Q: I'm Amy, from Milwaukee, and I have a problem with my apartment's living room. Like a lot of apartments, it has an L-shaped living/dining room area, but the corner along the bend from living to dining is completely useless! I have all my furniture up against the walls right now and it feels very uninspired. Attached are pictures of the layout, my sectional sofa (which I cannot part with) and the focal piece of the room - my parents' rug that I have on loan.
The sofa that I have is very nearly the same color as what's in the picture, just a touch more brown than tan, so that it contrasts slightly with the walls, which are plain, neutral, "apartment color". The carpet is pretty much the same color as the walls, and in good shape, just blah. Other furniture to note: one pie safe I use as a bookcase (about 48" wide and 54" tall), one 55" TV & battered TV stand that my boyfriend will not separate with, an old green wrought-iron coffee table, side table, floor lamp, table lamp. I'm going for a bit of an eclectic/transitional feel, with mostly neutral pieces and some standout pieces here & there.
Let me know what you think! I'm open to any suggestions to make this feel more like home!
Sent by Amy
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It would be helpful if you explained what the space were--like what is the square area inside the living room?
FYI, pictures aren't loading.
I'm assuming the 10 x 8 room is your kitchen.
I think you should pull the sectional away from the wall, and have it facing the living room wall on the left (7 ft 8 in). Then put your tv up against that wall if you can. Add the coffee table, a side table, and your area rug in the centre. Any floor lighting can be against the outer wall, with a shelf, narrow console table, etc. I think this layout would create a cozy living room, and also give you nice flow by keeping a clear path from your front door, straight down the living room, and right to your dining room.
If you designated one end of the L as an office area, it might make the flow feel more natural... Without knowing exactly which spaces are which, it's very hard to tell how the layout would work best.
Maybe try floating the sectional (and I don't know the dimensions, so this might not work) along the back window with enough space behind it to walk around it. In the 7' 8" area, maybe do an entertainment thing? And a chair somewhere too.
I definitely think the dining area outside the presumable kitchen is going to be a good plan: even if it's not hardcore dining - this could be a mini office that could be cleared off to entertain.
Ditto on where are the bathroom fixtures, the kitchen fixtures, what is that 10 x 8 room off the living room? I would paint the entire hallway wall a green hue to strengthen the wealth sector. Also the shape of the space in feng shui terms is missing the Wisdom & Knowledge trigram area--you'll want to implement some feng shui solutions to counteract that.
Hi! I actually lived in those same apartments!!!
For those wondering: kitchen = the 10ish foot long dead end room nestled in the "L" - it's a super cool stainless steel one-piece set up. Galley style.
We had a SW corner up on the 8th floor - and sadly, while all the rooms were fairly large and very generous for a two bed apartment, we couldn't style it in any better configurations than "up against the wall," either. As Jasmine suggested, we had our tv unit up against the wall that shares the bedroom/hall closet. We had our couch (not a sectional) along the shared kitchen wall and a dining table in the short end of the "L" by the kitchen. But that still gave us a big empty zone in the corner of the "L" that we couldn't furnish well - maybe another sitting area? or a reading corner? desk?
On a side note, how awesome is the kitchen?? That and the awesome sunshine were my favorite things about that apartment!
How about a picture of the actual place?!
I also agree with Jasmine about the entertainment center on the left wall, sectional on the kitchen wall and the other back to the window. Put a dining table lengthwise in behind the sectional and a breakfast nook/sitting area right next to the kitchen.
If you're going for eclectic - try to warm it up with some bold colors pulled from your parents rug in throws, pillows and dark woods. Or go with bright colors - another look at the article about incorporating oriental rugs could help.
The sofa goes along the wall labeled 20' with the extension coming off to the right as you're looking at how the diagram is oriented. It's away from the window, so you will have a sectioned off space between the sofa and the window, maybe enough for a small desk or a reading area. TV goes along the wall that is perpendicular to whatever that 7-8' thing is (the wall that backs up to the kitchen). Dining area should go right outside the kitchen.
easy touches that you can add:
oversized wall art
tall plants in bright potters
graphic window treatments
colorful throw pillows
interesting coffee table books
if you decide to add more than one, just be thoughtful about the color choices, they should all make sense together.
and i think of all of these, a plant always makes a space feel more home-y.
First I have to ask where you're going to put the TV? Then we can look at where the couch goes. I have to agree with the oversized art idea...get some cheap canvas framing and staple a bold print fabric over it if you're on a budget. Also, nice to see a fellow Milwaukeean posting! If you weren't able to hit up Art Vs Craft this year, definitely think about going next year for cheap art!
Oh, also have to recommend the Goodwill on Feerick (aka 124th and Capitol). I've found absolutely the best stuff there, from vintage designer pieces to brand new Target overstock.
Lots of lamps should help it feel cozier and homey-er. 5-6 in your main living space would not be too many. It's amazing what lighting can do.
I'm not going to touch the issue of the giant L sofa escaping from its destiny against a wall...
So as suggestions for the bend area: a little office nook (maybe with an antique desk just for show), a music area with a record player and speakers, a cool china cabinet from a thrift store painted a fun accent color, a tall bookcase and an cozy chair and have a reading nook, a sideboard with photos on top (can be pretty cheap from ikea and adds storage). Any of these would be cute. (or right now -a Christmas tree!)