Desperately need help with my living room!

12 years ago

I am having a really difficult time figuring out how to layout my living room. I've lived in the house for almost a year and still can't figure it out. I am ready to start from scratch with all new furniture, but I don't even know what to get and where to put it! The space is 17'8" x 11'8". One of the shorter walls leads in to the house from the front porch, the other is mostly an archway to the dining room. One of the longer walls has a fireplace (that we will never use, bc we live in Miami). I've thought about putting a couch in front of the fireplace, but it feels wrong to me (that's how I have it in the photos). I would like the TV to be on the wall opposite the fireplace, but I can't figure out how to arrange couch/chairs/coffee table to create a comfortable and welcoming area that also looks good. Help!

Featured Answer

Kat Kunz

12 years ago

I like the other comments but would put the TV above the fireplace , area rug and then couch facing fire place with room to walk from door to dining room. I think the fire place could hold a retro record player and some albums. Or a collection you have that fits.

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Comments (10)

oneofeleven
12 years ago
That's a lovely room, good bones. Why don't you either remove the fireplace if you're never going to use it or move the mantle and find a piece of furniture that would hold the tv and completely hide the fireplace, maybe something from Ikea. then you could put your sofa opposite it and some more seating on the wall to the right of the door. Throw down a good size area rug to bring it all together and some greenery for warmth.
solincia
12 years ago
I love the structure of your room. Although you don't use the fireplace, it's a wonderful statement piece in the room. Two things I would try. Move the sofa to the space where the chair is, and move the chair and another chair to the opposite side of the fireplace facing the sofa. Before you go splurging on new furniture, it might be best to figure out the layout. Grounding the room with an area rug and a coffee table/ottoman between them will come next. Give that a try and see how it feels.
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2758th
12 years ago
I also think the room is lovely! My immediate thought was to swap the TV location with the couch. Mount the television above the fireplace. I too agree that the fireplace is a great statement in the room and should not be covered up. Add a variety of candles to the fireplace for the effect...such as this http://www.fireplacemall.com/Fireplace_Candelabra/Fireplace_Candelabra__Arboretu/fireplace_candelabra__arboretum.html
groveraxle
12 years ago
Since you don't have an actual foyer, the way you have the room arranged makes it a passageway. I like the living area to be self-contained and arranged so people passing by don't have to walk through the middle of a conversation or in front of someone watching TV. Plus, the couch in front of the fireplace is just wrong.

You could remove the fireplace, put the TV on that wall, and float the sofa in front of it with chairs on either side.

Another option is to put the sofa in front of the front windows, chairs facing the fireplace (pulled away from the wall so people can walk behind them), and the TV in a lift cabinet or some other kind of cabinet that looks good from the back. This cabinet would be on the other side of the fireplace opposite the couch.
oneofeleven
12 years ago
I don't think the room is wide enough to float furniture.
Sometimes you just have to work with what you have.
sheilaskb
11 years ago
The room has lovely elements, but the narrow width is such a problem. I would suggest you angle the TV across the corner that is between the fireplace/side window and the front window/front door area. Then, put the sofa on the solid wall where you originally had the TV. The occasional chair looks nice angled at the left side of the fireplace. I certainly would keep the fireplace as you never know when Miami will have a cold winter complicated by a power failure. When the fireplace is not being used, I would suggest you set a green, leafy plant or a large pot of black-eyed susans slightly within the firebox.

I cannot see much of the kitchen, but is it possible to move the dining set into the kitchen and use the current dining room as a TV room? This would involve putting the sofa on the outside wall and putting the TV and perhaps some bookcases along the inside wall where you already have some shelves. Then, perhaps you could move the piano to the inside wall (just beyond the hinge side of the front door) , place a chair to the left of the fireplace and angle a small love seat across the two windows on the right side of the fireplace. I believe all this will avoid the "boxy" look you have encountered with other furniture arrangements.
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Sarah Christine Designs
11 years ago
The fireplace is actually very cool! I would put the couch on the opposite wall from the fireplace, mount the tv above it, and get a pair of chairs angled on both sides of the fireplace. As far as using the fireplace itself...lets be honest, they are messy and in a lot of climates- not practical. BUT it is lovely and I think it should be kept! Put some candles inside of it and it will create ambiance and a focal point :)
maralaina
11 years ago
I noticed several people suggested putting the TV above the fireplace. Sounds good but it isn't the right height for viewing.
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User
11 years ago
turn the couch to float in front of the door.

have two chairs opposite it.

add an agrea rug.

a larger console to help mirror the size of the fire place, with the tv on for balance,

you need some wall art

soften it up with some curtain panels.