Though room two seems to be the obvious bedroom (going by the fact it has a closet, it makes sense to use that room as the living room. Instead of trying to separate the room with a sofa, why not an ottoman. Place the sofa on one of the walls (dining or bedroom) and let a long ottoman separate.

I would definitely figure out how to make #2 the living room and #1 the bedroom. It's tough to help without knowing the dimensions of the room, though. You may need to ditch the sofa in exchange for some comfy chairs, but I would try to use the existing closet as a clothes closet and set up a separate entertainment center on another wall.

its hard to know without all the sizing of everything you have, but I think you suggestion of putting the couch with its back to the closet works best. Make it like a movie room. Does your tv take up to much room that you couldn't fit a chair or 2 in a corner as well so you could entertain guests?

If I had the budget for it, I would get a free-standing wardrobe unit and place it in room 1, along the same wall that has the closet in room 2. Then I'd use room 1 as the bedroom, and room 2 as the living room, with the couch positioned as you suggested, with the back toward the closet, making a walking path. Room 2's closet could be used for incidental storage.

Your feng shui bagua has the wealth area in room one upper left corner and love & relationship in kitchen upper right area. Bathroom spans creativity area as well as travel & helpful people area. You're not missing any areas--that's good news, despite the awkwardness of the layout.

I would put the bed along the lower wall make sure you are in the Command Position in room #1. Room #2 can be the living area...why not try for an L shaped seating in the lower left corner of room 2? the tv can be along the wall where the dining room is? from the L shape corner you can see the door and this is also Command Position. The right L shape will eliminate the need for more chairs and furniture (giving the room a larger look) and could also serve as a guest bed.

Dining area I would go for a round or oval table to offset the square shapes for better feng shui balance. Round will also make it easier to get around in a small space without bumping into corners.

Because of the awkward placement of the "shotgun effect" and all the doors are lined up in a "poison arrow", you want to strengthen as many feng shui points as possible.The entire upper wall from bedroom into kitchen would be most effective painted one solid color (in the red family any shade from peachy pink to deep burgundy or a gradation of all from one end to the other). This is because you have Wealth, Fame, then Love areas all being enhanced and strengthened by the color red. At the very least you could just do the kitchen red and white as you could find many red kitchen accents and this would get your love area activated.

When feng shui principles are followed, we have a better flow of energy and we feel better in our space. We also set ourselves up to receive new and better opportunities...that could lead to you moving to a space you love even more within a short period of time!
Enjoy.

Are there windows in both Room 1 and Room 2, looks like maybe just in 1? If there's no window in Room 2, I would make the decision based upon whether you prefer daylight in Bedroom or Living Room. I would make 1 the LR and use a shelving unit or other divider where you propose the couch.

Definitely make Room 1 the bedroom. If it's only yourself living there you can still use the closet in Room 2 to store your clothes (you won't be freaking out any flatmates by hanging around the living room in your underwear every morning).

Or you could just invest in a cheap freestanding wardrobe or two to put in the bedroom, and use the living room closet for storing non-clothing things.

BTW, I'm all for feng shui but I don't think its possible to make any feng shui assessment of your apartment from a not-to-scale drawing showing no compass points.

Either add or move a closet, It's not that hard. And you can do something non destuctional in a rental if needed.

If you are owning the new place rip down the walls between the sitting room and the dining/entry and the d/e an the kitchen. With all that open space then you can make that bathroom a little bigger. If all the space is open it will make the bathroom seem closer to the bedroom instead of waking up in the middle of the night going through each room. It would be great if you could put the kitchen on the opposite side of the apt.

The entry/dining area looks slightly bigger than room 2. Why not make the entry dining area the living room, make room 2 your dining room/office, then have room 1 as the bedroom?

One possibility -- depending on how much this drawing is to scale -- is to have a comfy couch-like banquette in your dining area, with the TV across the room from it.

Your option one will work well. It keeps your bedroom private, and your clothes in the closets easily accessible.

I would definitely use #1 for the bedroom for the sense of privacy the end room gives. You can create a simple closet in there by installing a wall-to-wall rod and then hanging floor to ceiling curtains in front of it. Could even hide a bureau behind there for a clean look.

For using #2 as the living room, the idea of having the sofa's back to the closet seems cramped (from the drawing, at least.) I would instead consider placing a sofa along the left-hand wall facing a TV across the width of the room (on the wall that abuts the dining room.) Short of buying a small sectional, a small bench along the outer wall could act like a seating return for the sofa. I think you want the area below the doorways to feel like the living room, rather than have the room span into the closet (and across the walkway) by using it for TV and such. Though, in real life use, your floor plan looks like the dining room would actually like to be the living-dining room, and then room #2 might better function as an office-guest room.

I think using room one as the bedroom makes the most sense, too. I like the idea of having all of your "public" spaces sort of grouped together. As previously suggested, you can add more clothing storage in room 1 like an armoire. I would not lose the closet in room 2. It looks like that's only one of 2 that you have and it's certainly nice to be able to hide some of your less lovely belongings. Without knowing the dimensions of room 2 it's a little tricky to offer good furniture placement ideas. If possible, I'd like to see the sofa on the wall that seperates rooms 1/2. That way, immediately upon entering the room you see a comfortable place to relax. It sets a good tone for you and your guests.

Definitely make Room 1 the bedroom. You can still use the closet for clothes and walk back and forth, I'm assuming you're living here by yourself? Also you can fold most everything down and use drawers, shelves or under-bed boxes to organize everything. Also everyone writes off open clothing racks as being tacky, but if you get a nice one and arrange everything well and use good wooden hangers, it can look very boutique-like. I have one and love it.

My take: Room 1 as the bedroom with new free-standing wardrobe. Room 2 as LR with TV in closet and sofa/sitting area opposite. If you put the sofa with the back to the closet.. aren't you blocking both the door and access to the closet?

Or, hell.. forget the dining room.. eat at your coffee table like everyone else! :o) Put your couch and TV in the entry room.. #2 is your bedroom and #1 is your office/guest room.

I had a similar problem in my last apartment: the front door entered into a room with the largest closet, but the back door was by a room with a tiny closet. Solution? I picked out my clothes the night before in the living room, but slept and dressed in the room with the tiny closet (there was also a coat closet in the "living room"... and another one in the kitchen). I put a dresser in the room I dubbed "bedroom" to hold lingerie. As it was, I didn't have room for all my clothes in the living room's bigger closet, anyways, so I had clothes in the kitchen's coat closet, too (it was a 1920s apartment).

I say Room 1 is bedroom, Room 2 is living.

I like the suggestion of Room 2 being dining/office/closet. Put a large table running lengthwise that doubles as a dining table and work area. Add a console or shelves to the opposite wall for your work supplies, etc. Keep the closet as your closet (who says it has to be in the bedroom!)

Also, has anyone mentioned? Do away with the doors in your public spaces, and you won't have to worry about the extra floor space taken up by them swinging.

Depending on how much clothing you own you don't need a real closet. A stand for shoes , shelves for foldables, and a few wall hooks can hold a sane, selected wardrobe. Plenty of places don't even bother with built in closets for space reasons, and while a armoire is nice it isn't necessary.

I actually hate built in closets. They are up there with heater vents and space heaters when it comes to ruining your plans. Armoires or mobile shelving/hooks work so much better. Hell, if your like me and actually like the clothing you wear it is a nice display item. I am a modularity nut though.

I was left wondering where are the windows... it makes a big difference on the arrangement of furniture to know where the light is coming from.

Where i live there is not a culture for closets like over there. We just use armoires and dressers. The american closet leaves me dumbfounded. Its usually darker, crammed and more difficult to organize than a decent sized armoire.

I think 1 is the obvious bedroom, 2 is dining and living and the room closer to the kitchen could be an office and have a nice landing strip. Use the closet on 2 to store linens, and all the assorted stuff you have. A small armoire and a dresser should acomodate your clothing in your bedroom.

I usually spend more time on the computer than anywhere else, so it makes sense to me.

You could easily hang a curtain in room-1 to give it a closet.

we have very similar nyc apartments. I've had it both ways, but opted for room 1 as bedroom, because that room has windows. we have the tv positioned in the open closets on top of a dresser. Its nicer when people are over to talk to them in the living room while you are in the kitchen.

I think room 1 should definitely be the bedroom - it's nice to have your sleeping areas off a bit, and having it be stuck in between would just be awkward.

I know you think the width is narrow, but an L shape couch (or a regular couch and a bigger chair) with the longer part being along the same wall as the room 1 would look best. You could have the TV either on the wall sharing with the dining room or have it along the south wall and may even have room right in front of the closet to have a clear walkway to make it feel nice and airy. Don't try to stuff too much furniture in there!

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I like the idea of Room 2 as your social area better too; I'd go nuts if people were constantly walking through my bedroom when they came to visit! The armoire addition is a good one, but I think the best suggestion was putting your television *in* the Room 2 closet- maybe on top of a low dresser. Especially in a smallish space, it's really nice to be able to close up the "entertainment center" and just have a relaxing space to hang out in!

I vote to make room #1 the bedroom, better for privacy. If possible, I'd take down the closet in room #2 (even if it's just taking down the door and clothes rack) and replace it with a wardrobe in #1. Giving you more space in #2, and allowing you to keep your clothes with you in room #1.

I don't have any suggestions yet (though I agree 1 must be the bedroom, logistically,) but where are the windows in room 2? Are there any windows to worry about?

Also, since it will probably be room 2, what are the actual dimensions of it? With/without the doors.

I think #1 should be the bedroom, but I always go with the most quite room. If you live there alone I don't see any issue having your closet in the next room.

However, depending on how much storage you need adding a armoire in room #1 is a good idea or IKEA PAX unit would be great because they are less than 15" deep.

I like the using the closet in room #2 for a TV if you have one, or turn it into storage/office nook. This will free up the rest of the room and give you more options.

I like the idea if there is enough room to make the dining area into a eating and living space and room #2 becomes a bit of a bonus room- office, TV, music, lounging space, entertaining, etc.

I would paint all three doors one fun color either raspberry, red, yellow or turquoise, or even black depending on what your style and color preference is.

I like the idea of using room 1 as the bedroom. This would have been my choice, if it were me....I would NOT want guests walking through my bedroom to get to my living room, or anywhere else in my apartment. That kind of thing really bothers me, personally.

I also like the idea of turning the entry room into the living room. I'd be more likely to do this myself, and to turn room 2 into a workroom/office/dining room combination. But I need lots of space for projects! It really depends how you plan to live, what you plan to do inside your home.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the great comments. Room 2 has no windows, which I think everyone agrees should become the living room with 1 as the bedroom.

I'm actually really liking the idea of having the room I thought would be the dining room as the place for the TV/couch and using room 2 as an office. I only really use the TV with guests and tend to watch everything else on my computer, so I could definitely work up something else in room 2 to fit that use.

Great suggestions everyone. I especially like the armoire idea. Hadn't considered it before either.

I'll take pictures once I move in to share the final outcome.

-tessa

I think it's a matter of how you live. Do you entertain often? Do you want a window in your bedroom or prefer a dark space?

Personally, I'd do as you suggest and use room 1 as the bedroom, put the sofa with it's back to the closet and use room 2 as the LR. So what if your closet is outside the door to your room? No biggie. Think about taking the door between room 2 and dining room off the hinges so that it's clear that there is flow there from space to space. Then the door to your room can be closed when you have company.

BUT, if you work at home or otherwise spend a lot of time there, you may want to have the windows in the LR (I assume room 1 has windows and room 2 does not.) If you did this, perhaps put a screen or a curtain up to separate the bed area in room 2 and create the same hallway effect as you mention above. See apttherapy "bed nook" posts on how to make that personal space feel less invaded by walk-through traffic. Would love to see photos when you move in!

room 1 should be the bedroom just for privacy alone. Room 2 could be a dressing room/office/ library maybe and the dining room could be dining/ living space.

Mix it up. It doesnt have to be traditional use of space. If you've lived in a small space you know that you'll have to do alot of overlapping and multi purposed uses. Depending on the furniture you have, you may need to be more creative. If you entertain alot it may not work but I suggest a small cafe table for eating. Or is that a pass through? You wouldnt need a dining table. The sofa can go against the wall opposite door and tv in the corner.

hmm, It is hard to say not knowing exactly how big the spaces are, but if there is no closet at all in room one why not get/build some sort of free standing closet instead of having your clothes in a different room as your bedroom. Or get a nice cabinet/dresser type to hold your clothes?

Plus then you have the closet in room two for extra storage or for the clothes you don't wear all the time.

Be creative and I am sure it will turn out great!

I think using the large closet to hold entertainment stuff is a good idea. However instead of stuffing all your clothe in the small closet, I would recommend getting a wardrobe or some kind of storage system for room 1.

Looks like a floor through. If there are no windows in #2 put your bed in there. And keep it made.

Bedroom = room farthest from street noise, building entrance and street lights. Which, sadly, may mean farthest from bathroom, too.

Are you looking for a dedicated dining area? If not, that may help free up some options.

Put the TV on craigslist and invest in an affordable projector. Setup a comfortable conversation area on the far side of the room and project on the closet area, with a pull-down or powered screen.