Living room re-do layout advice

Comments (26)

Will Gallegos
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Equilibrando here is a photo of the living room pre-redecoration with the sofa's in another configuration looking from the window side. I am still unsure on what works best I feel everything in a row really makes it feel too much like a waiting room. I am also unsure how best to house the TV and associated electronics that comes with it.

I love the new wall colour it changes so much throughout the day! It is Farrow & Ball Light Blue #22 if you were wondering.
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Here's what I would do: Place the TV to the right of the fireplace, and arrange the main seating area at that end of the room. I'd place a 7-8' sofa on the long wall facing the french doors, and add two club chairs at a right angle to the sofa facing the fireplace and TV. Then add a coffee table/ottoman and occasional tables on either side of the sofa. At the other end of the room, you could have a round game table with chairs, or a reading nook or a piano, depending on what you like to do in the room besides watch TV. I'd also remove the lighting fixtures, carpet and window coverings. Do you know what is under the carpet? It would be wonderful if there were wood floors!
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Jonathan
4 years ago
I think the radiator on the TV wall is the issue. I would swap the one on the window wall for a double radiator, get rid of the one on the tv wall and then put the tv there.
Will Gallegos thanked Jonathan
Will Gallegos
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Jonathan good idea! How would you arrange the seating around this?
Will Gallegos
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
So I have started playing with the layout. What do you think of this?
Will Gallegos
Original Author
3 years ago
Here is another photo of playing with the layout. The room still doesn't feel finished and I am struggling with knowing what to do to make it look best.
PRO
Deluxe Interiors Designer
3 years ago
Think you should remove the single sitter chair in the corner next to the screen,I see it does not make sense it being their since you can't actually watch TV well when there.
Place the single sitter chair the opposite side then move one of the tables were the single sitter chair was positioned I relation to the above recent picture you posted.
Will Gallegos thanked Deluxe Interiors Designer
renmack
3 years ago
Have you considered swapping the dining and reception areas? Having the sofa and tv in the former dining area and using the large side chair to create a separate reading nook? Or perhaps using the dining area as a separate nook and bringing the sofa off the wall?
A P
3 years ago
i think it depends on how you use the room. if you watch TV mainly on your own then put the TV in a corner space and make the the room more of a living space. It will feel more relaxing. I like your most recent picture - would you consider swapping the TV and single armchair? Or swap the TV with the lamp shade.

Would you consider warming the room a little with a rug? You can just bring it out when you have guests - that way it stays clean too.

I would think of your dining area as a separate room and even if you have something in that area so long as there is a 'doorway' width to get through that should be fine. It will make your living room feel more contained and cosy. So in theory you could angle your TV towards both sofas if you wish.
Claire Black
3 years ago
I would have the TV on the opposite wall and then play around with the furniture.
HU-225311129
3 years ago
Dare I say - have you considered knocking the wall down between kitchen and living area?! it would make a much better space for eating and entertaining. The TV is dominating the long thin area so, you have to have the seating so you can watch the TV. Try arranging the seating to be sociable and then see where the TV could go?
Jo S
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
You said you'd like to take advantage of the view/light from the window/balcony door, you'd like a TV somewhere, and you usually seat 3 people.

Try out every possible furniture position in real life for a day or more, with your existing furniture, before buying anything new or spending unnecessary money.

Do you spend more time sitting at the dining table or on the sofa? Do you watch the TV from the sofa or the dining table? Decide which, and put the one where you spend more time next to the window.

If you're thinking of moving the dining table to the inner part of the room, consider adding a hatch (with doors), which might fit even if you have kitchen wall units, but be careful to support the upper part of the wall, and be sure to comply with means of escape building regulations (fires sometimes start in kitchens).

Consider positioning the dining table against the wall in the inner area and still seat 3 people (one at the end and two along one side) and pull the table out for more people.

Could you mount the TV safely on one side of the inner part? It takes a lot of space on that base unit. Avoid natural sunlight shining onto the TV screen in summer; it'll make it difficult to watch.

Consider adding some effective lighting in the inner part of the room, with separate switches so you can choose how/when to use it e.g. a couple of wide-angle 7 watt LED ceiling downlighters.

Another idea - have you considered two sofas (one instead of the armchair) back to back: one facing the window and one facing the inner door. The TV could be next to the inner door. The dining table could be between the kitchen and balcony, as you have it.

I don't recommend removing the radiator in the inner part of the room, although you could replace it with a tall narrow radiator (expensive) as near as possible to the outer corner so it doesn't interfere with any furniture, if you desperately need the space. It heats an area which may otherwise feel cold in winter (even if you double the other radiator), so check the heating calculations before you decide.
Katie Lowe
3 years ago
The arrangement you have made in your most recent photos is the best I can think of. I have my sofa and chair like that and we don't really need to use the chair to watch TV, just us two on the sofa. The odd time we have people over to watch sport (very rare) we just move the chair.

Our chair being separate actually gives it a different use. When I read I often choose that chair and when we have people over we rarely have the TV on so it's the perfect arrangement for conversation.

I'd really recommend a large rug in your space, so the feet of your sofa (at least) are on the rug. This will zone the TV space. The danger is that your living room feels like a hallway because the door leads through the centre of the room. Doesn't need to be a bright rug but I think it will really help finish the space off, especially because of that lovely wooden flooring.
Will Gallegos thanked Katie Lowe
Wumi
3 years ago
I will echo what others have said above and:

- Zone the living room with a rug

- Either remove the radiator from the kitchen/living wall or get a tall narrower one and make it a feature

- Make the radiator by the window full length and centred to the window.

I think the main issue is the location of living room door. It's centred to the room and doesn't really allow for good placement of furniture which makes the living room seem less like a room and more like a corridor to the kitchen and dining area. Long term, I would suggest moving the doorway further right, opening in towards the wall if you can.

I've attached some suggestions based on your current structural layout and one with the door moved. Either way, you'll probably want to get a narrower tv table/console (no more than 30cm in depth really) and preferably on taller legs if a table to create an illusion of more floor space or built in like below and change the direction the door opens.

Naples Beach Coastal Retreat Series Living Room · More Info

Hope that helps!
Will Gallegos thanked Wumi
Will Gallegos
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Thank you all for your answers so far! Some really productive ideas! Wumi I think you have hit the nail on the head with your comment "I think the main issue is the location of living room door. It's centred to the room and doesn't really allow for good placement of furniture which makes the living room seem less like a room and more like a corridor to the kitchen and dining area." sadly I don't think moving the door is an option as it is a block of flats and structural alterations are difficult to get consent for. I love the built in idea for the TV unit and can see how lifting it off the floor would make it look better.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good rug to zone the space?

If I were to have a feature radiator what would your recommend?

A Pnice idea to swap the TV and armchair around I will have to try it out. The TV used to be where the lampshade was which was ok but constantly watching TV on an angle wasn't great. Definitely looking for a rug but don't even know where to begin to look!

HU-225311129I did consider knocking the wall down between the kitchen and living room but sadly it wasn't allowed by the freeholders of the block of flats I live in so have to make to do as it is

Jo SI spend more time on the sofa than at the dining table and I watch the TV from the sofa
Claire Black
3 years ago
You could always move your kitchen (use same cupboards) in to lounge. Have living kitchen dining and make the current kitchen into a snug/cinema room.
Will Gallegos thanked Claire Black
Will Gallegos
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Claire, unfortunately it is a block of flats so it is difficult to move plumbing etc into the lounge and I have just had a new kitchen installed so reluctant to move it.
Claire Black
3 years ago
It would transform your living and can use same kitchen so reduces costs. You won’t be spending hours contemplating placement of furniture, you’ll be using the spaces to the maximal and be completely comfortable.
PRO
Imaginfires
3 years ago
I agree with Equilibrando about being careful putting a TV above a heater - it might be better to use a standalone fireplace for a cosy vibe away from the television - our bioethanol fireplaces are lightweight and easy to move.

As for the shape of the room, we advise creating separate spaces anchored to area rugs - lots of good suggestions for reading areas and snugs!
Will Gallegos
Original Author
3 years ago

Thank you all for your help. Currently I have set up the living room like this. I would love to hear your thoughts / ideas / comments on it. The TV unit will ultimately be changed for a nicer / possibly built in unit.
Claire Black
3 years ago
Looks lovely.
Will Gallegos thanked Claire Black
Jonathan
3 years ago
It looks good with this layout. Personally I think you need a bigger rug though.
Will Gallegos thanked Jonathan
special morning
3 years ago
that looks really good. a bigger rug would be better tho, as in Wumi's images.
Will Gallegos thanked special morning
Wumi
3 years ago
Looking good Will.
Will Gallegos thanked Wumi
Ellie
3 years ago
It's how it works for you. I couldn't have it like that, the armchair just looks lost there in middle of floor. Are you happy with it like this?
Will Gallegos thanked Ellie
Will Gallegos
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you all for your help so far! What colour do you think the bigger rug should be?

I was looking at things like this

https://www.houzz.co.uk/products/metro-rug-black-and-white-60x90-cm-prvw-vr~116921750

https://www.houzz.co.uk/products/jersey-8420-rug-stone-140x200-cm-prvw-vr~112201633

https://www.houzz.co.uk/products/copperfield-rug-60x90-cm-prvw-vr~116921735

but is it too much of the same colour for the room?

United Kingdom

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Living room re-do layout advice

Equilibrando... Space Planning with Feng Shui

Comments (26)

Will Gallegos
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