Living with a new Look wanted😊

We just had floors laid throughout the home and I can’t figure out an other way to arrange furniture back in the Living room! For 5 yrs we have had the TV above the fireplace, NOW- I want something differ. Can someone please give me some pointers to arranging and possibly painting since the walls are awaiting a greasy look as well- thank you
  9 answers
  • Beth Beth on Jun 10, 2018

    Carol Ann, I am a retired interior decorator so I am going to give you a floor plan with years of experience and expertise behind me. You are starting from scratch. This is a large room and you need a color scheme, furniture, a rug, and lighting. So here goes: (1) Keep the tv and its console piece where it is. Also, the fireplace is the focal point of the room, so we want the tv out of view when people walk in. (2) As to the fp, it looks like you don't use it (so clean!) so put a large fern, some birch logs, etc. in the firebox. And build an overmantel (white painted wood panel that follows the outside edges of the fp all the way to the ceiling) to give it presence and place artwork above it. DO NOT place a mirror above it. (3) Select an area rug at least 8X10 that is colorful and sets your heart afire and carries some of the other colors of the main part of the house in it. Set the front feet of the couch on it and any chairs you purchase. (4) Purchase a new sofa. This one is too small in scale for such a large room. Now, you don't have to buy new, you can buy 2nd hand and have it recovered, or shop Craigslist or whatever, I am all for recycling, reuse, repurpose! If you can find a sectional or a loveseat/sofa, even better. You will place the sofa facing the tv, but pull it forward until the front of the arm is aligned with the left edge of the fp. Put an end table on each end and let the electric cords go under the rug (I don't care what they say - you can purchase a rubber channel thingee at Best Buy if you are worried) with lamps. (5) You need either two smallish chairs facing the fp beside the sofa, or a loveseat, or a sectional; or a big club chair that would sit at an angle kind of closer to the tv console. (6) On the wall opposite the fp, the wall to the left of the foyer (the wall that you'd touch to your left as you step down off the tile floor), put a sofa table there with an upholstered stool under it for extra seating, and place two tallish, thin lamps there for extra light. (7) Choose your paint color from the rug, but use the most neutral color in it. Choose your sofa color also from the rug, but don't go too neutral -- add some punch. Accent with toss pillows and knickknacks.

    And remember -- it does not need to cost a fortune. One man's old stuff is another man's new stuff! You should see my house :-) !

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 10, 2018

    Why not switch the couch and tv. Hang some artwork over the fireplace (not just a painting maybe a laser cut metal outline) or even a large unique clock.

    • Carol Ann Watkins Carol Ann Watkins on Jun 11, 2018

      Good idea- may try this in a few years, for now- the cable has already been installed for this wall! Thank you😊

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Jun 10, 2018

    Hi Carol Ann,

    I think Bpierce79 has some good ideas for you. The items in your room are too far apart so bringing them closer together and using accent chairs will make the room look a lot more cozy. While I personally like the idea of an 8x10 rug, I know that some people do not like rugs at all. If that's the case with you, don't throw out everything else. You could put a smaller rug just in front of the sofa for some color, but if you don't think that's an option, let it go and build some color with pillows and other accessories. You could also buy a large framed canvas to create your own modern style painting in colors that would go with the room. Or if you're a garage sale person, look for an inexpensive large framed canvas and paint over it. You could also look for lamps and side tables at garage sales if you don't want to buy new. I'd suggest not using the light in the center of the ceiling because lamps give a more cozy feel. If you need the fan, turn on that part but turn off the light. I hope you now have some ideas in your head as you let your imagination flow. Wishing you the best.

    • Carol Ann Watkins Carol Ann Watkins on Jun 11, 2018

      thank you, great idea about the light- I never liked using the crawling fan light anyway. Love lamps

  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on Jun 10, 2018

    Here are my suggestions:

    1. Leave the TV where it's at now.

    2. Move the couch away from the wall and use colorful pillows on it.

    3. Buy an area rug to your liking and an oval coffee table.

    4. At least one comfortable chair would bring it all together. Perhaps in a color picked up from the throw pillows or rugs. Just make sure you place it without breaking up traffic flow.

    5. Place some artsy objects on the mantle (nothing too big and not too many)

    Above all, play around with placement until you are satisfied.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Jun 10, 2018

    Adding my 2 cents...... Why not mount the TV on the wall where it is and move the table it's on.

  • Margarite Margarite on Jun 11, 2018

    A few ideas: move the sofa closer to tv; put a sofa table behind it; add round end table; oval coffee table (I suggest this there will be no sharp corners; rug; comfy chair. A nice painting or mirror above fireplace. Plants will be nice. You can paint the tv wall a accent color and add family photos.

  • Jwien Jwien on Jun 11, 2018

    Just a thought - move the tv opposite the fireplace and create two living areas. you don't give the dimensions but the sofa in front of the tv (and I like the sofa table behind it idea) then two chairs flanking the fireplace for reading, relaxing

  • L.a. Williams L.a. Williams on Jun 21, 2018

    Well you already got the best advice from your from your first answer just gonna ask is that the front door the couch is in front of. If it is? Then since you have such a large room you could look for ways to make a dedicated entry try looking on apartment therapy its an app. Hope you get the look your looking for. Oh one last thing if you're going to tackle reupholstering on your own look for a couch that the cushions come off sewing fabric to a cushion is a pain been there takes forever.

  • Carol Ann Watkins Carol Ann Watkins on Jun 24, 2018

    Nope- it’s the back door the front door is on the Opposite side with a small entryway. I’ve already started with a lot of the suggestions! Hopefuls I can figure out how to add the after pics. Thanks you for your suggestions.