Do you have a room with a challenging floor plan? I do. It's called the living room. This room has been re-arranged more than any room in the house. Just recently, I moved everything in the above picture. Looking at it from here, the floor plan seems OK. Notice the location of the couch under the stairs. Pictures can't be hung above the couch because of the stairs, which by the way, I recently read that art above a sofa should be 2/3 the length of the sofa. Is this true?
The other issue I had was the TV cabinet, which is a big rectangle, is sitting beside the passage to the dining room, another big rectangle. That is just too many big rectangles in one area. Note, this is the way into the house from the front door.
So the other day, when I should have been working on my to do list, I started moving furniture around. The TV cabinet has a new spot by the stairs which opens up the traffic flow from the front door.
This is the new seating arrangement which we have had before. The sofa is too large for the room. We were not thinking about scale when we got it 15 years ago. I listed the sofa and ottoman yesterday to sale and if they do, we plan to purchase the Ektorp (white slip-covered sofa) from IKEA.
Also, I would make a colorful ottoman using this tutorial. This would bring in more color.
The picture that was over the sofa gets to hang above Dad's lowboy which to me is a better spot.
And my favorite part is that the lamps that I found at the Re-Store last winter, finally get to come out of hiding. Tell me, do they need shorter harps?
For now, I like it, but my family has heard that before...so do you have a challenging room?
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Rene, your living room is beautiful! So soft and serene. It is always fun getting a glimpse into other blogger's home. It appears that this new arrangement probably flows better? I love your lamps (I would try smaller harps), your entryway (is that painter's tape on the wall?), your curtains, your camelback sofa in the other room (dining room?) and all your styled vignettes. So beautiful! Great job
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input Fran. I knew that someone would help me out. The tape in the foyer is Happy Tape http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/
ReplyDeleteSuper easy!!
- Rene
Just when I was gonna say I like the sofa, I kept reading to find out you were selling it! Okay, I still like it! But, I can see what you want to replace it. The Ektorp sofa will flow with the room better. Oh, and I like the happy tape too!
ReplyDeleteMy Mother would always rearrange the furniture, and when I would come home from school, she would constantly ask what we thought. I now find myself along with many others doing the same thing. I think change is good and besides, we then get to see how dirty our homes are, well not yours - it looks spotless and charming.
ReplyDeletepve
Dust bunnies, definitely dust bunnies :) And yes, each family member shook his head as he entered the new arrangement. I think they have come to expect it.
ReplyDelete-Rene
What fun to have a fellow furniture mover blogging. I do have a room that is an addition that is hard to arrange. It is part of our extended kitchen and flows into the "old" living room area...which makes one awkward little spot. One of these days I will do a post about the whole thing. I am constantly re-arranging it to get a better "flow". As to the harps-I do think they should be shorter-or else the shades should be a bit larger....well, you asked-lol Enjoy your "new" room~ Diana
ReplyDeleteYour timing is perfect ~ I just rearranged {yet again} our living room. It too is a long rectangle shape. For some odd reason, I always feel the need to move at least one room of furniture when my husband is away on travel. He has learned {the hard way} to turn on lights when he returns home on a late flight : )
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ~
Jo
It looks great! I used to be a re-arranger, but my entire family hates any sort of change. I really need to re-do my living room. The den is limited because it is long and narrow like a bowling alley. Not many options.
ReplyDeleteDue to Hubby not wanting to hang our flat screen on the wall in the family room, we were forced to buy a large entertainment unit which takes up one entire wall, AND, it is the only wall it would go on. Another wall has a fireplace and has a double french door out to the deck on either side. A third side of the room is entirely open to the kitchen and the 4th wall is short, with a doorway on one side and stairs on the other. Who draws these floor plans when designing a house anyway. Sheesh. We need more women architects in this world.
ReplyDeleteDi
Your room is so beautiful! My living room is my problem child too. I have a lot of windows ,doors and doorways into other rooms. My couch is probably too long. Mine is set up like yours it now. The position of the couch and two chairs. I think shorter harps would be better. I love the bases though!
ReplyDeleteI think the new floor plan seems to flow better. We are also looking at getting an Ikea sofa for our basement.
ReplyDeleteI love your soft color palette. It is a very pretty room. I agree with you, I would try shorter harps. Isn't it fun to make changes? Your changes look great.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty.
My family room is my awkward room to design! I love your new arrangement and think it will look wonderful with the new sofa and ottoman. I'm torn about the lamps, you might try smaller harps, but I think they look fine the way they are.
ReplyDeleteKat :)
Rene, you've seen the challenge and came out victorious with this arrangement. I think that your living room looks like a restful, peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteT
p.s. I'm a fan of the Ektorp sofa too. I'm saving up for one myself.
YOur new arrangement is very cozy and inviting. And it will really be nice for chatting and having a cup of something with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteYour home is beautiful and I love the colors!
I want to change the arrangement of my family room, but I can't come uup with a better configuration. I might try again.
Yvonne
Like this new floor plan, but that's easy for me to say, I don't have to live with it. My LR is challenging too, Long and narrow, no place to center the couch on the Fireplace. Annoys me, but repositioning the TV is not an option so it stays stagnant!
ReplyDeleteOh boy do I have challenging rooms - not one but six of them! Like you, I have an oversized sofa plus love seat so it is real challenge trying to fit them into the living room. They were fine in my prior house but when I downsized it really became apparent just how large the set is. I recently rearranged them and I think it now has a good flow. I even received the unexpected approval of my sons!
ReplyDeleteYou may want to try shorter harps for the lamps. It looks like you rose to the challenge because the set up looks great!
~ Tracy
I love it! I have a challenging, tiny living room so two years ago I hired a decorator to help me out. Our white slipcovered sectional sits under a huge corner window. It's perfect now. I will post pictures on my blog someday.
ReplyDeleteIn my last house my family room and our formal living room were both challenges! I moved and rearranged many, many times, though none looked as lovely as yours! Great job.
ReplyDeleteLove the new layout (and the fact someone else rearranges furniture when there are other things they shoud be doing. So me.)
ReplyDeleteI also love seeing your process. Fun post!
Hi Rene! Your room is lovely! So peacceful and serene! I love the sofa...are you sure you want to sellit;)! It is such a gorgeous shape and style! The new layout is wonderful...so cozy! I am in love with the portraits of your boys!
ReplyDeleteMy formal living room is driving me crazy! I was just commenting with another blogging buddy about this very subject! I just can't seem to get it the way I want it! We have been in our house 11 years and I mess with this room more than any other...ugh! NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER! I will not let it whip me;)!
I love all of the changes...well done!
Enjoy!
Cathy
well i definitely see what you mean about having the same entry space as mine with the stairs right there. i love the flow that you created, with the easier walk thru, tho i liked the coziness of the first picture. those restore lamps are great, i have got to find out if there is a restore near me...i loved this post. thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteOur couch is too big, too, but it was a free handmedown, so I'm not complaining (too loudly.)
I think its much better moving the armoire over to the stairs. But you didn't include a photo of what it looks like from the front door now. But I imagine it's much better not seeing the armoire next to the arched doorway. I like the lamps too but yes....I think they need shorter harps. The room looks great. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteOur floor plan is open, but windows, fireplace and doorways make for limited furniture arrangements. My sister is the Queen of furniture moving, however. I've never seen her house the same way twice.
ReplyDeleteit is so inviting and relaxing! i think the rearranging makes the seating a little more intimate and cozy. rearranging things sometimes just helps freshen a room! great job!
ReplyDeleteYour new arrangement looks great! Love the bright, fresh look of your lamps, too.
ReplyDeleteYou know you've got us all standing in our living rooms contemplating what we could rearrange :)
Your room is beautiful! I love to move my furniture around, it always seems to breath new life into our room, even though it is the same old furniture...go figure!
ReplyDeleteGood luck selling your sofa, I'll cross my fingers it sells fast for you!
Wendy
Like a breath of fresh air. I love that painting above your fireplace. Did you paint it?
ReplyDeleteI only wish I could paint like that Carmie.
ReplyDeleteRene, the room looks gorgeous! Very warm and inviting! Thanks so much for your sweet comment on my chair. -shaunna :)
ReplyDeleteI don't quite know about the harps. They look fine, but I'd try the shades sitting lower and stand back and look. I love your new arrangement! I've always loved furniture right across from one another. So cozy and inviting! The living room we have is the same, but it's designated as my husband's, so I (chewing my fingernails when I look at it) try to leave it alone.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I just found your blog and it is so beautiful!! I know I will enjoy visiting you again & again! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
yes, your living room is lovely. I understand what you mean about a difficult room...like my family room. Once I found what I felt like was the perfect arrangement for the room, I"ve not moved it since....I like it that much. Love yours, too, by the way!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Your living room is beautiful. I love your fireplace.
ReplyDeletethe room that gives me a hard time is the rec room. It's too narrow and I have too many big pieces in there.
That's a nice arrangment you have now. Very welcoming! Lovely living room, great decor, artwork and love your fireplace!
ReplyDeleteIt may be odd shaped but it's still gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI hear you about changing the room so many times...I think it is a good thing. It makes you rethink your decor,and makes old things feel new again. Thanks for the inspiration. I must go rearrange a room now:):)
ReplyDeletePlus, what in the world would we do if we weren't rearranging furniture???!!
--G
So much better! Just looks much more cohesive. Time well spent :)
ReplyDeleteYour living room is gorgeous...love those archways, I have similar ones and the wood floors is the color I want whenever we can afford to rip all the carpet out!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog from Artful Life.
Thank you so much for sharing! I am so in love with the crisp clean white - I want to paint everything we have white! We have chocolate brown microfiber sofas that are impossible to slipcover, so I keep adding light colored pillows to try and brighten them.. and we too have a ginormous armour that is dark wood - it is so nice to see how you implemented almost the same furniture in your living room - has given me so many ideas! Thanks for the great posts :) Blessings from Life Together..
ReplyDeleteRene, Love your house! I love you couch and I don't think it is too big! I love big pieces in a smaller room. It is a decorating myth that you should use big pieces, it actually makes your room larger. The room is so soft and comfortable. I would use smaller harps but love the lamps. I just picked up someone's chair out of their trash and plan on it becoming my treasure. :)
ReplyDeleteI. Love. Your house. Period. ;-)
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