Please help! Long, awkward shaped living room, not sure what to do!

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi, we have recently moved into a new house with a long, bright living room and it's proving a challenge to know where to put furniture/tv etc and to somehow make it look cosy and homely... Nothing is here to stay, we don't think the sofas suit the room and are too square and we hate the wallpaper the last people have left so that's going! We have no other furniture yet as we have been renting for years. The fireplace is slightly off being in the centre of the room so it's hard to know where to put the sofas etc. so the room looks right.

We are thinking that we need to section off the room to make the seating area more cosy and more contained? We are thinking that the end where the full length curtains are is a good space to leave more open for my two year old's toys etc.. and to keep her stuff more that end and have the seating area up the other end. We have wondered whether to buy three sofas and place one across the middle of the room and a console table behind it but maybe this would section it off a bit too much and the fireplace would just be in the wrong place? We could buy two sofas and an armchair (probably a tartan/check one) instead and move the tv into the corner of the room near to where the table lamp is now? Any other ideas? We also think a curved top over-mantel mirror would be better. Everyhting is very square everywhere and we somehow need to soften it all I think.

We love shabby chic style looks and oak/pine furniture. We love the victorian pine sideboard already in the room and would love it just to be a cosy, warm space. I am also thinking about buying two five arm cream lights for the ceiling lights. We like the Milnbridge ones in Laura Ashley. Has anyone got any ideas? I'm at a loss and don't have much time at the moment to sort it out with a toddler running riot! Pics to follow. Thanks in advance x

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Amber Jeavons Ltd

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hello Heidi,

Firstly it's a great room and lots of potential here. You could paint the feature wall with the fireplace a slightly darker shade of something that compliments the sofas.. In this way you instantly create a focus for the room and the fireplace does just that. I'd like to suggest that you place the sofa in line with the fireplace. Then 1 armchair I would angle to the left of the fireplace if you're looking at it. The book case is a reach away when wanting to read but I'd turn it round to frame the doors.. It might be a nice idea to actually move the other bookcase over to place on the other side... ie where the chest of drawers is.. So they both frame the doors...

Paint the mirror frame and hang this... Keep some space free on the mantle as this gives the fire room to become a bit more expansive... Why not place the chest of drawers to the left of the fireplace behind the armchair... You can house toys and things here. It's both elegant and a good way to frame the fireplace as you don't have a chimney breast..

On the other find a low side table or a low cabinet.. You could house the television on this pretty much as it is currently.. Keep drinks in the cabinet or something, so they have functions and multiple uses..

Differing heights adds to interest here and it could be good to hang that 1 picture on the rear of the sofa wall with the others...

Then there is a bit of room for the little one's to play as you can place the little white table and chairs near the window where it's warm with the rad.

Find a nice lampshade for the central light and then place the table lamp close to the sofa.. possibly one with the armchair.. So you have pools of light in different areas and the room is ambient. You may find you do without the central light all together..

So really the key here is that I don't think you need to buy anything else and indeed I feel it would spoil the flow to add more seating.... Scatter the cushions so they are fewer, one or two at 1 end and 1 or two on the armchair.... maybe make a seating pile for the little ones with any left over..

: ))

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Heidi
Original Author
8 years ago
Heidi
Original Author
8 years ago
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You have some really good advice from everyone. If you can remove the wallpaper I would paint in Colortrend Goya, it is a green/beige colour that would suit the sofas and compliment your floor. This colour will be warm for your north facing room. A large rug would really lift the room as suggested above. I would recommend the Adum rug from IKEA in 200cm x 300cm. Again as above you need to sort the lighting, I agree with the 5 arm pendants (the spots are very harsh when you are relaxing watching tv). The light should not hang more than 50cm from the ceiling, try the Barcelona 5 light from NEXT, the shades will keep the bulbs from annoying you when relaxing. I would also stretch your curtain pole if it is extendable or replace it so your curtains (which are lovely) sit back further on the wall to let more light in. I would also replace your tv stand and table with a nicer piece and put it centred on the wall (you can angle the tv when people are sitting on both sofas). I suggest Besta Hanvicken White, the white is nice and light in the space and it measures 180cm in width. Add a chair to the corner where the tv is currently to hide the radiator and make the room more beautiful. Try IKEA Strandmon in green or dark grey. Some new cushions will really bring it together, try Voyage Maison from Harvey Normans. For the mirror above the sofa as a great suggestion above try the rectangular Songe mirror from IKEA. Best of luck and post your after photos!!!
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Me personally I would try to “zone” the areas as two separate areas. Firstly some nice custom built shelving either side of the fireplace for books/ornaments/ picture frames etc. Then like suggested above, I would make a study by the window with a desk; where the sofa is and shelving under the pitched ceiling opposite. A tall house plant would look good there to the left of the window to balance out the window being off centre and an area rug to tie it altogether :)
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Heidi
Original Author
8 years ago
Heidi
Original Author
8 years ago
PRO
Helen Ford Design
8 years ago
Hi Heidi

Have you considered a corner sofa? I would consider having a left extension sofa (when you are looking at it) and floating it in front of the fireplace so that the extension blocks off the window area where at the moment you have an armchair. I'd then consider a bookcase where the sofa currently is, a bench under the window (reading area!), move the TV unit to the left of the fireplace and potentially float a small armchair if space. You could buy a big old trunk (eBay?) as a 'coffee table' to go in front of the sofa (great for toys!) Re the lights; just be careful on the drop - you don't want to be hitting your head on them!

Sofa.com do some great sofas.......

Good luck!
PRO
Solid Furniture Design
8 years ago
Hi Heidi, We would love to help you making your living room look unique ! please contact us on www.kitchenwardrobe.com or by e-mail: kitchen-wardrobe@o2.pl . Please provide us with dimensions of the living room as well as your budget, so we could send you few examples of what can you get within your budget.

Regards, A&S Kitchen Wardrobe team.
Heidi
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you sooooo much everyone for the brilliant ideas! This has been really helpful and we've had a furniture re-shuffle today and it already looks better! I'll post a pic soon. Sometimes you just need a fresh perspective so this has been really helpful thanks. We are looking for a new sofa though and I love the colours and style of this one and the tartan cushions/footrest. Does anyone know of any similar ones anywhere else? I love Laura Ashley ones too.

http://www.sofology.co.uk/sofas/bella

Also, does anyone know a good place for victorian pine furniture or just new pine/oak furniture...we've looked at Listers and they have the right style things that we're after but looking for other places to look at too. Thank you!!xx

Please help! Long, awkward shaped living room, not sure what to do!

Amber Jeavons Ltd

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Please help! Long, awkward shaped living room, not sure what to do!

Amber Jeavons Ltd

Comments (8)

HeidiOriginal Author

HeidiOriginal Author

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HeidiOriginal Author

Helen Ford Design

Solid Furniture Design

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