This Unusual Seating Arrangement Created Two Separate Rooms in One
I’ve always dreamed of having that traditional living room setup. Think: a square room bathed in natural light with a sectional facing a television with a media console underneath. Unfortunately, though, in all my awkward apartment layouts, I’ve never encountered it. But I’m beginning to think an unconventional furniture placement might actually work better.
More and more people seem to be embracing small or awkward layouts and going against the grain with furniture placement. (The unexpected couch placement in this New Yorker’s apartment encourages conversation and unplugging, for instance.) Artist and designer Jude Morgan used an unusual yet clever furniture placement to turn her small living room in her 1920s rental into practically two separate rooms.
Back-to-Back Seating Split This Small Living Room in Two
Jude’s main priority was finding an apartment that would fit her “ginormous” sofa. After that, she needed to figure out how to create a designated art space. As an artist, she used to work in the communal area of previous homes and yearned for a spot just for creating.
“As soon as I put my sofa this way, I realized that was the best decision because it created two completely separate faces,” Jude explained at the time of the House Tour. “My TV is now facing towards the living room, but then adding these orange chairs right on the back of it led into another whole space.”
Two Different Rugs Further Defined the Separate Areas
Besides the easel and the Anthropologie chairs (unfortunately, they’re sold out) that back up against the couch and face the gorgeous French windows, different rugs in the two spaces help further enhance the separation. In the art area, she splurged on West Elm’s Walker Noble Kuba Wool rug. She also filled the space with sentimental finds from her family, too.
“The pillows on the chairs were my mother’s, and the records on the wall are from my father’s collection, which adds a personal layer to the space,” Jude explained at the time of the House Tour. “The rug is from West Elm. I like how this area feels like a quiet moment within the living room, blending vintage finds with meaningful pieces.”
Jude proves that you don’t have to sacrifice a dream just because your space might seem small. Using furniture placement to your advantage — especially if you already have the items — is an inexpensive way to get the best of both worlds without adding more furniture. To see more of Jude’s beautiful home, visit the full House Tour.