Difficult living room. Help!

[Mrscog]

Ok, So everything in our new house is brilliant, except the living room. We always knew it was the compromise, but now it's getting me down and we have some money ready to improve it, so I'd like to get cracking.

I've attached some pics (excuse the mess).

The challenges are - it's long and narrow - 7mx 3.3m. It's completely north facing, with the only possibility of light coming from the patio doors. I hate hate hate the brick fireplace (and there is probably scope to rip it out, although it will need building work and the chimney above dismantling (the fireplace is part of a single storey extension).

Another constraint is that DH will not consider having a TV in a corner, so in the final seating arrangement, it will have to be possible for at least 1 person to sit directly opposite the TV.

Most other things are up for change - all decor, furniture (we've never bought living room furniture before, everything you can see was free when we moved in together (although not all the toys). We are also going to change the patio doors as they loose tons of heat and we hate them anyway.

The room will need to house living room TV type area, and toys, and the piano.

What would you do with this space? colour? furniture style? layout?

We have an long living / dining room knocked together (does get light from both ends though although not much at the back as there's a conservatory behind and it is also North west facing that way).
We have painted it fb skimming stone which is a softer grey and means not too cold with the lack of light at the top end.
Also definitely agree with zoning. We have sofa TV zone (probably going for an L shaped sofa) with fireplace and dining zone with a big oak dresser which gives a homely feel.
Long draping curtains too. (Try elmet curtains- really good value)
French doors will add class - just Installed some in kitchen and love them!
Good luck!

Definitely wall lights too, we have two per section if that makes sense, and get the ones that throw light up as well as down the wall!

Our lounge has v similar dimensions and is also north facing.
The original end in particular is horribly dark, so I got 9 LED lights fitted in that end. They're on pretty much all the time tbh and have changed how I feel about this gloomy room. But that's as far as we've got! Our chimney breast is a lot smaller and plastered so my eye isn't drawn to it so much. Will be off-white and colourful accessories to go with the (also colourful) sofa.
Would second other suggestions of L-shape sofa and coffee table up patio end and IKEA expedit type storage up other with table and chairs for your dc. Would def. explore possibility of getting rid of fireplace / minimising visual impact on room (plastering?)

Just a few more thoughts, would def go for oak flooring(engineered) as when people step into house form garden you don't want mud on carpet. Would have a big rug in seating area for warmth. Wood floor is so great with kids mess etc use wipe it up!

area for kids, go for ikea stacking box system for toys and little chairs etc, maybe a big oak chest toy box. we have our piano in the bridging the two rooms iyswim where your fireplace is and that works well. If you do wood floors you could get those rubber/foam tiles for floor to make it softer for kids. Wall stickers maybe and fun pictures for this bit?

You might want the kids zone at the end of the room by the doors so you won't have to walk through the kids zone/toys to get to the sofa. Just a thought.

Maybe you could put the piano opposite the fireplace and these could be the features in the room? Agree that the fireplace is not well located for sitting in front of if you do zone the room but it could be a nice feature with a mantelpiece and mirror above (bounce light around which is good) with some work as others have suggested?

You need something to break the corridor effect, so why not adapt what's there?

We have a very similar fireplace in our long living room, and put in a wood burner and a floating mantelpiece made of a dressed block of lovely timber from a lumber recovery firm. The space above the mantelpiece now has some pictures, big ones. We did not paint the bricks, but as one of the long walls is all windows, light isn't an issue.

Definitely agree get better doors, and make sure the curtains are paler. And that weird brick pile to the left could do with disappearing, though I can see that the previous owners were trying break up the corridor and tie-in with the brick fireplace.

Ah yes, engineered oak flooring? Good idea. There are some lovely, deep, bobbly-soft rugs around....

Some lovely ideas here OP.

Pics of the finished product is a must!

I promise pics, but it's going to take a while! Thank you everyone for your ideas, I feel as though we're on the right track :D

Might do a pinterest board and then link to it.

Update! Had the fireplace ripped out today, no small job! But looking so much better already, got end french doors with windows booked in for March, but I thought I'd send a progress picture as everyone was so helpful!

That's really good to have an update. Looks tons better, well worth the bother.

Looking good!

To jump in late to the TV discussion - would your DH consider mounting it on an arm? Allows you to tuck it away when necessary, then bring it out when you want optimum viewing / surround sound configuration.

I like that you've got rid if the fireplace. Did you say part of it is a single story extension? Get skylights/veluxes installed - voila, light problem solved! Massive wall mirrors also help, and main living area beside the patio doors as others have suggested.

Ripping that out has made a difference hasn't it! Keep us updated

Yes pirate, the end bit is single storey and that's definitely an option, however we are limited on budget, and we may convert to a double storey at some point, so we're weighing up whether it's worth it.

Going to be all patched up next week - yeay!

Still need to decide on flooring - I like the thought of wood with rugs for cosiness, DH set on carpet...

Looking so much bigger already!

As it has directly entry from the garden, I would def. go with your preference of wood with rugs - much easier to clean or change a rug which is mud stained, than a carpet. If your DH wants carpet, then you can get a huge rug for his tv area that will feel like a wall to wall carpet.

Ours is also long and thinning (although we have a window both ends, and the centre is incredibly dark since we put a rear extension on. Anyway, ours is zoned into tv end with furniture against the wall and tv opposite and kids/piano end, with big ikea stuva storage benches and the piano. Still feels like a corridor but is fairly liveable in! We built in a bit of storage in an alcove too as we use our chimneys and wanted to keep them. I really need to be able to hide all the toys so the stuva works well.

Is your house semi detached? if so could you consider fitting a window on the wall to get in extra light.A friend did this and it made such a difference.Its not a massive job and would improve lighting.

I've had this guide to furnishing a long narrow room bookmarked

fredgonsowskigardenhome.com/2014/02/05/arranging-furniture-in-a-12-foot-wide-by-24-foot-long-living-room/

The style's a bit formal but there're lots of ideas