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Original poster

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.

89 replies

loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:26

Posting here for traffic.

I am deciding whether to rearrange my lounge furniture and would love some opinions.

At the moment, our sofa is in the middle of the room, facing away from the dining area. it makes the lounge area rather small. I am thinking of getting rid of the fireplace (it's only an electric fire), and moving the sofa over to face the other way, which really opens up the floor space.

Will add before pics, and after pics. In the after pics, please consider that the sofa could be pushed farther back once the fireplace and TV were moved. The TV would go where you see the black box on the floor (amp).

TIA for any opinions! DH will probably have a fit when he gets home. 😂

OP posts:
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18
Springtimehere · 30/01/2026 14:15

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Oddities1 · 30/01/2026 14:13

Before is better by a long long way. In fact I'd move the sofa even further forwards perhaps with a long thin console behind it to further separate the space. The rug needs changing to something much bigger.
Armchair on the wall with the door. The sofa and chair feet should sit on the rug. Make it cosy. Unless you're doing dance aerobics why do you need the space? You'll always be sat in a chair in that room.

canklesmctacotits · 30/01/2026 14:10

Firstly, I’m irritated on your behalf that whoever designed this floorplan spared not a single thought for furniture. There’s no blank wall other than the one that the door opens onto. The fireplace isn’t functioning (given you have an electric fire), so the mantelpiece etc is just for show - at the expense of the space being useable. Anyway.

Yes, the so far is too big. I think your only options are a two, two-seaters opposite each other: at right angles to the fire, one facing the bay window and one facing the door. Have to leave space to access the bay window, but really I don’t see what else you can do. And I wouldn’t know where to put the telly. Grrrr - shoddy house builders.

Viviennemary · 30/01/2026 14:06

Before. I don't like stuff in the middle of rooms.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 14:01

All good ideas thank you !!

OP posts:
Wasitabadger · 30/01/2026 13:58

Have you tried Cotswolds Company, John Lewis, Next, M&S etc… would you constantly corner sofa or sofa with Chaise Longue style sofa. I would keep the fire place. Consider removing the mirror and have the television fixed to the wall above the fireplace. Place a large mirror on the wall with the door on it to bounce back the light. Give your room a mini re-vamp to feel refreshed.

andthat · 30/01/2026 13:55

loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:45

I could definitely get a new sofa. This one is quite old, and a bit big. I could get one that wouldn't hang over the doorway, if it was kept there. There would be some expense either way, because if we take out the fireplace there is going to be a large area of missing carpet where the hearth was.

You could do a corner sofa and it would cover the missing hearth carpet...

Mt563 · 30/01/2026 13:54

Would a new, maybe smaller, sofa help you feel better about the first layout? As you were feeling a bit stale, bored and the current sofa taking up too much room.

I really think that plus a pair of arm chairs angled either side of the fire is lovely.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:47

Was looking at DFS last night and have to say, the sofa's were all RANK! SCS not much better. Where do people buy sofa's these days?

OP posts:
WinWhenTheyreSinging · 30/01/2026 13:46

Before, by a long way. Would jangle my mind looking in to the dining room with those book shelves (fine in their place, just not restful to look at).

Couldn't deal with the sofa hanging over the doorway either.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:45

I could definitely get a new sofa. This one is quite old, and a bit big. I could get one that wouldn't hang over the doorway, if it was kept there. There would be some expense either way, because if we take out the fireplace there is going to be a large area of missing carpet where the hearth was.

OP posts:
LostFuse · 30/01/2026 13:45

loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:41

More

This is the best option of the three, in my opinion.

Mt563 · 30/01/2026 13:42

I know it's an expense but could you change the sofa? A love seat and an extra arm chair might fit the space better. I love that arm chair positioned in the corner, just trying to imagine the other furniture options around it.

If not, can you at least bring the sofa forward a bit? They shouldn't really be against the wall anyway. Maybe on a slight angle, closer to fireplace.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:41

More

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
OP posts:
Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:40

Okay I’ve just changed to what a PP suggested. Not sure about the sofa being part way over the doorway?

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
OP posts:
Mt563 · 30/01/2026 13:32

Watch DearModern on YouTube, he solves room layout issues with feng shiu. I've been surprised how much following his explanations has helped my house feel better with the same furniture

PragmaticIsh · 30/01/2026 13:28

Can you re-hang the door to open against the wall, then have the sofa next to it (facing the bay) with an armchair or two where the sofa originally was?

If not, leave it as before. Moving it opposite the dining area looks awful.

Mt563 · 30/01/2026 13:23

If you have to put the sofa there (🤢, sorry), can you use a large bookshelf to essentially fill in the big open door space, leaving room to get in the desk space but reducing the odd uneasy sense of the sofa facing out of the room.

FlowerFairyDaisy · 30/01/2026 13:23

Actually, I would try to see if I could move the sofa under that window in the dining area.

JanBlues2026 · 30/01/2026 13:21

If you do go with your idea of removing the fireplace, you could perhaps put a curtain or decorative screen up between the rooms.

FlowerFairyDaisy · 30/01/2026 13:20

I don't think you should remove the fireplace, it's a nice, warm focal point. I would actually take the sofa out completely. I would put the TV in the corner you mention and get a couple more chairs - perhaps one in the other corner (next to the fire so you have an armchair either side of the fire). And perhaps one other chair (maybe a smaller chair) to go in the bay window to make a nice place to sit there.

Then you have a more open plan but still cosy room and you still have seating for 3 in the living area of the room. And the people in there wont need to crane their necks round to speak to the people in the dining area.

SharpLimeDreamer · 30/01/2026 13:20

Before, definitely. Lovely and cosy. Really would not like to sit on a sofa looking through a wide opening into another space.
I definitely would not get rid of the fireplace. Imo they are important focal points in a living room. A big black TV screen just isn't the same - a bit soulless.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:18

They do sound like good ideas, however the sofa is massive, so I can't see that working. I'll go back up and look again.

OP posts:
JanBlues2026 · 30/01/2026 13:17

Or this…

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
27pilates · 30/01/2026 13:16

ApolloandDaphne · 30/01/2026 13:01

I would put the sofa opposite the bay window or on an angle looking towards the tv. I know the door is there but it should be easy to walk around. I'd then put your armchair where the black box thing is.

^
This

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