Tiny awkward living room

8 years ago

I'm having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to arrange my living room due to its shape. It's very small and rectangular, but I am trying to figure out how to put an adequate amount of seating (which is both social and comfortable to view the tv) in there as well as figuring out which way to arrange it. The issue I am having is that there is a doorway to the kitchen and the front door at either end, a radiator on one wall and a staircase on another. This basically means that every which way I put furniture, it will either disrupt the flow of the room upon entering, block the entrance to the kitchen, stick out from the staircase or be anti-social in its arrangement. Obviously I would like a sofa, but am not sure whether to put a snuggler/loveseat or multiple chairs with it and where. In the photo, the big black thing is a wrapped up sideboard which also has to go in the room somewhere. Please disregard all the other DIY stuff in there. Any ideas on layout for this difficult space?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Hi,

I think the sideboard is the best to put on the kitchens wall. I would leave the radiator where it is (energy efficient under the window!). I would not put the TV opposite the window as you would have to shut the curtains when is sunshine outside (it is a bit of luxury in our weather now).

Our friends has got the same layout and it works very well for them, to create an understair storage OPENING FROM THE KICHEN (I know you finished your walls, but maybe....) and put the tv in a very narrow but sturdy low console at the site of the stairs. I would use u shaped sofa so everybody can sit down or watch TV lying flat!

Please see attached.

Good luck!

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Comments (21)

minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. How many people live in the house and watch the tv? I'd put the sideboard by the front door and dress as a console, there looks as if there's room looking at pic 3. Option 1, have an L shaped sofa Under the window wall (sofa away from the wall) running along the long wall with a coffee/footstool in front. TV on kitchen wall hung on wall over a console table on a swivel bracket. Option 2. TV under stairs with L sofa starting On kitchen wall and a 2 seater or love seat under the window wall (for socialising only). If the sideboard doesn't fit then a rethink is needed. Do you have measurements or plan btw as these look possible from pics but hard without measurements. I wouldn't go for individual chairs personally, as I think they'd take up more room.
Tani H-S
8 years ago
Hi,

Yes I can see that's a hard one to work with.

Our last house had the same door layout and so we put 2 x two seaters facing each other in the centre of the room.ie
So one would be on the radiator wall (but not against it) and the other one opposite, leaving just enough space for a coffee table in between. It worked really well - especially if you can put the TV or fire (whatever is your focal point) in the centre of the large main wall.

As for the sideboard - will this go on the wall of the kitchen door? If not, I would seriously consider moving it to another room. There's no point in trying to squash it in if it interrupts the room flow.
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tonielle74
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for your suggestions, there are two of us in the house and unfortunately putting the sideboard by the front door means it will be on the opposite wall/corner from the tv sockets so we would then have to either have wires everywhere or put them in our newly done walls. The other thing is that we don't have much storage space in the house in general as there are no closets (other than a small airing cupboard) so the understairs space is going to be turned into a seated cubby hole with book shelves that slide out so a vacuum and other things can be stored out of view. The room is about 15 x 12' including under the stairs. The side board is approx a meter and a half. I was thinking of putting 2 x two seaters facing each other as well, though I agree the side board would have to go on the wall by the kitchen door as it would be too long to put between the sofas. It could go there, but I fear the sofas would be either too far apart or at an awkward angle to actually watch tv.
Gaye Jack
8 years ago
Can you change the heater to one mounted high on a wall. That will give you more flexibility with furniture layout.
tonielle74 thanked Gaye Jack
crowningfashion
8 years ago
If storage is tight it may be worth your while employing a carpenter to build fabulous understair storage for you (check out the images on Houzz.) By doing this you are keeping the floor space free and utilizing dead space to it's most potential. Re-site the sideboard to the conservatory maybe or the guest bedroom/study?
Re. sofas I would place one on the wall to the kitchen and one in front of the radiator. Keep the tv axial cable where it is (as you have just done your walls) and have a wall mounted bracket erected that swings out but ALSO angles down. That way you can watch tv from any sofa. As the room is long and narrow I would use a rug between the two sofas with horizontal or zig-zag stripes to create the illusion of width. On the wall between the two sofas I would hang either a huge mirror, a huge piece of art or a wall mounted living flame fire half way up (and above that either a mirror or art.) Art doesn't necessarily mean a painting it could be abstract letters, a collection of shoes, a feather fan, anything which sums up you and your personality - but make it large so that it creates a natural focus in the room. If the room would take a glass coffee table (glass because it will not appear to take up floor space) I would add that and stage some books on it (in keeping with your interests) or if not possible a side table for each sofa.
Your room has the potential to really pop! It's an exciting space.
tonielle74 thanked crowningfashion
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. I'm a bit confused re your comment on wires and the sideboard if it goes by the front door. Are you looking to put the tv on the sideboard? Where exactly is the tv point and what is the width of the kitchen wall to the door if you're looking for a 2x2 seater combo?
Tani H-S
8 years ago
Just a point re the TV wires - our points were in our alcoves in our old house, either side of our wood burner. We wanted the TV on the opposite wall so bought these special plastic casings which run along your skirting (v thin & sticky backed) & around our door frame & it hid them perfectly without being obvious. Think maplins sell them or diy stores.
tonielle74 thanked Tani H-S
tonielle74
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the great advice guys, I think I'll have some things to work from with these ideas and will eventually post before and after pics. Minnie101, yes we would like to put the TV on the sideboard but that is not set in stone if a better place presents itself. The wall at the kitchen is about 10cm bigger than the length of the side board so it is a good location for it. That is also one of the locations of the tv plugs. To answer zczi, unfortunately there is no room to put the sideboard anywhere else in the house and the option to put storage under the stairs to be accessed from the kitchen isn't viable. That is another tiny room to be dealt with soon enough! To gayejack, the heater can't be moved, but even so, where would it go? Haha
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Mellow Duck
8 years ago
Hi Minnie, once you've got your structure sorted... and I can see your challenge!... you might want to add some pods in there - they multitask as seats, footstools and tables so will give you some flexibility. They can also be covered in whatever fabric suits your design - some pics to give you an idea of what I mean..... This Blueberry "suede" is very robust, stain resistant and waterproof so fab for a space that gets a lot of use. Good luck with your project!
donna19871928
8 years ago
Hi can someone please help me my front room is so small no where to put stuff and iv got a really big sofa in it any ideas plz
Debi Hosie
8 years ago
Having a hard time working out what to do with the window. Do I need new curtains or get a wooden pelmet made covered in the same curtain fabric or something totally different??
minnie101
8 years ago
Donna, how does the sofa split? Is the longest section all one piece?
donna19871928
8 years ago
It comes apart in the middle but its still really big .
PRO
Openplan Design
8 years ago
something from google, but it is down the right path
donna19871928
8 years ago
Thats nice but my sofa will not go along the back wall where I got my tv
PRO
Openplan Design
8 years ago
how attached are you to the fireplace?

and how does the length of the return on the sofa compare the the length of the kitchen wall?
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Openplan Design
8 years ago
apologies, just saw in the earlier pics that you removed the fireplace. i would say that if the sofa does not work, it will have to go as the space will dictate what works.
minnie101
8 years ago
Donna, I'd split the sofa. Leave one half under the window with the other opposite. Pop a couple of small side tables or trunks to the side so it doesn't look odd when split
kelly
8 years ago
Hi, this is almost exactly like my sitting room in my rented house. It hasn't turned out anything like I imagined it but I've managed to fit everything in (just.) I've got eight old apple crates under the stairs with the TV, books and a lamp, and the settee against the wall opposite. Above the settee is a long high shelf with trailing plants and pictures. My "office" and tiny extendable table are in the corner by the window. Oh I'll post a couple of pics!
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Sofas & Stuff
8 years ago
Hi, just came across your post and we have a few ideas for you. How about a small corner sofa? To go against the back wall opposite the side of your staircase... We have written a small blog piece on corner sofas in small rooms here:

http://sasblog.cloudapp.net/2015/11/09/corner-sofas-for-small-rooms-are-you-crazy/

This is our Broadstairs large corner sofa, we have small corner sofas in this style available too. Hope this helps!

Abi @ Sofas & Stuff

Broadstairs Corner Sofa · More Info