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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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Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:14

Really can't ditch the dining table. Can't really angle the sofa more either.

OP posts:
JanBlues2026 · 30/01/2026 13:14

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Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
TwattingDog · 30/01/2026 13:11

Neither is great.

Sofa needs to be facing the window, TV off to the side. Having it facing a wide open doorway is creeping me out.

JanBlues2026 · 30/01/2026 13:08

Both are bad sorry, I suggest you remove the dining table and make it into a proper office with a desk against a wall. Regarding the sofa, could you try positioning it at an angle facing the TV so there is more of a gap and flow into the dining room/office?

MCR24 · 30/01/2026 13:06

Before I can't be sat on the sofa looking into a different room.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:06

Oops, main bathroom on middle floor too. Can't seem to edit my post!

OP posts:
Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:05

There is an armchair. You can see it in this pic. The sofa would go about a foot further back than seen here, as the TV would be moved and the fireplace would be gone. I guess I'm a bit bored of the current layout - it's been like this since we moved here 13 years ago. Previous owners used both areas as a lounge, like a lounge and a mini lounge behind it.

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
OP posts:
Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:02

I don't think the sofa can go anywhere apart from these 2 options, due to size restrictions and door placement.

OP posts:
StrawberrySquash · 30/01/2026 13:02

Is the sofa the only seating? Over by the fireplace the room feels too open and I'd want to get an armchair or two to fill the gap through to the table. A room needs enclosure and with the sofa on the fireplace you've shoved your furniture up against the wall making it feel off.

Eleboff · 30/01/2026 13:01

Can you shift the sofa to face the window? Armchair the goes in front of the amp.

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.

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 13:00

We already have another dining table downstairs - not in the kitchen, but in a room adjacent to the kitchen. Only used in the day time by me really, I use the table more like a desk, with lap top on it etc.

For anyone interested the layout is :

Ground floor : Kitchen, dining room, DH games room, WC

Middle floor : Lounge diner, Dressing room (was DC bedroom before)

Top Floor : Our bedroom, ensuite, Guest bedroom (was DC bedroom before)

OP posts:
OrsolaRosso · 30/01/2026 12:53

Do you have space in the kitchen for the dining table? I can't get my head around having the kitchen and the dining room on different floors!

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:52

There is only one door into the room. You can see the doorway in this pic.

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
OP posts:
Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:50

Defo can't swap the spaces over, as the dining area is much smaller. Also, the table is not used often actually, as kids have left home, so we mainly have dinner on our laps these days! 😆Obviously we do need to keep the table though, as it gets used at Christmas, or if we have guests, or if we have a take away!

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TheMoanerLisa · 30/01/2026 12:49

If there is another door into the dining room, if so, I would be inclined to just move the sofa back a bit further to give more lounge floor room. I really don't like the "after" where you are looking into the dining room when sitting on the sofa. Could the sofa go opposite the bay window?

aLFIESMA · 30/01/2026 12:49

Loving the before pics, looks so inviting and homely. I'd put the footstool in the lovely bay window and a largish coffee table in middle, perfect for doing puzzles.
Other hobbies availableGrin

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:48

Telly would go here, angled towards the sofa. The door is behind me - directly opposite the bay window.

Which formation (of furniture) is best? PICS included.
OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 30/01/2026 12:47

I prefer the before, it looks more defined.

Soontobe60 · 30/01/2026 12:46

loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:45

The kitchen is on another floor. We are in a town house. This room is the lounge diner.

Where’s the door into the room?

ScholesPanda · 30/01/2026 12:46

Before would be my preference.

Possibly impractical third option- could you swap the living and dining spaces over? Someone I know did this and it gave them a much better living space.

Soontobe60 · 30/01/2026 12:45

loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:43

Can't really move the sofa nearer to the fire, it's pretty cramped as it is. Very cramped if we have visitors! The TV would go where the amp is currently on the floor, so kind of in the middle.

Wouldnt the TV stick out too much if you put it there? Also, wouldn’t you be able to see all the wires at the back of the TV from the dining room?

Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:45

The kitchen is on another floor. We are in a town house. This room is the lounge diner.

OP posts:
Original poster
loungechange · 30/01/2026 12:43

Can't really move the sofa nearer to the fire, it's pretty cramped as it is. Very cramped if we have visitors! The TV would go where the amp is currently on the floor, so kind of in the middle.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 30/01/2026 12:43

I think we need a sketch showing the whole layout with doors etc. plus where’s the kitchen?

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