Q: I've just bought and moved into my first place. I'm really confused about where to start! The living room is the main concern right now, as it's where I spend most of my time. I'm a musician and a lot of the time I work from home. I like having my setup in the living room as it's the brightest room. The problem is I've got a biggish TV that also needs to stay in the room:
A few friends have suggested putting it above the fireplace, but I'm not a big fan of that idea. I don't want it to dominate the room. I like the idea of a floor shelving unit that I can put a turntable atop and fill with records/books, similar to what Tyler has in his living room. But I fear I won't have enough wall space for this. Maybe I could put one under the big window and get rid of the smaller sofa? Perhaps an underwindow bookshelf? Is the coffee table too big for the room?
Sent by Matt
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Great fireplace! I can see if you hang the TV over it would be big and overpower it since it's kind of petite. We have the same windows and our TV is in the same corner like yours...the glare from the window would be bad anywhere else...that's how it is for us.
If you can afford to let go of the loveseat (losing the seating) under the window and put shelving I think it would really make the room. The coffee table, though nice, is a bit too big being in front of the fireplace. Cool place! Congrats!!
I would check on the possibility of having someone make a nice built in on the right hand side of the fireplace, like a closet home office. I made a similar set up by reusing some salvaged french doors and adding a long desk and shelves. If you don't use both the keyboards at the same time you may be able to stack them over each other and pull the bottom one out like a giant computer keyboard when you need it (just adjust your chair height). When the door is closed your equipment doesn't get dusty!
Yeah, I think the coffee table is a little too big. We had an oversized one for years and sort of stopped noticing it. When we finally got a smaller one it made a huge difference. I'd also get a bigger rug with a little color or an interesting pattern. It would brighten things up.
For your TV, I'd find a really rustic looking cabinet (I'm thinking Spanish country) that will complement that really cool fireplace.
You can probably find something on Craig's List.
Um, the sucker is big. No matter where you put it, it's going to take up a lot of space.
Sooo, why not hang it on the wall above your trestle desk/keyboard stand? Put a bookcase or something on the other side of the fireplace for balance.
And fergawdssakes, put another color in that room. Turquoise or coral or light green, anything but brown.
Also, you might want to invest in some inexpensive window coverings, like soft draped roman shades in an interesting color.
Install builtins on either side of the fireplace. You can have a large space at the top for the tv one one side, and on the bottom of the other side you can make/have a work area that could be hidden when not in use. You could also increa the impact of the fireplace by building a period appropriate surround for it that was the same width of the little wall it's on. And like others have suggested, if the love seat is negotiable, you could build another builtin under the window. Lots of work, I know, but it would make a big impact.
Consider building custom plumbing pipe shelves to fill the space on either side of the fireplace. Make it as tall as the trim line that surrounds the room. You can customize it to house your tv on one side and studio/records on the other. It would be extremely functional and would look great with what you already have going on in the space.
ALSO, whatever you decide to do, I think Apartment Therapy should do a follow up... I'd like to see some results of these Q&A's!
Why dont you go down to a thrift store or Ikea or something and see if you can find an old wardrobe or bookcase. It looks like you have more than enough room for one in that corner. Then you can show case things like books, records ect around the TV. You could even do a short stand of some sort and put wall shelve(s) above the TV. If you find two of the same type of case or whatever you could do the same thing on the other side for your music stuff.
Now what I am talking about can dwarf the fire place. I think if you paint the shelves or whatever the same color as the wall. Then leave 3-4 inches for the fireplace to stick out. That that should make the fireplace pop. Bringing all the focus on it. You would just have to be careful of not to put distracting color on the shelves so it wouldn't take away or distract from the fireplace. I wish I could draw you a few pics......
What Garimi said.
Get vertical. Everything in your room is sort of dark, and all at close to the same height. You need useful things that go up towards the ceiling - floor lamps and shelves. Put some color up high on the shelves (books, vases, whatever you got). And of course, good art at the right proportion, hung at the correct height.
1. Put the TV on the wall above where it is now, on a holder that will allow it to swivel out a little for viewing.
2. Replace the loveseat with two chairs that can angle a bit in front of the window.
3. Put shelves in the music area that can hold some of the gear, like those speakers. The shelving should be about the same width as the TV -- maybe even also glossy black like the TV, if you like that look.
3. Consider an ottoman instead of the coffee table. Or maybe a glass table that takes up less visual space as well as a smaller footprint -- one that has a more organic shape could be good.
4. Get rid of the small rug in front of the fireplace in favor of an area rug that is at least as wide as the couch.
I'd change your office chair from the generic looking one there now. It doesn't look very inviting for your living room.
Have you tried moving your gear under the window? I can't tell just how low it sits but it could fit your music stuff. Where it is now in the other corner is probably your best bet for the TV. Finding a cabinet on the cheap to fit it in may not be easy though. At the least I'd say move it up onto the wall and find a cabinet of at least the same width to fit under it. Angling them out of the corner would probably look best. The coffee table looks really cool but yeah, I'd go for a smaller one to open the room up in light of the big tv, couches and gear setup.
Built-ins or some sort of faux-built in (Ikea Akrom or Billy) on each side of the fireplace will look the most put-together. Get a heavy duty swiveling TV mount hung at eye level when sitting (I have one from monoprice) -- the tv can swing out when in use and lay flush when hosting.
If the bookcases are way too big of an investment, then adjustable shelving (like Elfa or similar from a hardware store) could go a long way at making everything look uniform. AT has a few examples, like this one: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/12-edwards-21678
Are those white KRK monitors? They look nice. When building/shopping/designing the built-in for the studio area, make sure you highlight them [monitors] while downplaying your other gear.
I'd knock all that out before upgrading the loveseat.
(I'm so proud that no one here has suggested tossing the tv.... <sheds a tear>)
And that is one cool-looking fireplace! Most fireplaces (especially if they're also non-functional) don't do anything for me, and privileging these artifacts as "the focal point of the room" infuriates me. ^^;;
Can it go on the wall across from the window? (Install treatments so you don't have glare on the screen.) Where the second keyboard and the, eep, radiator are?
I hate the thing over the fireplace. I would hang the TV over the fireplace and put a bookshelf on that corner. I love the window and the sofas, all looks very warm. Also, consider some paintings, framed photographs for the walls.
Hi guys, thanks for the replies! I had no idea this had even made it to the site.
I've just ordered a wall mount for the TV as advised.
I think the suggestions for storage/shelves either side of the fireplace is the right decision.
@KHINNJ - Just googled roman shades, great idea! I hadn't thought about that, the blinds I've got now don't look great.
@JNATHANMILLER, GARIMI - I love the plumbing pipe shelves, I wonder if I could put sliding shelves on the music side so I can push my keyboard in when not in use? I just measured the gear and it's all shallow enough to be level with the fireplace wall if it was on shelves.
@ ANGELINETHEBAKER - Do you think the tv should be dead centre on that wall? Should the shelves be from wall to wall in those corners? thanks!
@ DEREKDB - Hi Derek, yep KRK monitors! What do you think of something like this for the studio area? http://www.the-brick-house.com/2009/09/shelving-unit/ .
Thanks so much for the comments guys. Please keep them coming, feel free to jump in with any suggestions!! I'm going to use this thread as a little journal if thats ok, keep everyone updated.
M
FOUR MONTHS LATER, what's the update?
The brick house link, love it.
FOUR MONTHS LATER, what's the update?
The brick house link, love it.