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Is this couch too small?

12 years ago
We had our Restoration Hardware couch delivered this afternoon and my husband and I are disagreeing on whether it is the right size for the room. The couch is the 84" Lancaster. The room is pretty small - it's just a sitting room that measures 14'x14'. The side table that's there right now is just temporary, as is the bookshelf and mirror behind the door. I would like to put a side table on each side of the couch, so I think it's the right size. What do you think? Are there design standards for room size vs. couch size?

Comments (25)

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    What's on the wall opposite the couch? Is there a fireplace or is it blank?
    Could you add more pictures of different angles of the room?
  • 12 years ago
    On the opposite side is a bar cabinet. I'm taking the picture from the corner of the room. The right wall has double french doors. Oh, and the next size up in the couch is 96". Thanks!
  • 12 years ago
    Sorry but I don't like the couch at all for that space, it looks too dark & heavy there, what a shame to cover the beautiful windows with it, could the chairs be used over there instead?. As Chemayne said more pics of the room would help.
  • 12 years ago
    Have to agree with toning. The couch looks too heavy. Reminds me of an office couch and not very inviting. I would consider an upholstered one. You have a beautiful room and windows and I can see this room being gorgeous.
  • 12 years ago
    I am trying to establish if the couch can swap sides with the upholstered chairs.
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks for all of your comments! I am definitely open to moving the couch or even trying to return it for another one. For background, we are making this room a casual adult room (no kids allowed) to drink scotch and have conversations. We don't really use it very much and it's hard to tell from my iphone pics but the room does get a ton of light during the day. Here are different angles of the room. It's challenging because there is a window or door on every wall. Any suggestions are welcome!
  • 12 years ago
    Also, the wall color is BM Raccoon Hollow, so you can tell the pics are way darker than the room is.
    Raccoon Hollow 978 Paint · More Info
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    If you're going to keep the couch on that wall I think it needs to be centered between the two windows. Otherwise it unbalances the room. The seating pieces and coffee table should be aligned along one central axis. The wall piece (cabinet) would be centered on the wall on which it is located. Smaller end tables (just large enough to set a glass of scotch on a coaster) would work without overcrowding the space.
  • 12 years ago
    What a lovely space, gorgeous colors, textures, etc. ! I don't think the couch is too small. The scotch-drinking makes me think "Chesterfield" though. I'm sure the couch is very expensive, so if you are truly disappointed, now's the time to return it. Would it work to scoot everything in a bit (except the sideboard, of course) so you have a central conversation area that you can skirt around? this would perhaps help the problem of windows and doors, etc. which I see as a beautiful asset in this room. I can't tell if there's enough room for this.
  • 12 years ago
    Addendum: would it perhaps work to place the couch on a diagonal in the corner between the windows, and to create a conversational area around that?
  • 12 years ago
    bleuceleste, I was thinking the same thing.
  • 12 years ago
    Like the idea of trying the couch on a diagonal in the corner between the windows.
  • 12 years ago
    I would totally replace the Queen Ann end table. It doesn't work at all with the RH sofa.

    A large picture over the bar would be fabulous. Even two framed vintage posters with a champagne theme would work there.

    Also, remove the lamp from on top of the shelf unit.

    Add a palm in the corner where the QA table used to be after you center your sofa as suggested.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    End table to replace QA style. Try switching the lamp on the side board with the lamp on the cabinet. You don't need a lamp on top of a tall cabinet.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    It is absolutely as large as that room can handle! You just need the other items in there, tables and lamps,and it will look perfect.
  • 12 years ago
    Such a pretty room and love the couch.

    I would switch the couch with the chairs. Round table between the two chairs. The couch would then be looking out those gorgeous windows. I think with the higher backed chairs by the widows, on an angle like they are now, the balance in the room will feel better, and your couch won't look small. The visual coming into the room will be better, I think, because the couch back is lower than the chairs.

    That said, I would also try the angle, to see how it looks. I usually don't like angles, but the windows are so pretty, and the french doors are so pretty, it just might be lovely. :O)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I would use a light, linen textured fabric instead of dark leather
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Some great, sophisticated comments, some a little amateurish but that's the fun part of Houzz very democratic . . . every one gets a say. I am in total agreement about small tables. Seating is important in a room like this. Let's take the room's measurements 14 x 14 all sofas are about three feet deep. So now you have 11 x 14, the chairs swallow up three more feet so now we are 8 feet by 14. The bar is less than 18 inches deep so now we have about 7 feet by 14 feet. The windows are grand and in my opinion they are THE focal point so . . .

    Get a couple of strong guys. LOSE THE HUGE COFFEE TABLE. (Coffee tables are dust collectors, shin beaters, huge . . . just to hold a drink and a big coffee table book?
    Move the sofa in the middle of the room facing the window. Floating sofa ? No way ! Right.
    Wrong. Try it.

    Floating the sofa will make sense after you try it and give it a day or two. The chairs would be by the windows. The bar can stay where it is, which would be behind the sofa but it might work between the windows closed - opened when in use. No coffee table- four or five very small tables one at each end of the sofa couple of really small ones floating in front of the sofa and chairs. Without a large coffee table and end tables your flexibility in this room is expanded. Forty inches between the back of the sofa and the bar. Three feet between the front edge of the sofa and the front of the chairs, creating a cozy conversation area. Of course a nice long and narrow art piece above the bar. Sofa floating is done all the time, think Seinfeld's apt, Roseanne's house, in fact almost every sitcom on TV. Even in a limited room like this one it can really make the room more functional.

    The SUN is the only thing that can kill your top grain leather sofa . . . fast.

    The answer to your question, is the sofa too small . . . yes ! if you can't lay down on a sofa get two great chairs. Remember you have 14 feet if your sofa is 90 inches you still have almost 8 feet. You are worried about "overpowering the room". Less is more. You have four major pieces of furniture in this room now . . . no more, just small, very small tables and maybe a tree in the corner, art on the wall and lighting.

    If you could have a professional light this room you will use it more often, believe it.
  • 12 years ago
    Thanks so much for all of the suggestions! I hadn't thought about putting the couch on an angle - I guess with the arched windows and wainscoting the room felt too traditional to me for a non-traditional layout like that but we can try. The shelf in the corner is just an old remnant from our first apartment - not sure it will stay and I have no idea how the lamp got up on there! For above the bar we were thinking going 1 or 2 ways: either a large vintage mechanical drawing (think da vinci or something) or more of a horizontal landscape like the pic attached. (or possibly a diptych like the one I attached) Also, to lighten the room we were thinking of going light with the coffee/end tables - maybe even a white that matches the walls? I like the style of the one I attached but maybe it doesn't match the couch?
  • 12 years ago
    I like Sarainitaly's idea....couch is not too small and looking out the gorgeous windows would be great. If you do leave the couch in front of the windows, please center it. Some pretty pillows on the couch, smaller end tables and it will be comfy. I am not fond of furniture on an angle.

    If you have room, you could try the couch in front of the single window with the two chairs facing the couch, leaving the pretty windows unobstructed
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    After looking at the room again the sofa size is great. Love a quality leather sofa. If someone could stretch out once in a while that is best, in my opinion but I am a guy so . . .
  • 12 years ago
    Haha, thanks Jamie! We have plenty of other couches in the house for stretching out! I'll see if we can try the floating couch idea. I'm a little concerned the high-backed chairs will obstruct the windows even more, but there's no harm in trying (except possibly to my husband's back...)
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Leave the sofa where it is. Flank it with side tables and lamps.

    Do remove the additional tall shelf unit.

    Hang the mirror over the bar cabinet and place a potted palm in the corner beside the bar as suggested earlier.

    Some side table and coffee table alternatives:
    New Metal Wrapped Side Table · More Info

    Bronze Metal/Brown Veneer Top 20in.Dia Accent Table · More Info

    Norton Cocktail Table - Glass Top - 35in. Round · More Info

    Fusion Sectional Cocktail Table · More Info
  • 11 years ago

    Beautifull room! Love the chairs. Agree with simpleFLOORS. Try the floating sofa, or put it opposite from where you have it now, and put chairs to each side of window ( so they won't obstruct view) and put something low between chairs.