living room layout challenge

20 days ago

We can’t agree on how to lay out our living room. We want a cosy family space but also one that’s tasteful and inviting. I just feel we are missing the wow factor. We have a south facing garden so we’ll have the bifold doors looking into the garden. We’ll also have a dining room. There’s a sliding door leading to the kitchen we don’t want an open plan space.

My design feels cold. What would you do differently?

I quite like the panelling idea and also the hidden TV concept.

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Comments (16)

Bee O
Original Author
20 days ago
Are media walls a good idea?
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minnie101
19 days ago
It’s quite hard to judge from here until art, accessories, plants, lights, fabric fabric etc are added

Unless I’m reading this wrong I wouldn’t have the media wall behind a sofa

Sofas arms shouldn‘t really cross

The front feet of all the seating should sit on the rug

Personally I’d go for more contrast preferably a colour for the accent chair

Do you have photos so we can see the style of the room and also the doors in situ (there are a few doors which always makes things tricky!) Have you found anything you really love ie art or a fabric as a starting point?
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Isla Cherry
19 days ago
A media wall is a great idea and the slatted wooden panelling would look great with your colour scheme. I'd go for oak. I think the largest sofa should face the media wall. It's more inviting with an L-shaped arrangement facing the media unit. This could be an L shaped sofa or two two or three seaters placed in that shape. The chair is a bit lost over there. Maybe bring it forward a bit and provide a side table next to it for reading or relaxing with coffee or a drink. I have similar colours to your render and find them quite relaxing. You could also have a console against the back of the sofa which forms the walkthrough. Large plants like small trees in a big pot or a parlour palm would add a lot of life to the space.
Bee O
Original Author
19 days ago
Thanks Minnie, you’ve honed in on my challenge. The space does not yet exist. It will be our new extension and I’m not great at abstracting and visualising spaces that aren’t yet real.

I agree with you on the media wall.
- I think it should be on that side of the wall so that anyone walking in from the kitchen or the main door is not a distraction. We’ll need to deal with light from outside but because the sun goes from 9-3 it will only be an evening problem by which time blinds will be down.
I’d like to zone the space a little so that if my husband is watching TV, I can curl up and read a book or just stare outside.

I’d like to be able to use the walls a bit more eg have some sort of wall “nook”.

I think it’s a lot to expect for one space and I just get stuck to bring it all together.

Your suggestions are truly helpful.
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Isla Cherry
19 days ago
Add shelves to your tv panelled area for book storage. Make a sort of tv chimney breast with panelling fixed to the wall, a long low storage unit wider than the panelling and then shelves either side of the panelling. You could do floating or cubby style or find some modern brackets.
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Bee O
Original Author
19 days ago
Another attempt
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Isla Cherry
19 days ago
I prefer this option. I think you need a side table where the sofas meet or maybe that's a great plant spot. You could still go bigger with the rug and at least include both sofas front legs/feet. Have you thought about lighting yet? I would include a floor socket for a lamp between the sofas or maybe a battery lamp? A tall floor light would also look good in that spot. Something tall, Scandi style.
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
19 days ago
Hi Bee,

send me a DM, as I have a few suggestions that I think it will help you. :)

I really respect how you are approaching the whole thing and I will be super happy to help.

And trust me you are not bad at all at this. :)
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
19 days ago
One option,

didn't have time to do the correct lighting. But just as an idea
minnie101
19 days ago
I really like Puir’s design with the fire in the media wall, the interior doors etc.

I also like your 2nd seating layout with the garden view however maybe with a smaller sofa in front of the dining room? If your chair was a swivel chair with a high’ish back I think you could swivel to face the garden whilst reading and you’d be cocooned so as not to be distracted by the tv? Good point re floor sockets too!
Bee O
Original Author
19 days ago
Absolutely- I had not thought about the floor sockets but I can see the value.

This gives me a lot to work with.
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PRO
Piur & Co interior design
18 days ago
Hi Bee,

not sure if I was clear before. Because I see you have created a 3d plan with some simple software I want to help and give you some pointers. No criticism just some helpful pointers.

If you want I'm happy to give you some free advice and helpful tips and info that I think would be helpful for you in your project.

It's a genuine offer for friendly help, not trying to sell you anything I promise :)

One of the reasons why I got into this industry is because I got so frustrated seeing terrible layouts and big mistakes that would have been completely avoidable with better planning and more considerations.

I would be happy to do this job for free if money wasn't an unfortunate necessity in life, so when I have some free time between projects I offer free advice and help to the Houzz community here.

So it's totally up to you if you want to take me up on that., send me a DM message.
tab darcy
18 days ago
Did you plan an eating area in the kitchen, or is the dining room going to get much use? Every family is different but I'd prefer to use half of this room for eating and the other half for lounging, reading, games etc - turning the dining room into a darker TV/ cinema room. Especially if there are sports fans in the house. The bright double doors will cause screen glare anyway, won't they?
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Bee O
Original Author
18 days ago
Hi Ursa, I believe I’ve dm’d you.
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
17 days ago
HI Bee,

sorry it went to spam for some reason. Have responded. :)
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katlucy
17 days ago
Can you have the kitchen nearer the dining room?

i think id like the sitting room south and west facing idealy
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living room layout challenge

Comments (16)

Bee O
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minnie101

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living room layout challenge

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