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swimber3

Small Townhouse LivingRoom help

12 years ago
Not a great decorator, I have a small space living room in and old townhouse in Germany. WWII era style and smallness. Need some help or examples as to how to decor this space. Also we cannot paint the walls, fyi, its a rental. The last photo gives you an idea of the size I'm "not" working with lol. Thanks in advance.

Comments (46)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Sweet room, great windows, nice ceiling. I think it would be very comfortable with a smallish sofa and a pair of armchairs.
  • 12 years ago
    Is there anything that could be used as a focal point? Depending on the answer all the other pieces will fall into place. Usually, it's the TV with a console. But if you are not planning to watch TV (and who would while in Berlin?), I would just pick a pretty credenza or buffet or console table ( these are all cousins) to display your travel photos, knick knacks or flowers, and then flank it with chairs and coffee table in the middle. The credenza must add height to the room and draw the eye to itself. You do not need a sofa to make the room work, especially if the place is small. The only exception is light mid-century furniture that might be the right size. I would visit flee markets and antique stores to find those and be quite deliberate in picking your pieces. Consider colors,shapes, sizes. I would love mid-century in a Berlin apartment. So poignant!
    swimber3 thanked Natasha Assa
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Happy to help, but need to know,

    Will there be a tv in the room?
    What is the dark item in between the windows?
  • 12 years ago
    Cdrdesign, it looks like a heater, but whether it can be moved I can't tell.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Maybe chookchook. But, those are radiators on either side. Let's see what swimber3 says…...
  • 12 years ago
    The hearth seems to have an electrical cord, so I guess it's free to move.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    True….whatever it is has a cord.
  • 12 years ago
    Unless it is a gas fire with electrical ignition. Hey, can we have bets ? Winner gets Houzz engraved champagne flutes for New Year partying.
  • 12 years ago
    Anyway I think it's Ned Kelly's helmet, wired up as a light.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Your'e on. A small refrigerator?
  • 12 years ago
    LOL LOL LOL LOL
  • 12 years ago
    Still ROFL
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    The small black thing is a portable heater. we have removed the heater and the chair and the area rug. we have a 50 inch tv for the living room.
  • 12 years ago
    I like the rug in there, and the black chair swivels, so that's a plus. Maybe it would work after all? With a TV that large, probably want a small, low couch facing it on the opposite wall. Black chair could go where the heater was.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I lost the bet!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    How about tv on wall where the lamp is. Then couch could go along the wall where the chair is.
  • 12 years ago
    CDR Design we were thinking of putting the tv on the wall. We found an inexpensive black tv console and dvd holders flank it. Someone was giving away an antique round german dining table that you "wind up/down" with a handle and have two chairs with it. We got that :-). We found a different area rug that was not a huge so the we could still see the wood, I like seeing more of the wooden floors. I'm just unsure if the TV console we got is too bulky. Sometimes I feel like starting from scratch just like the photos I posted. The visualizations some of you have given me help. I will take photos of what we have so far and will take any suggestions. Its easy to get rid of furniture around this area because of military folks so I have no issues with getting rid of stuff and finding better looking furniture. I will take a photo of the antique black chest of drawers we found, I considered making that the TV stand because of its "old" look, but at the moment we have the actual console in the living room. I'll post the pictures soon. I posted the empty room photos to get everyone's idea of furniture placement and etc...thanks for the help so far everyone. !!
  • 12 years ago
    What do some of you think about us removing the door that leads to the foyer?
  • 12 years ago
    Ringcreation I like how the gallery loft is set up.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I think that is a good idea. I thought that was the front door. Alternate would be to have the door swing out.
  • 12 years ago
    Yes def. remove that door, if you can. I didn't notice it at first, but it would hinder TV or furniture placement. Now I'm all excited to see the "found" furniture you've mentioned! It's such a cute room already, with lots of personality.
  • 12 years ago
    Sorry, completely off track. You said there a lot of military folks in Berlin? Really?..... We heard the Cold War was over! Or we haven't heard enough? I can't beliiiieeeve it!
  • 12 years ago
    I am near Spangdahlem Germany
  • 12 years ago
    Spangdahlem is 6 hours away from Berlin.
  • 12 years ago
    The old chest/dresser
  • 12 years ago
    We were able to buy a green ish couch from someone and incorporated it in the living room. Here is our set up so far. The Germann table we got free is in the middle but not sure if it's too much for this room.
  • 12 years ago
    We are thinking of adding this wallpaper to one wall to make it have a brick look... Thoughts.
  • 12 years ago
    The tv console. Replace with old dresser or keep it?
  • 12 years ago
    a closer look at the antique table
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I would replace the tv console with the old dresser (if it's wider than the tv...is it?). I like everything else except the tv console, your room has so much personality!!
  • 12 years ago
    Better angle of the room
  • 12 years ago
    Why is the sofa so far from the wall? To have the rug centered? (is the only reason I could come up with) I think the space might look more open with the sofa closer to the wall.

    The cabinets next to the tv console are way too dark and heavy for this room. The tv mounted with the dresser could look lovely.
  • 12 years ago
    My Houzz: Brooklynites Take Up a Rural 1940s Farmhouse · More Info
    swimber3 thanked rinked
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I like the dresser but I don't think it will work well for the tv. The tv is already so large that I think it would be best to keep it low in the room. The things you have so far are looking good - isn't there a movie with a wagon wheel coffee table?

    One thing I would do if it were my place is allow a little more color. Tchotchkes on the tv whatsit, throw pillows, small artwork, etc.
    swimber3 thanked HERE Design and Architecture
  • 12 years ago
    The sofa isn't against the wall because the doorway to the room is right behind it (the door attached swings inside the room and hits the couch). So I tried the "floating couch" trick to see if it works. I don't have the couch against the other wall because of the tv center. Oh and that coffee table isn't originally a coffee table, it was a bench outside. I painted it and distressed it to make use of it as my coffee table. Maybe the tv could go where the table is and the couch go against that wall?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Yes - I think reversing the tv and sofa could be good.
  • 12 years ago
    Can you hang curtains? An extended rod that stretches across the entire wall with three panels would look great! If you hang the rod towards the top of the wall it will help to make the space seem larger. If not- then some accent pieces with glass/mirrors that will reflect some light and help make the space seem lighter.
  • 12 years ago
    I have two of these from someone throwing them out. If I redo the seats would these be a good accent to the living room or no?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    If you need more seating, go for it. They are sweet chairs. Re: the faux brick wallcovering - I'm personally not so crazy about it. The house seems to have some architectural authenticity on its own which is nice. I also don't know that I would want a cold-looking surface in Germany. I've been there in the winter. ;)
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks HERE, I want to add more color, just need to find the right "things". I like a rustic look for this room to play up the era this place was built....I know the tv center is killing that right now. Reds, maybe oranges and golds.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Absolutely wait for the right things. Also, I think that if you incorporate some other items that have areas of black in them along with color, it will make the tv console less prominent.
    swimber3 thanked HERE Design and Architecture
  • 12 years ago
    You could remove the straw seat and put some foam and fabric on a piece of plywood that fits right on the seat frame. Easy way to fix old chairs.
    swimber3 thanked rinked
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I have not read every detail, but I understand you can buy and sell easily.

    Comments:

    -no wallpaper-dates room. Need bright and cheery.
    -can you switch location of tv and couch?
    -entertainment center too large and dark
    -too many little things sitting around. Eliminate stuff on window seats.
    -Will need larger rug, once you get furniture situated.
    -Like candle holder above table. Lower it, so the squares in candle holder are even with center panes of window.
    -Remove lace drapes from window.
    Nice dining set