I'm looking forward to the comments because I have a similarly sized living/dining room. I have everything set up against the perimeter of the room so I can keep it open and maximize the light coming in from my two big windows. However, I don't have a sofa or loveseat. I was actually thinking of getting a daybed because although I live alone, I have frequent guests. It's a one bedroom apartment, so I have no guest bed. I should have bought it when I was at ikea two weekends ago. :/

What works for me is to have the TV in a corner against a short wall, then the sofa facing the TV wall, and then the small dining table behind the back of the TV. The furniture is arranged perpendicular to the long walls and the table is closest to the kitchen. My space is only slightly larger than yours, so this arrangement should work for you if you put your table close to your sofa's back. You also can put a lamp on the dining table for comfortable reading on the sofa. You might even have room to add a coffee table.

What's on the other side of the room? Where you're standing and taking the picture from? Is that the entrance?

We have a similar set up in our small apartment. We set up a small dining table on the short wall closest to the kitchen, and hung a large paper lantern over it, trying to create a sense of designated space for the dining area. We put our couch on the other short wall, with two chairs in the middle of the room, angled away from the dining area and facing the couch, and an area rug tying it all together. Again, creating two "spaces" in the one room, but keeping it open. We don't watch much television, so ours is just on the side (for you, under the window). Hope this helps!

Zinna- yes, the photo is taken from the entrance. The other side of the room is the front door, and a very awkwardly placed fireplace (which is directly across from the front door when you walk in the house. The bedroom is to the left of the front door.

I'd like to see more photos and a layout to take that fireplace into consideration.

@StLMary's idea sounds more spacious, prettier, and better for socializing. Frankly, I don't use her arrangement only because I have a huge TV and watch it too much.

Here are photos of the other side of the room with the front door and awkwardly placed fireplace.

https://picasaweb.google.com/112282195410553844279/House?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWg8auIm4f-Fw

I would like to see the other side of the room as well, but by now, I would use the TV to divide the spaces (over an Ikea Expedit layed horizontally?). I would place the sofa on the small wall, the tv in front of it, and the dining table behind the tv.

Oh, just saw the pictures and I don't think my suggestion is possible...

I have a very similar space, and I have my couch perpendicular to the windows in the middle of the room, facing a wall with my tv on it. I push my dining table directly behind the couch (its oval and pub height) so it grounds the couch. You could also angle it out slightly from the wall to open up the living space (this works for me when I take the leaf out and my table is circular). Hope this helps!

Rachel- how wide is your sofa? I worry that an 80 inch sofa (6 feet) will be too wide for a 9 foot room?

True, You may want to shove a sofa arm against a wall to open a sufficiently wide path on the sofa's other side.

My only advice is to not be afraid to angle the sofa away from the wall. Physically move things around and experiment. You will be surprised what you come up with. In the end you might want to get new furniture that better fits your space.

And poor you -brown wall to wall carpet! Yuck. Westelm has some cute cotton rugs that are really thin so you could layer one over the carpet to create a living space in front of your sofa... or try the floor mat idea (look it up in a search on AT). Good luck!

Hi. This is what I was thinking for your room.

Hm... and here is the link.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jrat5epC_NyXGa7fpRADYdNua0sUnrDB1knB_nJTPOs?feat=directlink

I estimated on the size of your table and TV. For the purposes of fitting as much as in as possible, leaving things floating in the middle of the room works. However, to make the room feel open and spacious, putting things against the wall like here: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/08AvEFjjPbA5fbzcGTLwwdNua0sUnrDB1knB_nJTPOs?feat=directlink

Doublewong- that was exactly the layout I was thinking too. I like the idea of eating next to a bright window.

Rahskir- Yes, that carpet is hideous! We have 2 large area rugs to cover it. The walls will be "Wood Smoke" by Glidden with white trim throughout.

Challenging little place - give the place a fresh coat of paint - I'd put couch on far wall facing into the room at a slight angle toward window (gives you a little room for a skinny bookshelf/floor lamp, etc.) behind the couch. Add a mirror on the kitchen entrance wall (just to balance the window so it doesn't feel hemmed in). Get a folding screen (rice paper/carved wood) and put it between the two windows - lined up with the space between the air conditioner and double sash window. Put the TV behind the screen facing the couch at an angle - angle/zig-zag screen as needed to create a free standing partition. Place dining table along with double window to enjoy the view of the patio.. it'll make the place feel bigger when you have a 'view'. If you have company - pull the table away from the window. Think zen inspired cottage with garden view. Good luck.

Much better with the extra pics, ty!
Ok so I personally would put the sofa right in the corner along the window wall and up against the 15' wall.
Grab something like the Expediate TV storage unit http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10103093#/10103093/ and float it perpendicular to the couch (somewhere for the tv and things for your entryway like a basket for keys, mail etc.) and a rug between them.
At the other end, on the 5'7 wall I would put the table against the wall and the chairs, one on each side and a swag lamp/chandelier above.
See here, ignor crazy colours :)
http://thehedgery.wordpress.com/example-pic/

What is the doorway across from the 15' window wall? A closet? Or another door into the bathroom? If it's something you can cover over/block, even temporarily, you would have many more options.

Swedie- it is a small closet. We plan on storing things in there we don't need all the time and will probably block it with a bookcase or TV.

I have friends with a similar set up. Their solution: a wall-mounted TV across the room from the couch and underneath the TV is the dining room set, which is small and clear acryllic, and allows the room to appear open and uncluttered.

Thanks for posting the layout. I agree with doublewong post at 10:48. The couch on that wall with the TV against the bathroom wall is probably best for the couch. Also, depending on how small your dining room table is, you could try and situate that not against the wall but in the middle of the room right in front of the kitchen entrance. But definitely see if it breaks up your flow too much by having it there as opposed to the wall where doublewong put it. Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I am going to try doublewongs idea (the second one), and I also like the table floating in the room too- I will be sure to post an update next month!