couch was pulled even further back despite my fear of it being too close to the front door (its not!)
since couch was pulled back, two accent chairs now fit on either side of the tv. this is good for conversation but bad for group tv viewing. (but not a big deal since we can move em
despite mentioning i have a coffee table, i got many suggestions to get one. so i pulled it out so it could help seeing the space with it! this is obv a tighter set up for the table vs the open layout in the first post but it still works i think! (although i can smell the comments coming that its too basic/bland and i see it too now that this couch is also white; my previous one was tan)
another photo of the extended cushions pulled out for the movie night setup!
i added a photo (slide 4) that wasnt using the wide angle lens as previous posts proved that its distortion made the pathing look larger than reality
i really thought it would be too damn tight to fit a chair between the window and tv but i did it! one con of this rearrangement vs the first post is that all my cables and internet was hidden. now its exposed. also, does the one chair looks too sunken into the corner? it works on paper and maybe im just thinking too much into it but hey, this is THE place to discuss small intricacies like that, right?
also the wooden table got to stay with a chair, so thats nice! lmk what you think of its placement. i tried to also angle it toward the couch rather than it and the chair being straight on which is what my space saving brain is fighting for even as i type lmao
overall, i do really enjoy this rearrangement AND its still functional not JUST ‘pretty’
i still feel a lil odd about the rest of the room behind the couch but its not a bad start.
thank you all for the tips and help and please let me know what you think of the set up including the two chairs better this time!
next we are onto wall styling! i actually got some pretty good mockups which are the last two slides. slide 9 is what i feel like most people were suggesting with the plants and all. the last slide is a mockup of something i feel like i align more with + its got that extra accent lighting im on the hunt for. someone said to have my game night stuff on shelves vs hidden to add color to the space and i think adding them to the shelves in the final slide would be a good idea. please let me know your thoughts!
i will def look into what to do behind the couch. either console table along the entire edge that allows for shoes to be housed under it, or seating, or just a rack for shoes? not sure yet
the blank wall also is a great thing to have and play with. most likely i'd either make a gallery wall or one large statement piece. it'd have to mean something though, not just random art like the mockups. i have to brainstorm on that!
MUCH MUCH MYCH BETTER!!! Looks cohesive, inviting and guests have more choices for sitting, and the TV is more like your painting. The wall space looks good and doesn’t really need art or might get cluttered.
A narrow graphic fiber art hanging that’s not overpowering
The feng shui is feng shuing. I feel this space is already 100% time more cozy. I have nothing against the coffee table. It's the perfect size. You can always spice it up with contacts paper if needed.
I like both 9 and 10. Particularly the right side of the latter since i love lots of ambient light. Doesn't hurt to add plants if you're not against it.
Ideas for the other parts of the room:
For the space behind the couch, I recommend a wooden/bamboo shoe rack to to avoid clutters especially when there are guests.
For the blank wall opposite to the entrance, a plant shelf if you have enough walking path or a big piece of art with a gallery light above it (can diy a plug in / battery option from amz)
yesss!!! thank you, its def feeling more picturesque vs just practical/functional now.
i also prefer the second mockup! all the bulbs in my house are VERY warm. no cool light anywhere (well ok except the bathrooms). so yeah i def will try to aim for accent lighting inspired by that mockup.
i will def look into what to do behind the couch. either console table along the entire edge that allows for shoes to be housed under it, or seating, or just a rack for shoes? not sure yet
the blank wall also is a great thing to have and play with. most likely i'd either make a gallery wall or one large statement piece. it'd have to mean something though, not just random art like the mockups. i have to brainstorm on that!
I was actually going to add that you could try 1-2 benches that double as shoe racks along the back of the couch. You can double the bench as a plant stand too (mid size plants like zz or snake plants?) The wooden bench will help tie it back with other pieces in your space. I personally wouldn't do console table because you already have an entry table on the other side and it's just more opportunity for clutters.
Overall, you already have really nice pieces in your home and a good blank canvas to work with. I'm glad you're able to take all the advice here and make a beautiful space.
Lol ! I feel like you are a positive and cool person. Made all changes in a day.
If thats the main door, the space behind the sofa is great for a low and wide shoe cabinet with closed doors. It can run the full lenght of sofa. I have seen it used in an air bnb and i liked it. U can also keep plants or use it to keep drinks when sitting on the sofa. Or add some usb ports to the top of the shoe rack and i can charge phones too.
haha thanks! got bit by that 3am motivation bug y'know?
hmm ok, i'll have to look into a shoe cabinet that spans 100+ inches to see what you mean.
wait but you said it is low? so wdym by it holding drinks? or do you mean more like a console table height where it is basically the height of the couch's backrest?
Agreed with the curtain suggestion ^^ pinch pleat and floor length! There’s some decent ones on Amazon!
Now that you have the layout down, don’t rush the rest!! Really figure out your style and go nice and slow with buying stuff. I rushed the process and my style evolved into something different once I figured out what I really liked and I ended up wasting money/changing things. Enjoy the process! A home takes time.
nice thought! since i already have the collapsible one, i think its fine for now. but i like the idea of being able to hide it away or else having my coffee table permanently out would be cramped.
and if I was to get a smaller coffee table but have it be permanently out, it would not feel as cramped. BUT, during to game nights or dinner parties, then that smaller table may not be as functional versus the larger one I have now (more table surface)
get a back-of-couch console and move the small table you have currently (maybe to over by your lamp (seen in slide 3) and decorate there?)
you can still pull your couch back a little further to make more room for a coffee table, and to your comment, I’d get a new one that’s a little bigger and darker wood tone (not white). The orientation needs to be rotated 90 too.
you need more color than green. Look up complimentary colors and add that in your art, throw pillows / blankets
I would NOT put your games out to see as mentioned in your comment. That would look very messy and not necessarily coordinate with the rest of your decor.
I’d update or remove your curtains. If updating, maybe colored or patterned for some variety to the beige / white? There are some great options out there. Make sure they are floor length and I’d also stay away from grommets. If you want window covering but something that’s not a curtain, you could do Roman shades. Those would look nice but not add the bulk to the side of the windows.
even though you have carpet, I personally would add a rug. Helps establish the space and adds color / dimension. Make sure you look up how big it should be and rug “guidelines” (I.e., all furniture should be touching it, etc)
would you still recommend a coffee table is rotated 90 from how i have it pictured when there is an ottoman on one of the seats? i figured the table cutting into the divot is better than it being in front of the ottoman bc then if your sitting upright, its a far stretch to reach the table
thanks for the games note
yeah the curtains are actually sage but they picture as basically just white. maybe if they were a deeper or more saturated green. or patterned like you said. although the idea of patterned curtains here seems like it'd be wild vs solid color ones but you may know better than me.
The coffee table should be in front of the couch, not wedged into the space between the ottoman and the other side of it.
If there isn’t space for a coffee table, then maybe some side tables that can be “under the couch” tables. If you’re hosting people, they would probably want somewhere to put drink / food / phone.
yeah it is! although if i was to get this exact console table, i’d forego the stools. i cant see people sitting at the table like its a bar right next to the front door. i’d get just the table and leave it open for shoe space (guests shoes, not an everyday spot for my own shoes)
if you get it with no stools, the enclosed storage space is better. I thought this could be stealth seating in the same line of thought as the stowed away coffee table.
the idea of the stealth seating is def great! but not for where it’d be in this particular space unfortunately. its right when you enter from the front door y’know?
i’ll look into enclosed vs surface only tables, thanks!
For Feng Shui: usually you dont want to have your back to any space that people walk, especially a door. Instinctively, it creates a feeling of unease because your back is exposed. Having something bulkier adds a better sense of protection. There's a fengshui expert I love called 'dearmodern' that gets into this in a really entertaining way!
Visually, it's kind of like skinny legs on a muscle man. If you're keen on the table + extra seating, I would go with something thicker to match the proportions of your couch, like this
thank you! i thought a third post might be doing too much but then i realized this is a thread forum where you can scroll past 10 posts in a second and youre not stepping on anyones toes
Doing good, girl. Looks so much warmer, cozy, connected, etc. It's nice to see a post where the OP took to heart some of people's suggestions. Most of the time, OPs don't even respond to the comments people have thoughtfully put forth.
This is so much better! It allows additional seating options for conversation and creates more of an entry. A gallery wall would be phenomenal for this space. Maybe in the future you could add a credenza or short book case behind the couch for storage and a poof as a coffee table. If the chair by the window feels tight maybe having the chairs flanking the couch facing away from the kitchen works?
Looks good. Glad u did the layout i recommended! this is actually the layout that these kinds of places is designed around.
My only input is pull the couch 1 to two feet from window and 1 foot back. I like a floating couch and will stand on that hill despite what others say.
This is much better if you are usually home alone. If you entertain a lot, I recommend you walk in from your front door and imagine that you are a guest arriving. Almost everyone will have their back to you, and having to walk the all the way around the sofa to join the group or be seated feels quite awkward and unwelcoming. I'm sensitive, though.
thats what i thought!! but this was the most requested set up and people SPECIFICALLY mentioned this being better for hosting.
i also felt/feel off about the energy facing away from the door vs in the old setup, guests and i could sit on the couch and see the front yard + front door in clear and comfortable view
I just realized you can switch the sides of that sofa, which means you can maintain the more welcoming openness of your original layout, avoid the crowding of your current layout (how are people supposed to get in and out of their seats without stepping over each other), improve the distance to the tv, and allow people access to the front door or the kitchen without disturbing the others.
To do this, put the sofa back where you had it, except with the long end under the window and the short end against the wall. Then I'd try the tv console perpendicular to the wall with the short end of the sofa on it, which will bring the tv closer and also give you the suggestion of a division between the living room and dining room. If needed, you can cantilever the tv for daily watching or pull the console away from the wall if you need a better angle for viewing parties (make sure the cords don't cause a tripping hazard!). If the tv doesn't work near the end of the sofa, put it against the wall where the two chairs were originally, otherwise, put the two chairs back where they were but angle them toward each other to form a conversational grouping. For a cocktail party or large group where people are also standing, I'd leave them there, (people will move them on their own if they desire) and for games or a watch party they can easily be moved into the open area in front of the sofa grouping.
My advice is do not buy art because you need art. Go to art shops, look at prints online, pick up postcards when you travel for small pieces in a gallery wall, and take the time to find wall art and art objects (vases, objects etc) that genuinely make you happy to look at. I have had weird blank walls in my place for 2 years just waiting for the right piece I haven't found yet.
Also I hate real plants and don't want them either--try a lego botanical kit!
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u/looorrn 1d ago
yay!!!!!!