Living Room Furniture Arrangement (was Interior decorator on a budget)
Mar 2, 2015 at 3:13am Edited
My two cents, from the point of view of a parent, and from a small living room where we are always looking to add sitting without crowding the space. Like you we have a bay Window and a fireplace as well as an opening to the dinning room so we don't have a large wall were to place the sofa. We added two large chairs on each corner. To one, since there was space, we added an ottoman. This serves as another sit when we have many people over. We switched the rectangular coffee table for a large square ottoman which has storage. This allows me to hide the baby toys in seconds. Also because it is square it frees up space on the sides and it centers the space to the chairs which are on the far corners. A nice rug will also help you center the space a bit. I would add a bench with storage below, the length of the middle window of the bay window, with some decor on each side (i.e. large bases, or magazine rack etc) to fill the space. A nice floor lamp behind the couch and two small side tables flanking the couch would also give you additional storage.
When we were looking for a storage ottoman we were torn between something where to throw the toys and something like this which holds additional sitting which you can bring out in the event of company. We figured we would get more use of storage than the sitting to be honest. Also these are not always easy to find in the color/materials that match your decor.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/23683635/White-Faux-Leather-Tufted-Top-Cocktail-Coffee-Table-5-PC-Round-Ottoman-Set-contemporary-footstools-and-ottomans
http://www.houzz.com/photos/23683635/White-Faux-Leather-Tufted-Top-Cocktail-Coffee-Table-5-PC-Round-Ottoman-Set-contemporary-footstools-and-ottomans
@pmartinezv, thanks!! So that's essentially the furniture arrangement we have, but with the added bench under the bay window, and the ottoman in the middle. Side tables next to the couch would be interesting; right now the couch is too ginormous for them to fit but if we got a smaller one it might allow for it.
I'm also intrigued by @afa's suggestion of a love seat in the bay window. I had seen this piece on World Market's website and while I don't totally love the style, the function kind of combines the idea of a loveseat and a bench. http://www.worldmarket.com/product/coffee+velvet+taylor+bench+with+bolsters.do?&from=fn
Plus, either a bench or a loveseat would be removable if I needed to for the Christmas tree. I know I sound really hung up on that one month a year when we have the tree, but I just love my house extra during the holidays
For some reason I hadn't thought about the idea of an ottoman as coffee table, but that makes total sense. It would be safer than sharp corners for the baby anyway (who is about to start pulling up, heaven help me).
I'd love a rug but - this probably got lost in the threads above - our dog is aging and would declare war on a rug, I'm afraid
I'm also intrigued by @afa's suggestion of a love seat in the bay window. I had seen this piece on World Market's website and while I don't totally love the style, the function kind of combines the idea of a loveseat and a bench. http://www.worldmarket.com/product/coffee+velvet+taylor+bench+with+bolsters.do?&from=fn
Plus, either a bench or a loveseat would be removable if I needed to for the Christmas tree. I know I sound really hung up on that one month a year when we have the tree, but I just love my house extra during the holidays
For some reason I hadn't thought about the idea of an ottoman as coffee table, but that makes total sense. It would be safer than sharp corners for the baby anyway (who is about to start pulling up, heaven help me).
I'd love a rug but - this probably got lost in the threads above - our dog is aging and would declare war on a rug, I'm afraid
dg64 said:
How about leaving a couch where it is currently, and getting two substantial arm chairs in front of the bay windows with a small table in between? Your current armchairs might work in that configuration too, but they seem to be a little off in scale to couch. An oval coffee table and a glass fronted cabinet placed at an angle in the corner between the foyer and dining room. Doesn't increase your seating much, but would make the room feel more intimate.
I missed this one, sorry @dg64. Are you suggesting moving the two armchairs to the bay window? My only hesitation with that is then they wouldn't exactly be facing the couch, which seems less conducive to conversation - but, as @afa pointed out, it's an easy thing to move and see what we think!
I love the idea of a cabinet in that space. I saw pictures of a house over the weekend that had a beautiful built-in corner cabinet that had me swooning.
96" is a huge couch, and it looks like a good foot or so of that length is in the arms...! The poofiness of the couch plus the fact that it's almost a foot away from the wall in the back just makes the couch seem really big for the room (especially since there's no big stretch of wall for it!). I'd say hang tight until you decide you're ready to get a new couch, and then get a couch with a smaller profile to fit the size of the room it's in. Again, I think the Karlstad or the new Stocksund would be a great fit -- you'd knock off almost 20" from the width but still really be able to seat the same number of people on it as your current couch. I honestly feel like a loveseat would be the best solution, tucked into the bay window area... it would also make that spot nice and bright for reading and just feel really cozy.
If you want to make the living room more of a socialization/get-together room, I think figuring out where the main sitting area is going to be is key, as well as maintaining the walkway area from the foyer through the living room into the dining room. Even though the living room is small, if people are sitting on all the chairs in the corners, they're going to be too far away from each other to have any kind of conversation. Let me draw a picture.........
If you want to make the living room more of a socialization/get-together room, I think figuring out where the main sitting area is going to be is key, as well as maintaining the walkway area from the foyer through the living room into the dining room. Even though the living room is small, if people are sitting on all the chairs in the corners, they're going to be too far away from each other to have any kind of conversation. Let me draw a picture.........
Mar 2, 2015 at 3:33am Edited
I don't actually think this layout would work super well, but it's the general idea.... even if you don't use the whole space for sitting, having a designated area for sitting where all the chairs/sofas are facing each other will end up being a better use of space in the end.
And your children will sit on the radiator in the winter. You need a good butt warmer in the winter.
And I say "booze bar" because my husband is obsessed with getting a good bar for our dining room to hold the booze and we have no good place to put it. Either of those corners would be a great place for a nice booze armoir.
And your children will sit on the radiator in the winter. You need a good butt warmer in the winter.
And I say "booze bar" because my husband is obsessed with getting a good bar for our dining room to hold the booze and we have no good place to put it. Either of those corners would be a great place for a nice booze armoir.
That's a challenging space for sure, especially with the big open doorways and the windows. Part of the problem you're currently having is that you have some big visual pieces hogging up space in a room with a tough flow of space. The other main problem is the feeling that everything needs to be anchored against the wall; that likely won't work well in this space. The fact that there's not much fabric in the room doesn't help with the feeling of awkward sterility, either. I'd do a rug before curtains but completely understand your reasons not to. I wouldn't worry about either of those, though, until you get the rest of the room in place.
My first and biggest question is this: Is this a family room or a living room? Do you want it to be a cozy space for your family to hang out in or do you want to use it primarily for entertaining?
If a family room... I love the idea of a deepish window seat with some built-in storage for toys, topped with a nice cushion and layered with at least half a dozen pillows, if not more. Think reading nook. The design wouldn't have to be particularly complicated to build. If not, I also like the idea of a sectional couch with one side a chaise in that room. You could have the chaise part go into the bay window it could partially overlap with a doorway (especially if the couch was anchored against the opposite side of the room and there was a couple feet of space between the chaise and doorway). For coziness, I like the idea of several smaller ottomons as a coffee table replacement. You can put trays on top of rest things but the ottomons can also be moved and used as stools when you need seating. You'd also need side tables to "laptop tables," which I love for versatility. And then there's space for a chair or two, perhaps a leather club chair type of thing in one of those corners and a slipper chair of sorts pulled off the wall a bit. When figuring out layout, I like the make cardboard rectangles the size of all pieces of furniture I'm considering and move them around the room.
Now, what about a living room? Some of the suggestions above could work but some wouldn't. A sectional with a chaise really isn't good if your primary purpose is for entertaining. The window seat wouldn't be right either. The layout would be a little more complicated to accommodate more chairs or two couches. I might consider a traditional sectional, though it still might not be ideal depending on how cozy you want your company to be. You almost definitely would need to "float" one of the primary pieces of furniture or two in the room to make this work. The trick here would perhaps be not focusing on a focal piece of furniture and instead getting pieces that don't take up much visual space. A primarily monotone color palate may help as well. A bench or settee might also be something consider in the bay window. You could go a lot of different ways, though putting it together is where it gets a little tricky.
What kind of aesthetic would you most define your taste as?
My first and biggest question is this: Is this a family room or a living room? Do you want it to be a cozy space for your family to hang out in or do you want to use it primarily for entertaining?
If a family room... I love the idea of a deepish window seat with some built-in storage for toys, topped with a nice cushion and layered with at least half a dozen pillows, if not more. Think reading nook. The design wouldn't have to be particularly complicated to build. If not, I also like the idea of a sectional couch with one side a chaise in that room. You could have the chaise part go into the bay window it could partially overlap with a doorway (especially if the couch was anchored against the opposite side of the room and there was a couple feet of space between the chaise and doorway). For coziness, I like the idea of several smaller ottomons as a coffee table replacement. You can put trays on top of rest things but the ottomons can also be moved and used as stools when you need seating. You'd also need side tables to "laptop tables," which I love for versatility. And then there's space for a chair or two, perhaps a leather club chair type of thing in one of those corners and a slipper chair of sorts pulled off the wall a bit. When figuring out layout, I like the make cardboard rectangles the size of all pieces of furniture I'm considering and move them around the room.
Now, what about a living room? Some of the suggestions above could work but some wouldn't. A sectional with a chaise really isn't good if your primary purpose is for entertaining. The window seat wouldn't be right either. The layout would be a little more complicated to accommodate more chairs or two couches. I might consider a traditional sectional, though it still might not be ideal depending on how cozy you want your company to be. You almost definitely would need to "float" one of the primary pieces of furniture or two in the room to make this work. The trick here would perhaps be not focusing on a focal piece of furniture and instead getting pieces that don't take up much visual space. A primarily monotone color palate may help as well. A bench or settee might also be something consider in the bay window. You could go a lot of different ways, though putting it together is where it gets a little tricky.
What kind of aesthetic would you most define your taste as?
(Ha, in the time it took me to write this with two little ones around, there've been a lot more posts added to this thread, many that echo some of what I said. Thanks, guys!)
Gurus, here's my next question... assuming we keep the idea of a full-size couch - any suggestions as to what to buy? Or good sources for affordable? I'm thinking under $1,500.
As you can probably tell from our space, we're not really into contemporary/modern furnishings. I err on the side of coziness, but not necessarily another "overstuffed" couch. The current one we have is 96" and while it's awesome for napping, it doesn't need to be that large.
Other criteria:
The misshapen pillows make me CRAZY. They are just stuffed, rather than a solid cushion, and every time I try to re-stuff them they just look weirder. But, I will not convince the dog not to sleep directly on top of the cushions because that's her favorite spot (and no, we're not going to battle with keeping her off the couch after 8 years!) So actually, a couch with just a solid back would probably be ideal.
Also, as much as I love red, I'd like a more neutral couch next time. I'm thinking a basic tan or perhaps very light brown, so I could change up décor with pillows and such.
Finally, fabric - must be easy to clean. Maybe microfiber? The current couch was bought pre-dog and pre-kids and it's a disaster. It's kind of a chenille and it just grabs everything.
This is all assuming my husband relents and lets me buy a new couch, ha This thing was one of our first married purchases and has been made it through 3 NYC apartments and our house so it has sentimental value... but I'm wearing him down.
As you can probably tell from our space, we're not really into contemporary/modern furnishings. I err on the side of coziness, but not necessarily another "overstuffed" couch. The current one we have is 96" and while it's awesome for napping, it doesn't need to be that large.
Other criteria:
The misshapen pillows make me CRAZY. They are just stuffed, rather than a solid cushion, and every time I try to re-stuff them they just look weirder. But, I will not convince the dog not to sleep directly on top of the cushions because that's her favorite spot (and no, we're not going to battle with keeping her off the couch after 8 years!) So actually, a couch with just a solid back would probably be ideal.
Also, as much as I love red, I'd like a more neutral couch next time. I'm thinking a basic tan or perhaps very light brown, so I could change up décor with pillows and such.
Finally, fabric - must be easy to clean. Maybe microfiber? The current couch was bought pre-dog and pre-kids and it's a disaster. It's kind of a chenille and it just grabs everything.
This is all assuming my husband relents and lets me buy a new couch, ha
This thing was one of our first married purchases and has been made it through 3 NYC apartments and our house so it has sentimental value... but I'm wearing him down. Somethingz_Fishy said:
My first and biggest question is this: Is this a family room or a living room? Do you want it to be a cozy space for your family to hang out in or do you want to use it primarily for entertaining?
This is primarily a living room. We have a finished basement that is more of a den, with the TV and toys and such. But, with two little ones at home, our lifestyle is pretty casual so we're not talking about a formal space by any means.
My aesthetic is "Pottery Barn if I could afford it"
@afa We have both a wine rack and a sideboard in the dining room, so we're pretty well covered for booze spots Plus my husband has his homebrew man cave in the basement.
Plus my husband has his homebrew man cave in the basement. 
with kids - maybe look for a couch on MOL classifieds - i have bought fantastic ones-- this way yo are not paying the premium of new but can get a nice quality piece
love the idea of a bench - i had one in my last home and it was my favorite spot to sit and hang out
love the idea of a bench - i had one in my last home and it was my favorite spot to sit and hang out
TarheelsInNj said:
@pmartinezv, thanks!! So that's essentially the furniture arrangement we have, but with the added bench under the bay window, and the ottoman in the middle. Side tables next to the couch would be interesting; right now the couch is too ginormous for them to fit but if we got a smaller one it might allow for it.
I'm also intrigued by @afa's suggestion of a love seat in the bay window. I had seen this piece on World Market's website and while I don't totally love the style, the function kind of combines the idea of a loveseat and a bench. http://www.worldmarket.com/product/coffee+velvet+taylor+bench+with+bolsters.do?&from=fn
Plus, either a bench or a loveseat would be removable if I needed to for the Christmas tree. I know I sound really hung up on that one month a year when we have the tree, but I just love my house extra during the holidays
For some reason I hadn't thought about the idea of an ottoman as coffee table, but that makes total sense. It would be safer than sharp corners for the baby anyway (who is about to start pulling up, heaven help me).
I'd love a rug but - this probably got lost in the threads above - our dog is aging and would declare war on a rug, I'm afraid
That bench or something like it could work. It really depends on the dimensions. The tables on either size of the couch really depend on how big you want them. I have come to find that you can get all types of size tables in pretty much any size.
For example these could fit in that space, but if you plan on changing the sofa I would wait until then since you may want a different style.
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Wingback-Side-Table/7962954/product.html
or since you may have the space in the back, even something like this if it is your style.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/492354/Katrin-Black-Wood-Console-Sofa-Table-modern-side-tables-and-end-tables
Another alternative, are night stands which are sometimes smaller/narrower and provide storage. It really all depends on your style. You mentioned Ikea so it seems your style is modern, so you should have plenty of options. It would be a matter of budget and what you like.
And yes we went with the ottoman for the same reasons (baby walking and sharp corners) so we went with a leather one because it was soft. The top flips over so we either have the cushion part of a tray which is great when we have company. The best part is being able to throw all the little toys into it and clean up in a matter of minutes.
I think once you have a layout it is a matter of "filling" the space with details so that it does not feel crowded but it add some warmth and interest to the room. For example, the back of the couch, since you have the depth available, I may go with some picture rails or even shallow shelves so that you can add some family pictures and decor and a cool floor lamp.
I adore Thrive Furniture, though you have to like the midcentury bent. The shipping is free, they'll even pay for shipping to take it back within seven days time, if you just don't like it. Plus, they'll usually offer you a discount if you ask for swatches. We bought a sectional with chaise from them and love it. LOVE it.
A couch like this could work, though the aesthetic might be wrong: http://www.thrivefurniture.com/sullivan-sofa/
I'm also a big World Market fan, though they're probably better for chairs and accessory furnishings. Never bought a couch from them.
But I have a couple of these ottomans that I love: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/port+tufted+velvet+ottoman.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=2
And I've had good experience with this chair in plum: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/flax+vanity+chair.do?sortby=ourPicks
I really like their accent chair collection. Just looking at it now, I wish I had space for more chairs!
Finally, you might really want to look at clubfurniture.com. I believe they're direct from a North Carolina manufacturer, if I recall correctly. Several people have told me the quality is really good for the price and they have a variety of aesthetics. It's kind of like buying the store brand.
A couch like this could work, though the aesthetic might be wrong: http://www.thrivefurniture.com/sullivan-sofa/
I'm also a big World Market fan, though they're probably better for chairs and accessory furnishings. Never bought a couch from them.
But I have a couple of these ottomans that I love: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/port+tufted+velvet+ottoman.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=2
And I've had good experience with this chair in plum: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/flax+vanity+chair.do?sortby=ourPicks
I really like their accent chair collection. Just looking at it now, I wish I had space for more chairs!
Finally, you might really want to look at clubfurniture.com. I believe they're direct from a North Carolina manufacturer, if I recall correctly. Several people have told me the quality is really good for the price and they have a variety of aesthetics. It's kind of like buying the store brand.
Funny enough, this layout is very similar to the current chairs we have. I wonder if, taking a cue from several posters above, we could do something like this with the furniture all pulled in closer together. We haven't done that now because the couch is so massive.
The reason the smaller chairs are back against the corners right now is because I feel it would look awkward to walk into the back of the chairs, and it's better for flow to walk around them. But maybe that's not true. I can easily pull them out to try it.
So if we did something like this in the center, would a bench in the window seating area feel off-balance? I still definitely want to get more seating in the room somehow. Or maybe a window seat with pillows or a cushion would still be the way to go.
And yes, I do have to let go of my fears of not having furniture anchored against a wall Can you tell I'm not a big risk-taker??
The reason the smaller chairs are back against the corners right now is because I feel it would look awkward to walk into the back of the chairs, and it's better for flow to walk around them. But maybe that's not true. I can easily pull them out to try it.
So if we did something like this in the center, would a bench in the window seating area feel off-balance? I still definitely want to get more seating in the room somehow. Or maybe a window seat with pillows or a cushion would still be the way to go.
And yes, I do have to let go of my fears of not having furniture anchored against a wall
Can you tell I'm not a big risk-taker??
I was obsessed with this ottoman as a coffee table for a long time: http://m.clubfurniture.com/ystore/clubfurniturestore/eartoshlarob.html
They make a few sizes of it but this is the one I wanted so badly! Unfortunately, we have an awkward space too and there wasn't enough center space in my family room for it.
They make a few sizes of it but this is the one I wanted so badly! Unfortunately, we have an awkward space too and there wasn't enough center space in my family room for it.
Also check the Macy's sales. There is a showroom on 22 where you can take a look and sit on the couches. They have a nice variety and the prices are totally doable. You can check out their website first also.
One of the main problems you have for that layout right now is that your chairs, coffee table and couch are not even close to being the right proportions with each other.
Based on afa's suggestion another layout which really depends on the size of the space to work.
@cramer
Betsy is a former Maplewoodian, raised her kid here, and now lives in Asbury Park. She is the founder and former proprietor of the award winning Asbury Ocean Beach Inn, which she designed and decorated. She's now working privately.
Betsy is a former Maplewoodian, raised her kid here, and now lives in Asbury Park. She is the founder and former proprietor of the award winning Asbury Ocean Beach Inn, which she designed and decorated. She's now working privately.
In that layout, in the corner where the chair and the ottoman is, I wonder if you can out a settee or small loveseat, perhaps with a table behind it for lighting or surfaces to put drinks, etc. on. It might help with the amount of seating and the balance of the room, though I don't know for sure.
Like http://www.worldmarket.com/product/caribbean+blue+quincy+loveseat.do?&from=fn or http://www.worldmarket.com/product/erin-cute-as-a-button-loveseat.do?&from=fn
Like http://www.worldmarket.com/product/caribbean+blue+quincy+loveseat.do?&from=fn or http://www.worldmarket.com/product/erin-cute-as-a-button-loveseat.do?&from=fn
+1 for Macy's. We got a comfy sofa with chaise in a microfiber fabric that is super easy to keep clean of dog hair and goldfish crumbs. It was about $1,100 on sale. We wanted something new but like you didn't want to spend over $1,500.
Your house is the mirror image of our old SO house! I miss those pocket doors.
I really like Emily Henderson's vibe, and she had a great post a while back about the horrors of generic sofas and a round up of stylish, affordable ones.
http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/design-mistake-1-the-generic-sofa/
I really like Emily Henderson's vibe, and she had a great post a while back about the horrors of generic sofas and a round up of stylish, affordable ones.
http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/design-mistake-1-the-generic-sofa/
We have a world market dining room set that has help up very well. IMHO their ulpholstered furniture feels kind of cheap and I don't think it would stand up to a household with dogs and kids.
I call World Market a grownup Ikea. You've got to be careful and selective about what you buy, but it's typically easy to move and setup and they're very affordable. They're pretty much the same quality.
I have three kids between 1 and 6 and two dogs and have had good luck with my World Market purchases. But they are accent pieces and not the furniture in my house that takes the most abuse.
I have three kids between 1 and 6 and two dogs and have had good luck with my World Market purchases. But they are accent pieces and not the furniture in my house that takes the most abuse.
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