My home feels so boring, I want to create interest and warmth but am totally overwhelmed. Thought I would tackle the living room first. I’ve lived here for a year and other than the wood blinds and TV console I really haven’t done anything else.
The living room is long and narrow so I’m having difficulty with furniture placement. I end up having empty space between the sofa and where the kitchen starts that I’m not sure what to do with.
I am open to all suggestions (would like to leave the paint color as is)...what would you do to create interest and warmth in this living room?
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
Looking at your photos is seems like your walls are really bare; you need to put up some art! Etsy.com is a great place to find unusualy art; it's also where I sell Fine Art Prints (http://www.etsy.com/shop/JulienDenoyer).
I second what anrol says about putting the sofa against one wall and adding coffee tables. A rug is also a nice touch, if you don't have dogs that is...
I was watching Colour Confidential this morning and she had a room similar in shape to yours. She put a desk and chair in front of the window (window had drapes). She then moved the living area more into the center of the room.
http://www.colourconfidential.tv/episodes/4e12a_lg.jpg
They have the desk in front of the window, then two chairs beside the fireplace. They have a piano on the other end but that's where your kitchen would be. I don't know if you can see it but it looks like the door (between the chairs and the desk on the left side of the picture) leads to their front door, which is similar to yours. They even have a tree in the right corner like you do too! lol
P.S. not liking the colour on the walls, some of the art or the quality of the two chairs. I think their before colour was nicer.
http://www.colourconfidential.tv/episodes/4e12b_lg.jpg
From you pictures I can't tell if you have a baseboard heater beneath the window but I think it might be nice to place the sofa in front of the window and add a chunky curtain rod and drapes. Add a side table and lamp on either side of the sofa if room allows. Then you can add two chairs where your sofa is now, possibly with a small table between them, and a coffee table. Also see Erin Feasby's Home Makeover in the online TV section. It appears her space is smaller but she also placed her sofa along the window wall, just not right against it. She has a sofa table type piece right in front of the window and a space between that and the back of her sofa, something which may be an option for you if you wish to bring your seating area forward.
I think in your space it would work to have some kind of wall unit, possibly built-in if affordable, on the large wall. I'd choose one that could hold the TV.
Thank you so much for the pictures, links and ideas! The color combos and examples were really helpful.
I've been playing around with some layout ideas. May just live with the blank space between the living room and kitchen as I already have an eating area.
Sofa Against Long wall with 2 armchairs facing each other as per anrol's suggestion:
Sofa where it is now, with 2 armchairs againts long wall:
Sofa where it is now, with 2 chairs opposite in front of window and fireplace against long wall:
Any comments on the layouts or other suggestions?
Thank you!
I think the room needs a focal point. Maybe where the tree is, add a fireplace along the wall (6 or so feet from the corner) and move your couch so that the back is along the rail wall (place about 2 feet into the room). Add a new chair that's the same style as your couch, and a small table combo to the wall with the windows. Run window treatments along the back wall in a bright green. Add vibrant colour toss cushions to your sofa and do your chair in a salmon colour.
The space between the living room and kitchen could host a little table with 4 chairs, area rug and add some colour here too.
Here's some colour suggestions (items from Bouclair-tan, green and salmon theme):
These drapes on a black rod:
http://www.bouclair.com/images/product/fullsize/Lyra_9350327.jpg
Toss cushions:
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/fullsize/cush_asam_9351445.jpg
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/9354506.jpg
Hang this over the fireplace:
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/fullsize/mural_leafes.jpg
This along the wall by the current tv location:
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/fullsize/9360451.jpg
Throw for couch:
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/fullsize/web16_9345182.jpg
OR go with a purple, green and tan theme
Cushions
http://www.bouclair.ca/images/product/fullsize/F23kidscushions.jpg
I would put the sofa on the long wall and find some artwork to hang above it. (something with colour? and something that will fill about 2/3 of the space above the sofa) I think you need an accent colour and can maybe you could pull that from the artwork and carry that through to the kitchen. If budget allows, you could purchase a coffee table for in front of the sofa. Some lamps would also warm things up. I would like to see two chairs to go with the sofa something like this set up...........
with the chairs facing each other...the back of one chair where the back of your sofa is now and the and the back of the other chair by the window. Slide the TV down towards the railing a bit and hopefully you could see it from all seating The window would look great with some panels. Your rug could go under the front legs of the sofa. Lovely home!