Hi. I need some help. We bought this house a couple years ago and the living room is awkward. I haven't figured out what type of furniture or how to arrange it, so I havent invested in any furniture yet. It is just the two of us, in our late '50s. We have family that visits on occasion and on holidays. We have a large dog. We are casual, I want to be comfortable but don't want to look like an old grandmother's house. My husband likes a recliner. I like a recliner and also maybe a lounge section of a couch. I just don't know a nice way to make the room flow and look nice with the challenge of the window and the fireplace. Also there's that hutch in the corner that my husband has an attachment to. I could really use some help, any tips will be very appreciated.
Hi @jacqueline8360 —First things first, your dog is beautiful and I want to pet them 😂❤️ Now onto the design stuff… This is a fun puzzle!
A few questions before I give my suggestions:
TV is used most evenings. Furniture is fair game to swap. TV console is functional with storage for stashing games, computer, dvd player. Fireplace is functional but we don't use it. Red glass balloon is made by a friend of hubby. Other items are reflective of what we've accumulated and had more room for in the past. It is a room to connect in at the end of the day, watch movies, visit in.
And the window gets afternoon sun, looks out on a moderately busy road with neighbors across
Hi Jacqueline! So nice to meet you. I have a living room that is plaguing me too. When I design a space, I like to find the best way it can serve the purpose of comfort and living. I often ask myself “How can I make it more functional?”
In your case, are you able to hang the TV above of the fireplace? If so, the fireplace and mantle can be the focal point of the room allowing the furniture to flow naturally towards the TV. Furniture and objects are easy to swap when we have the budget, but rearranging a room is something we can do for little to no money. You can also place a small table or storage piece next to the front door to make it feel like a real entry, this way you can drop your keys and maybe even have a mirror above it as a last look when you head out the door.
I hope my thoughts can help in some way. Connecting at the end of the day is so important, and it’s also important for you to have the space feel like you and your husband. I would love to see how you decorate it next!
I think one of the biggest disconnects in room design stories is how designers seek to create stunning "sitting rooms" for conversing guests and and photo spreads. But the reality is that most of us with just one living room and no family room, study, rec room, basement, man-cave, etc., use our living rooms when we're alone AND with guests to watch TV. With that said, comfort and line of sight are big deals. TVs placed at one end of a long, narrow room don't work, and neither do TVs above the mantle, where you suffer neck pain. Someone, please show us lovely living rooms that are comfortable for real families that watch TV together and with guests.
I love your doggy too! And the red glass balloon lantern in the side window is pretty and fun (I love red).
So here's one idea. Bear with me, as it's a little weird. Whoever designed the room really wanted the fireplace wall to be the focal point, with that wood paneling (I happen to like wood paneling, though I know not everyone does). You could put the TV in front of the fireplace, so the mantel would kind of frame it. Then move the sofa away from the wall and center it in front of the TV and fireplace, and arrange your brown chairs (2 or all 3) perpendicular to the sofa off of either end, so they form a U shape around the fireplace. You can add a coffee table centered among all 3 pieces of furniture, use your 2 nice matching torch lamps on either side of the chairs, and add side tables by the chairs if desired.
The virtues of this arrangement: You have a conversation area (everyone can face each other to talk and watch TV without turning too much). The TV and fireplace are the focal point of the room, with all the furniture arranged around it symmetrically. You can add other furniture in the periphery of the room if desired — maybe one of the chairs could be by itself in a corner to be a reading chair, or with a small table to make a desk area if you want that.
The cons: Is it weird to put the TV in front of the fireplace?
I'm sure there are other ideas too. Looking forward to seeing what other people come up with!
We did consider this but were concerned about glare from the light coming in from the window in the afternoon. Also TV is large, maybe too much for couch to be close across from it, room is not that wide. I like that option though, opens up ideas for different couch styles, maybe with couch back against bay window.
hi Jacquline, we have kind of a similar room - not much wall space, fireplace, tv, large chairs and a sofa. Fine for my husband and me but if we had friends over it felt awkward.
I put the tv angled in a corner and replaced our sofa with two smaller swivel chairs which made it more conversational. Also now everyone can see the tv. It’s much cozier!
I share the sentiment, I've felt pressure to have TV be nondominant in room and focus on encouraging conversation and socializing. But primary use for us is getting together and relaxing at end of day, and secondary as you said for multipurpose. Whoever designed this room really challenged me though, even bay window is not centered across from fireplace.
I think above the mantle may be too high. This gives thought to putting a secondary mantle that is lower and deeper to consider putting the TV on.
Would you be willing to share a picture? I've been known to angle furniture in corners, it works but my husband thinks I'm nuts til he gets used to it. May be time to revisit the idea.
Hi jacqueline! I'll be brief - as we look at the fireplace, I'd put the hatch on the right of the fireplace and the tv on the left, and arrange the furniture around the tv and fireplace. maybe a nice rug in front of the hatch and a hanger where the tv is now, to create an entry. Of course I'd get rid of the recliners and indulge in beautiful cozy armchairs, but this is a matter of taste…:)
