I need help with deciding how to lay out my dining room furniture!

Posting pictures of the room and furniture would help us help you

A suggestion: I lived in a split level with the L-shaped living room/dining room but the entrance was on the first level. I switched the rooms. The new dining room gave me more space for family dinners and the new living room was cozier. It was easier to place the living room furniture in the former dining room as the living room was long and narrow. The dining room furniture had more room in the living room and looked less crowded. It worked great.

With that long living room, you could make it a living/dining area and use the smaller room for something else - craft room, music room, home theater...

If you're unsure, cut out some pieces of paper that represent the size and shape of your furniture, etc. A piece of graph paper works really well as you can mark all the entrances, windows, vents, etc. Then place your furniture pieces around on that graph paper to get an idea on how they will all fit and flow. Good luck and wishing the best.

Wow and I thought I had issues with my LR thank goodness not that large. You don't want all furniture hugging walls so why not split it up and have a living room with all the usual stuff sofa with one across from it and chairs so you can have a conversation and make a reading "music" area in remaining space allowing for bookcases along one wall where you display books treasures and docking station for music. Place a recliner or chaise to just tune out world and relax after a day of going up 4 stories. The stairs must be horrific but a great exercise for free. Is that the only thing on that level or is the kitchen up there? And you do have a family room on a different level? So this should an adult space. I don't do elegant but if you like that you an really go all out with draperies and furniture you place in there since kids can eat in kithchen. (If you have kids) . My LR is only 18x15 and only 2 windows DR is finished but it has 1 double window. So I can't do what I suggested for you because much smaller and almost a square. The light bounces off onto TV yes I didn't want it in here but H said it was to large for FR. It wasn't but it now graces in here and it's driving me nuts because I want an adult conversation space but that's an elephant in room. Plus we have a piano which should not be on an outside wall nor by vents yet leather sofa can't be by vent nor window's and obviously this is the same for electronics. And I have moved this every way but 2 smallest walls are also with no vents nor windows. I've had it! Yes my son still plays the piano so it stays. I have done exactly what I told you not to do my furniture hugs the walls so I have a dance floor? You see it will click at some point. I'm waiting for my young men to move and take the piano and tv. All over 21 just waiting to be a little secure at jobs as well as pay student loans. Most kids would move in together to get out into this world, no not a chance with dad who appperantly connected the umbilical cord to himself. I was fine when they cut it. Oh life just gives you challenges but you'll figure it out. I hope only the best for you and the blessing we both share of having a home 🏠. Listen it would really help if we knew what furniture you plan on placing in that room. Maybe you need more to fill space up. Since we can't view it at least more details would give us a better sense of space as well as will children be in there or not. When you saw this space was it empty so that it was hard to get sense of space and what do you envision for it what are you striving it to be? And how long have you been there, maybe you need a little more time to get a feel for the space or maybe a darker color on walls would help room appear smaller more cozy?

please do the graph paper thing and measure your furniture, plot it out. your furniture movers will thank you. I've done this with the last 2 moves, and it has worked out just fine.