Living room layout... help please!

9 replies

MILdesperandum · 29/10/2013 09:12

Have tried to post a floor plan to my pictures.

We haven't even moved into the house yet and I'm already trying to decide where to put the furniture.... The living room has got a fireplace which I'm excited about - we've never had one before (always really modern houses) and would like to make the focal point... however, as with most families I guess, the TV becomes the main focus point . I'm not too keen on putting the TV above the fireplace although it's a possibility (house will be re-wired so could have points put in up there)... so am I missing any potentially great ideas? (The current occupants have the TV in the corner by the window at an angle, this partly obscures the window so again not great..)

OP posts:

OnePlanOnHouzz · 29/10/2013 12:56

Just had a look at your plan - if you imagine the room as a box as you have drawn it - fireplace on bottom wall - if you have the tv built in above a Jali rad cover (i think you drew a rad there) on the top wall directly opposite the fireplace, then have one long sofa floating off the left wall and one floating off the right (leaving space for a console table behind the sofa as serving area for dining table ) then when you are on you sofas you either sit straight and talk - lean one way to see TV or the other way to see the fireplace - it's called a std box design - and it's usually anchored by a large rug to frame the area and sometimes one sofa is replaced with a pair of chairs ... Will work well in your set up and still give room for table as long as you don't go for overly wide/deep sofas ! :-)

Original poster

MILdesperandum · 29/10/2013 14:35

Oooh thanks very much I do like that idea the more I think about it - I hadn't thought of the TV above the rad at all but that would really keep the fireplace the focus wouldn't it - what is the Jali rad cover? need to google...! Will try it out on icovia and see how it looks. The dining table is in another room - I have just drawn the opening to that room on the left so no worries about things fitting!

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Original poster

MILdesperandum · 29/10/2013 15:55

I suppose we could always move the rad possibly next to the window if there's room... might be cheaper than getting a new TV unit/fittings to fit above the radiator cover (also where would I put the wires DVD player etc with the Jali rad cover?

We currently have a 3 and 2 seater sofa which I wasn't planning to change until the DCs were a bit older, do you think the layout would work with the sofas facing each other with a small table at the end of one to balance it?

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Mandy21 · 29/10/2013 17:43

Ours isn't too different to yours and we had had floating shelves with a cupboard at the bottom built into the alcoves either side of the fireplace. The TV sits on top of the cupboard, kind of underneath the shelves so its not become a focal point. I think TVs above the fireplace become a little bit overwhelming and depending on how high you have to have them (so as to be a safe distance away from the heat) its not a comfortable viewing position. I also think (if I understand correctly) that you're thinking of having the TV on the wall opposite the fireplace with the sofas at 90 degrees to the walls facing each other, won't you have to be looking sideways on to see the TV?

Original poster

MILdesperandum · 29/10/2013 18:14

Yes I suppose there is that, one of our sofas is currently side on to the tv though and we manage fine. I totally agree about tv over mantel, looks very uncomfortable! Your built in sounds lovely but the alcoves aren't very deep at all in this house (maybe 6 inches at most so I'm not sure that will work. Do you have the tv tilted into the room or flush with the wall?

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RandomMess · 29/10/2013 18:15

Be aware of having the TV somewhere that the sunlight will reflect on it.

Mandy21 · 29/10/2013 19:30

Our tv isnt very big 26 or 28inch I think, its kind of on an angle, one corner at front left of alcove, the other corner towards the back wall. Not an option with slim alcoves though!

Liara · 29/10/2013 20:28

We have our tv in a cabinet next to the fireplace, at a slight angle. We close it when we are not using it.

Could you not have it next to the fireplace on the other side of where the window is?

OnePlanOnHouzz · 29/10/2013 21:22

Hi! Sorry busy day !! Jali are a company based in Kent who make beautiful radiator covers (and various other things too) well worth a look on their website ! Even better if you move the rad to under the window !
Think it would work with your current sofas - line up the centres of the sofas as will make the difference blend away better !

Flip