Help!?! What to do with my den/family room?

Question

This is my family room. The accent wall is a light blue/leaning towards aqua. Since moving into our new home, it appears our furniture doesn't exactly 'fit' and I just can't figure out what to do. 
 Unfortunately, I can't get my husband to part with the light brown couch either. :( 
 Any thoughts on what I can do? I really appreciate any ideas.

Z · Answer

First off I think you need to paint and distress all your wood furniture. Ha ha ha. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm sure someone else that didn't read your other post will seriously mention that.

First off you have a great start with your sofas. I agree something on the windows will help soften the blue wall. Since I know you like wood, you can get unfinished wooden closet rod and curtain rod finials and brackets at L's Home Improvement store that can be stained to match your wood furniture. I think you need a wider piece under your TV and maybe move the curio behind the angled sofa. It would help to see a view of the third 'wall' or I'm guessing kitchen so we can see if another furniture placement might work.

A couple questions though. How many usually watches TV at one time? (This helps with furniture placement.)
Is there anyway the TV can be moved to the blue wall?

Minuet Stephens · Answer

Just LMAO at @Z's first comment :) 
I personally think the pink bucket brings a much needed splash of colour into the room :)
Seriously, I agree with Becky, the table under the tv is too small, If you really mike it I'd move it between the windows. On the blue wall I'd get a large canvas (or even a piece of mdf). Pick your triad of colours (paint counters should have a colour wheel to help), looks like you have a blue, a yellow and a red/rust and maybe add in a darker shade of blue. Get these colours in sample pots and then use them to coat the canvas. If you aren't a painter, you can splash them on, or just do random areas of each. Add in a bit of white to get some paler highlight. Have a look at some of the art around - it's easy to do an abstract.Get the kids to do it. For example dabbing the colours on with darker blue as a base keeping all strokes horizontal and you have a waterlike abstract. Keep the strokes vertical and it becomes a waterfall. Mount it so the top is a bit above the windows to take advantage of the height in the room (Large canvas! Fill that wall.) I'm also wondering how the curio cabinet would fit in the corner beside the right hand window.

Reinventing Space · Answer

The 2 sofas should be 'L' ed, rather than at 4 O'Clock position. That will get the one couch off the blue wall a bit and open up the options to make the wall a secondary focal point. Anchor the seating w/a side table and table lamp. Move the series of 4 artwork over the couch. Hang 2 panels per window, but with the rod positioned for 95' panels, not 84'. You have a nice high ceiling, so accent that. Add 2 chairs w/a table between the windows, a long bench w/a patterned fabric, or cubes - All for extra seating. The seating choice will be determined by the amount of depth you have after arranging the couch. Add floor vase w/sticks in the corner left of the TV (highest corner of the room.) Make sure it's TALL. You can hang one large piece of art between the windows or a twin series, such as more vintage liquor poster prints like your series of 4. Once the puppy is potty trained, you need a 8x10 rug to finish the space. You're curio needs to move closer to the kitchen, it's floating on the wall by itself. Stack some family photos up the wall by the curio to give the area some weight. Create a collective vignette with the media buffet, rather than having the accessories just lined up along the top.

KrysFL · Answer

@Z bahahahahaha hilarious! I needed that laugh, thanks! ;)
 @Minuet Stephens you are totally right about the table under the TV... its completely throwing off the whole thing. We bought this house last year and part of the deal was I get a new house, hubby gets a bigger TV. :) So it is definitely too small now. 
I can't really put anything behind the couch because that is a walkway to the French doors on the patio (which has the kitchen bar on the other side of the walkway). The couch is angled to flow with the angle of the bar behind it. 
Originally we want the TV on the blue wall but the we couldn't for several reasons. One was something to do with it being concrete block behind it (or my hubby just not wanting to anchor the tv into concrete) and also because the attic is closed off and the cable guy couldn't feed the cable lines down that wall. 
Let me take some better pictures so you all can see the entire room. Maybe that will help.
I really appreciate the help!

KrysFL · Answer

@Z most of the time its just my husband and I watching TV. But we often have friends & family over to watch MMA fights, movies, etc.

C&K Custom Remodeling · Answer

I would move the large couch to the TV wall, move the smaller couch to the blue wall, and put the TV to the right of the french doors. Put the TV on a pivot hinge so it can pull out and be centered between the two couches for group watching. You have made another mistake which is mounting the TV too high. For best comfort the TV should be centered just above eye level when sitting on the couches. I would put a nice large framed mirror above the couch so you can see the TV from the kitchen also. 
 I have to assume your husband likes the couch because it's comfortable not because it's beautiful. That being said they make some very nice couch covers that would tie the brown couch in with the rest of the room or match the black couch. 
 I would consider painting the blue wall in a flat grey. Grey is very hot right now and it goes with everything. The other thing I would do is finish out the windows to match the door trim and I would consider a decorative wainscot on all three walls to add some elegance.
 Moving couches would restore the room to open concept making it feel much larger and more inviting. A person in the kitchen is brought into conversations by not staring at the back of peoples heads and two rooms are again one. If you wanted you could put in a small dining table behind where the brown couch now sits. Just some of my ideas but most important is have fun with the process.

Pat · Answer

I would move the TV to the space between the two windows, then put your couches in an 'L' shape. I would put your curio where the TV is now or leave it where it is.

KrysFL · Answer

@lloyd martindale, thanks for your thoughts. FYI both couches are brown, just different shades. The tv is a little high but mounted that way for when we have 30 people jammed in there watching a mma fight. I agree though, all our other TVs are eye level

Z · Answer

Thanks for the extra photos Krys, that really helps. Now I understand the need for the angled sofa and have a good idea of the whole area you're working with. I had a feeling the TV was bought after the console table, but had to mention it because it was the first thing I noticed about the room. Other than that, I'd say you have a great start. Shop your house, you may already have a piece that can be used or converted to work for under your TV. If not I'm sure you could build one. Or maybe even just a pair of tall shelving units to set on either side of your current console. This one from Ana White looks as though it would fit well style wise. http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plans-for-favorite-bookshelf_7158.html Another idea would be to move the current console to the wall between your windows and build your own console to set between the book cases. I'm sure Ana White has something that would work with the bookcases or a whole set. You've proved you've the talent with your outdoor sofa. When you bring the rug back in I would angle it in front of the angled sofa. Add some pretty curtains and your set.

Kimberly Barney · Answer

I think you have a good start with working with a room with two large couches. It is a shame that the two couches are not the same color of brown. I agree with you that the table under the television is too small for the location. I would move it to the area between the two windows which definitely need window coverings to bring the other colors in the rug into play. I think your room would benefit from having toss pillows to also bring out other colors besides the blue. I see where you have a column style curio cabinet on the wall with the television. You may be able to incorporate the curio into a larger piece of furniture to place under the television. You may also wish to make the television less of a focal point in the room by placing it behind a painting that would divide in the middle on a slide when you wished to watch television.

Simple Pleasures · Answer

Is this the only spot in the room for the TV? Def need a balanced larger piece underneath the TV....even a nice electric fireplace would be nice! I would def ' L' shape the couches ..When able, I would match the sofas , or I would really rid one of the bulky sofas , place it on the wall across from TV...and add a chair and or a recliner where the light brown sofa is ...add some end tables and coffee table.. floor lamp...I would select a color scheme ..may have to change the blue unless you are stuck on blue, but rid the rug to match...along with pillows and floor length drapes. 
 You could add a 'hutch' type piece between the windows to add weight in that spot ..You could even have the sofa with a loveseat to add between the windows and still add a chair...Even with your room challenge I see several ways you could decorate this room making it very warm cozy, and inviting. Too bad we just have pics and cant be there in person! Lots of shopping ! That's always fun! :)) And actually, a love seat would look nice between the 2 windows, with the couch on the wall as is now, if it doesn't bunch up to close to the window. I think windows should be left open and nothing against a window, unless it is a table that is the height of the window sill....

Heather (New House New Home) · Answer

Everyone is right about the console table being too small - but you can always put a big dresser under the tv to balance things out (give you some storage too). As for the couches, I really think you need to put one of them on the blue wall and keep one against the where it is now on the other wall. I'm hoping you have room to do that. If you can't fit both of them in there like that, I really think the best solution is to lose one of the couches and replace it with an armchair or love seat. It would open the room up a lot and provide better traffic flow. Add a couple of side talbes to balance our the sofa on the blue wall and a square coffee table to tie it all together.

Minuet Stephens · Answer

Imagine your rug hanging on the wall between the windows. Create a focal point there for when you're not staring at the tv. Tie the two sofas together with matching cushions or throws on them both.

Nancy Hatcher · Answer

I would paint the wall with the two windows a soft milk chocolate color that picks up the color of the brown sofa and the rug as an accent wall. Put the tv on that wall. Paint the other walls a soft cream color that will warm the room and give it a cozy look. Move the sofa that's out in the room to the wall where the tv was. I think the size of the console will be less noticed against a less stark color and the smaller wall.

Julie · Answer

Try a very large, almost to the walls, indoor / outdoor rug. They make some great ones that you can sometimes find really inexpensively. The smaller rug u have just isn't enough to pull the room together.

KrysFL · Answer

These are all great suggestions and I appreciate everyone's feedback. Bottom line it seems the consensus is the same.... all my furniture (except the bulky couch) is too small for this room. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I think I am going to start with the console table. Too bad I have champagne tastes on a tap water budget! I'll have to get creative as I can't afford to go out and buy new.

Ann W · Answer

if I had to keep all the furn I would put the brown couch on the far wall the black opposite it so that occupants of both couches can see tv---far wall painted vertical stripes of the same tones as the couches with white in between---then I would go to target or home goods and get pillows to tie the couches together stripes or prints to make it look deliberate---if not that then a horizontal stripe all the way around the room with the black brown and white stripe to tie it all together---paint is a cheap fix

Dawn · Answer

Just some ideas: If you're husband is open to it, I'd switch the tv to the opposite wall on the side where the French doors go out. This frees up the longer wall for one of the couches to go instead which allows room for end tables on either side of the couch. Place the other couch on the wall between the twin windows. This opens up the room. If possible, buy white slipcovers for the couches (Target), find a second hand dresser that you can paint and distress for below the TV to add storage and allow for a better balance between the TV and the weight of the couches. Get rid of the rug and find a sisal or sea grass that is at least 8x10. This will add texture and creates a seating area. I would also paint and distress the bar stools like the dresser to allow for continuity between the kitchen and the family room.

KrysFL · Answer

What about something like this under the tv? I would use a darker stain though. I read through the plans and feel confident that its easy enough for me to do. Thoughts? http://jenwoodhouse.com/blog/2012/10/01/brainstorming-bar-cabinet-part-3/

Phil Miller · Answer

The red in the carpet tells you the color that works with the couches. Re-paint the blue wall red/burgundy. Leave the windows alone. A floating wood floor would bring out a continuity between the furniture and the walls.

Minuet Stephens · Answer

Krys, the more I look at this room (and I'm spending far too much time staring at your room), I'm wondering if the paint was your choice or came with the house? I'm not sure that having that wall blue adds anything to the space. if it was the same colour as the other walls it would open up instead of emphasising the 'end' of the room.
Oh and I love that chest of drawers. You can also pick up some great pieces at garage sales, they just need a bit of refinishing ;)

KrysFL · Answer

@Minuet, haha i dreamt of ny livingroom last night, apparently ive been staring at it for too long too! I painted the wall (thinking I could duplicate my living room from my old house) but it definitely doesn't have to stay. And I agree, it's not really working for me either.

Minuet Stephens · Answer

@KrysFL Did you make your chest yet? :) What colour is your room?

KrysFL · Answer

@Minuet Stephens, No I haven't made it yet... we had some septic issues (needed a new drain field and junction box) so pretty much all my DIY monies went towards that. I did end up moving the couch to form an L shaped angle and throw a red throw over the back of it to help the color differences blend. I hung up a cluster of frames above the dark couch and did some curtains over the windows. It looks better and will do for now. I am still going to use your suggestions though and build/buy a bigger cabinet and get rid of the blue wall. Just need to save up some money first. :) I will post some new pics soon of the partial updates.

Lynn Jordan · Answer

TRY THE PIECE OF WOOD BEHIND YOUR SOFA AND THAT WAY YOU CAN HAVE LAMPS AND MAYBE A PLANT OR VASES BUT BEHIND YOUR SOFAS TO SAVE WALKING SPACE. I WOULD ADD A SMALLER COFFEE TABLE TOO. THEN THE BOXES IN THE PICTURE ARE OLD DRAWERS WITH COLORED PAPER GLUED TO THE BOTTOM AND SOME PAINT ON THE OUTSIDE. USE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS AND HANG THEM MAYBE ON BOTH SIDES OF YOUR TV OR ON ONE WALL BEHIND SOFAS TO MAKE COLORFUL SHELVING, THEN A FEW THROW PILLOWS WITH YOUR COLORS AND SOME DOODADS INSIDE THOSE BOXES OR EVEN A CANDLE ON TOP OF THE BOXES OR STUFF ON THE WOOD BEHIND SOFA AND YOU WILL LOOK LIKE A MILLION BUCKS! (: GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO IT!! PUT THE BIG SOFA ON THE FAR WALL IF IT WILL FIT. THEN LOVE SEAT ON OTHER WALL OR EVEN FACING THE SOFA. YOU MAY NEED A CHAIR AND SELL YOUR LOVE SEAT TO MAKE SOME ROOM.

Brenda De Lair · Answer

If you can't get a sectional I have a cheaper option. Move the big couch to the wall where the TV is and move the TV to the wall between the windows. You need a bigger rug, and a coffee table or possibly a long ottoman. I would also put some light curtains up on the windows and the sliding doors.

Help!?! What to do with my den/family room?

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