gaze at both, every single second, and not every stick of seating must face it: )

It would be very helpful to see the entirety of the plan.

I'd do this and consider a generous coffee table, some pull up small cube seats/ottomans as everyone loves those when hosting and snacks are out,

A generous rug can be created from fantastic broad loom carpets and bound! . Electrical in the floor for lamps...

Agree! Looks great.

@Jan Moyer did you read my post? I don’t love the idea of the TV above the fireplace that’s why I’m asking for recommendations. The drawing provided has enough information regarding the surrounding rooms and spaces. Your recommendation is to put the TV on the office wall. Got it. Thank you.

Of the choices I prefer layout one the best and don’t have a problem with the tv above fireplace is well done and at a reasonable height. But it also depends on how you most use the space and where you want the focus to be.

I had a similar family room in my previous house and had 2 sofas and 2 chairs sitting on a 10 ft x 14 ft rug. Sofas facing each other and chairs facing the fireplace.

It was set up for maximum seating/entertaining and not for TV viewing, although there was a "small" TV over the fireplace. We had larger TVs in the Living room (set up as the main TV watching room) and in the playroom. The open family room was set up for entertaining.

^^

Yes I read your post.

"I don’t love the idea of the TV above the fireplace but I think that’s going to be the best option."

............Is there a problem? : )

You may also find you want to try more than one option once you are in the space. Is it new furniture or things you already have? If you already have easy enough to move things and get a sense of what works for your family and how you use the space. One thing I dislike about Jan’s plan is almost no one gets to look outside

Are you looking outside while watching tv? : ) Then perhaps put another tv on the porch?! over the fire

I enjoy looking outside when sitting and reading on the couch. I enjoy the light coming from the windows to he facing me not behind me.

I get confused that in some world, the couch has become the only viable seating in a space, and we just add in chairs for what...looks and "filler"? The occasional visitor? A comfy chair is a single seat "couch" with two arms, and both those arms are yours.: )

In your set up the majority of seats do not have a view of outside. I don’t like it. And yes, given the option of a chair or couch, I would generally stretch out on a couch for a nice relaxing read

Having that same family room layout in my previous house is why, when I built, I made sure my new family room was just a bit larger and did not have 3 "hallways" taking space away from it.

I agree it would be a FAIL for the seating to not allow views to the backyard, and didn’t the OP also request an unobstructed path to the upper bedroom hallway?

If it were me— starting with the first plan where the couch faces the fireplace— I would move the couch closer to the FP, put a sofa table behind the couch that could act as a buffet for your dining when needed, get a larger round coffee table, and put the two chairs on an angle across from eachother (with the chair closest to the office wall hugging the couch, and the chair next to the upper hallway hugging the fireplace). With this setup you could put the TV above the fireplace or on the office wall if desired.

@WestCoast Hopeful I like the balance of layout one, but am concerned with ease of access to the rear bedroom. I like layout two because furniture isn't in front of the windows like you mentioned. I'm trying to work with furniture we already have that was recently purchased but may need to get something else once we move in.

@chispa two sofas are something to consider, we will need seating in this space for entertaining. I hastily picked this houseplan without considering all of the room dimensions. We are making modifications to the plan, but unfortunately this space size isn't one of the changes.

No room needs seating for more than 8, or you have guaranteed the look of a furniture showroom.

Show what you have, and know better what will work as is and what you can add. ..or not use at all. You have only the two spots for a tv......

How many need to see it at once, most of the time. Most of the time is what you plan for, not a holiday crowd who will park anywhere.

and irt is always wise to show the entire plan ans you never know what someone may see as opportunity, that you may not have noticed.

PS..there's a full 36 " path behind the sofa in what I posted, leading to a 30" opening. Everyone can pass.......

You need a wide open space for two sofas,,,,,,tends to feel heavy unless a really generous space

Caveat......unless two, perpendicular to fire..and tv viewed from kitchen

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I honestly think once you get in there you will have a sense of what makes sense and works. You can move things and really decide. Even when a plan may look great on paper you could modify it in person because how it feels in real life is different. It is going to be a lovely space