apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The seating needs to be arranged in the center of the room with the focus on around the fireplace - and the TV goes on the wall opposite the fireplace.

Large carpet in the center - coffee table in the center of the room. Sofa floats in the room to the left of the fireplace facing the french doors and two chairs face the sofa from across the coffee table.

Behind the sofa, a console or a desk holds lamps, books, etc. Between the chairs, a small table.

The tall bookcase belongs to the left of the french doors, with a comfy chair and ottoman in the corner as a separate reading area, with another side table and lamp.

I would prioritize the LR as a conversation area first with the fireplace as the focal point, not the TV. Looking at the fireplace, you might place the sofa to the left of it, looking towards the 3 windows, with comfy chairs opposite the sofa to make a grouping around a coffee table. Try placing the TV on the wall opposite the fireplace. Use a couple of cozy chairs for a conversation nook next to the 3 windows. You could place a bookcase/storage piece next to the french doors w/a comfy chair angled in the corner for a reading nook. (I can't figure out where the entry is, though.) Once you have the large pieces in place, you can add tables, lamps, stools, floor pillows, a console table, art, rugs, whatever you love.

What bepsf said!

We had a similar problem (where to put the TV?) in a similarly-sized room (20 x 12). Our solution: an electric projector screen, installed in the ceiling over our sliding balcony doors. We get to enjoy a lovely, large screen when we want to watch something and we get to do so at a reasonable viewing distance and height (TVs over a fireplace are usually mounted too high for comfortable viewing), but otherwise it tucks away quite nicely so that we can still access our balcony.

We have the same living room! Seriously - even those tiles on the fireplace are the same. Our set up is not too different from the one you have pictured, except for additional chairs are on the other side of the room (the part not pictured) and we have benches with storage where you currently have chairs (by the window).

We faced the same TV dilemma, and as much as we don't want it to be the "focus" of the room, we do watch it, and want it to be in a comfortable place. We ended up putting in in the corner, on a low, corner shaped tv stand/storage unit. It kind of nestles in between the windows on each wall in that corner, but if you lay on the couch it's at a comfortable angle. I also hate the tv above the fireplace look - that one has to be going out of style soon...

I agree with bepsf, and would add that you might try removing a lot of the small-scale accent pieces in the room. The two stools (?) flanking the fireplace and the little cabinet with the pictures on top are just lost in such a dramatic space. It is a stunning room and really needs to "breathe" a bit more.

And thank you for not putting your TV over the mantle!

agree with above, especially re: the accent pieces. you have a very large space, and should select the appropriate number of appropriately sized items to fill it. get your items off the walls and don't be afraid to have open wall space.

I could be wrong, but I believe the furniture/items in the photo are not Courtney's but belong to the sellers of the home. In any case, I agree with everyone that the best spot for a tv is opposite the fireplace. Perhaps on a narrow console flanked by lamps or framed art so that the weight will balance the fireplace.

Choice A: Place the TV on a console on one side of the fireplace and try to pick up something of similar size for the other side to balance it out. The sofa should face the fireplace about two or three feet from the opposite wall. Place chairs on either side of sofa for nice conversation area around a coffee table. Use a one or two extra chairs by the three windows to create a reading nook and separate seating area. You could use the other end of the room for bookshelves or a desk if you or the husband needs it.

Choice B: (this involves ignoring the fireplace) Place the TV under the three windows. Turn the sofa to face it and flank it with chairs like in choice A. On the other side of the room create a dining area or another seating area.

Choice C: Make the office a TV room. Place some seating around the fireplace as a conversation area. Use the end of the room by the windows as your new office. The opposite end would be good for bookshelves.

Thanks everyone, Maaikeh is right the furniture int eh room is not ours, we will be purchasing new furniture for the room. One thing to note is that the entry to the room is across from the fireplace so if you center a sofa you walk right into the back of it.

Opps, please ignore "the" error in my comment above. Its also worth noting that we'll have a very small office(too small to fit a sofa) so no desks need to be used, I don't want the room to center on the fireplace so much that we can't comfortably watch the tv, as romantic as they are the fireplace will get used much less than the tv by a sports fan husband.

I completely agree with bepsf. As a testament to how bored I am at work, I've created a possible version of your room layout here:

http://mydeco.com/rooms/detail/janel-living-room-326722/

Hope it helps!

Why does the TV have to go in the livingroom? It diminishes the space so much. Isn't there some place else it could go?

Better still...no TV at all? I know people think they can't survive without one, but you'd be surprised how life can be improved when everyone isn't staring at that noisy box.

Ms Pea -- No TV at all for a sports fan...well she's going to have one very unhappy husband which is going to lead to one very very unhappy marriage - LOL.

I do think it would be much better to even slim down to a love seat or a couple of nice comfy chairs and make the office the TV room. It would improve the entire situation.