It looks like the space it about 12 feet wide, so perhaps this would work.

Face the couch toward the doorwall, forming a walkway behind from the front door to the kitchen. Move the dining table to the corner where the media cabinet it now, using only two of the chairs unless you have company.

Move the media cabinet to the wall where the dining table is now, flanked by a console table on the side near the entry door and either another console on the other side of the media cabinet OR a tall but shallow bookshelf/storage unit.

If you wanted to, you could also hang something flat and sheer from the ceiling along the back of the sofa, and get a super-cool ceiling fixture to hang just inside the entryway.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

IMO, dividing up an already narrow space by planting a bookcase in the middle of the room or a sofa facing the windows is going to make it feel like a bowling alley in there.

The floorplan gives you about the best layout you can hope for - If anything, forget the desk in the corner by the kitchen and back the dining table up to the back of the sofa.

I would turn the sofa 90 degrees so it faces the balcony and fireplace, either butting up against the wall by the door, or just away from it with a side table. Then you will have a clear pathway from the door, behind the sofa to the kitchen. I would put up lots of coat hooks and shelves on the wall behind the sofa. The table could go in the corner by the window. Plus, you get to sit on the sofa and look out the window!

How about if you place the couch to face the French window, You will form a sort of a 'corridor' that will lead you from the door to the dining table and define the sitting area. A slim console against the wall behind the couch would be the perfect place for a 'catch all': keys, mail, etc.
The Tv can go to the right of the French window where the book case is right now. The book case then can be used as a divider between the sitting area and the dining table.

I feel your pain! We live in a narrow little ranc h built in the 1950's. The door opens directly into th living area. I say embrace the more clustered feeling of some English homes. It has worked for us we also put a modest wardrobe near the front door to use a a coat closet/vac catch all. All of my furniture also has legs. Look at some pics of some older homes this can also help with furniture placement. Retro renovations website also did a feature on some to die for divider panels. They are made by a reputable company and might work for you!

Move the couch to face the balcony, maybe even diagonal to face more towards the media center. The back of the couch will make a faux hallway. Move the shelf and mirror and hooks to the wall that the door opens toward to, that is where you can drop off keys, coats, or shoes. The newly vacated wall can be for pictures or book shelves or another shelf with mirror if you like.

Like michpam suggested, you could hang a flat, sheer cloth from the ceiling to "box" in the new entry way. I use a 3 panel room divider with glassy wavy inserts, that serves one "side" of my faux entryway; it's the first thing I see when I enter, not the living room.

I know its frustrating to walk into a living room, when you want a bit of breathing room, to take off shoes and put your keys someplace. One idea, since you are limited on space is to use paint to define a small area. You could hang a floating shelf for keys and mail. A sturdy rug or doormat when you just walk in to dump your rain boots. The right mirror in the area will help define it. The color of paint does not have to be outlandish, even just a few shades darker will do the tick and stay with the feel of the room.

I would leave the furniture the way it is. This picture sums up everything that I would do, http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/roomandboard/slim_634432_06e?$truvu0$&wid=448. I'd buy a small rug and a very narrow console table and add a small tray for keys, etc. You could hang a picture or two above it like they did in photo and then hooks for coats right next to it.

I would just rotate everything 90 degrees counterclockwise.

The couch now faces the window. Put a narrow sofa table behind to create a "hallway" into the space.

the TV unit goes on the wall next to the door (I would mount it, with a narrow console table/credenza below and two side chairs in front, facing the kitchen).

the bookshelf can be laid on its side to form a separation between the living room and kitchen.

although I think the configuration in the pics is not so bad. the furniture is kind of blah/too big for the space?

@swgirrrl - I agree with you! My house has a very small living room like this and no foyer or formal entryway. Facing the couch to the windows would make too much of a "tunnel". If the room was a little wider it wouldn't matter so much. As someone who actually lives with a room this size, I know just how closed off it would feel arranging the sofa in the other direction. One thing I see is that you could turn the Ikea bookshelf on its side and place it behind the sofa as a console/display case, and move both of them back a foot or so (right up to the kitchen "line"). That may spread out the living room just a little more so make it feel a little more open.

I would probably use an open bookcase (expedit or similar) directly across from the door, and about 4 feet away. Coat hook on the back of the door, small tray for keys/etc on the door side of the bookcase. It would be a tight entry but I would prefer that to placing a divider next to the door and making the narrow side even narrower. I would also consider blocking up some of the shelves if it wasn't enough of a visual barrier to the door.

If you would rather divide the narrow side (or you think a bookcase would be too bulky), I like the idea of the fabric panel, and you could also hang one of those clear shower curtains with pockets for more stash space.

Oh, and I love your chandelier! :)

You could place a short cabinet or shelving system (about 25 - 30 inches of height) at the entrance, perpendicular to the door to create a gully / foyer look and hang some decorative hooks on the wall perpendicular to the door. That should give you a feel of dedicated entrance.

Next, you can move the sofa to face the windows, move the book case to the wall currently hanging the mirror, and add an accent chair there to complete the nook. Move the whole mirror setting to the original bookcase wall. Paint the window wall in an accent color to make it the focus of the room.

You'll have more room if you DON'T use your wood burning stove. The heat those things kick out is like a wall of heat. No one in my house can stand to be in the 80+ degree vicinity when we're using it.

Also, you really have to be careful what furniture you have around them. They are so dry they crack furniture. Our cedar chest and steam-bent oak rocking chair have both paid the price, sadly.

I'm with bepsf and eamoxie. Good suggestions.

I agree with glamazon, you could move the Expidit unit (it looks like a 4x2?) directly in front of, and parallel to, the door; that way you can leave the couch where it is, or move it to face the balcony.

Here is one I haven't seen. If there is room, push the sofa against the wall facing the window. Then put a short, open bookcase against the side of the sofa to store hats, shoes and the like. This way you will have created an entry nook and opened up the room.

... what is this media console ppl keep referencing?

When you don't need to accommodate a TV (and I don't see one, and you don't mention one), it really doesn't seem too difficult. I like it the way it is... if you can do without it, I'd chuck the expedit (though I see you have things displayed on it, so maybe this isn't feasible--pare down? can some go on the coffee table as a vignette?) and move the couch a bit closer to that side, so that it's more centered/squared with the wall shelf holding the mirror. Actually, maybe move it further into the room, and then put the expedit (or a 4x4 version) behind it. Or, put the bench behind the couch and the expedit where the bench is now (at least, it looks like a bench to me. I assume it's not a media console because I... don't see any media. Surely it's not the coffee table?) With the couch closer to the side wall, the walkway from the door is more open so you can add a hang-it-all or whatever on the wall opposite the window.

Quick question for Chantelle:

Is the first photo of your actual furniture, or is it a staged photo used to market the apartment? You say you will be 'moving in soon', so that makes me think that your actual furniture will be different.

That said, I think having a short (24"-36" tall) bookshelf just to the right of the door, perpendicular to the wall, will separate the entry from the living space, without visually taking away space from the small living room. In my own fairly narrow living room, I've tried placing the couch to create a narrow 'hallway' just inside the door, with the couch perpendicular to the door wall, but it just doesn't work if you don't have at least five or six feet of width for the 'hallway'. I hope this helps.

(Oh, the other pictures weren't loading for me....)

Hang a mobile or candelabra or lamp, just a step or two from the wall, to create a suggestion of space.