UPDATED W/ GRAPH PAPER Layout help

[InBetweenDays]

I think I'd get two new accent chairs, pulling color from the rug. I'd position them across from the settee with the table in between the chairs and a coffee table/ottoman in the middle if there is room. Then put a tv armoire on the wall where the mirror is currently.

I don't like this color, but I like the shape of these chairs. (33x28") 

[AmyRI]

Feb 26, 2015 1:33:46 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Or like this. I think a single seat cushion looks better and functions better in a small room. 

I love this idea - something small, curved, and low-backed to separate the living room and dining room. I think that would make it more comfortable when you have guests over, because you can sit across from each other instead of perpendicular to each other facing the TV/dining room. I'd ditch the chair next to the TV and make that the walkway to the dining room.

Could you make a coffee table with a leaded glass top? That would tie in to the other furniture and let you see through it to the rug and take up less visual space than a solid wood table.

I'd also focus on figuring out a better TV stand. Even if the TV stays out, getting the rest of the bits hidden and maybe a shelf or art over the TV would make it less of a focal point.

[theintended]

I'd put the TV on the wall where the mirror is, the chairs in front of the window with a lower table between them, and the couch across from them, with its back to the dining area. I might wall-mount the TV, get a lower media cabinet, with the components inside, and put plants on top of it or flanking each side to take the focus off the electronics a bit. If there's room, I'd put a rectangular, narrow, glass or light-colored coffee table in the middle.

[TBM]

I understand that you need traffic to flow through the space, but that doesn't mean that you have to keep the middle of the room wide open.

You mentioned that it seems like the LR is centered on the TV, but to me it seems like the TV is sort of between the two rooms and the LR kind of looks like a waiting room, with everything lined up along the walls facing other rooms. We just turned our furniture so that nothing is square to the TV, and suddenly the furniture works better both for conversation and for TV viewing. We had actually left too much space for traffic flow before, and even though we moved furniture and made it feel cozier, nothing actually changed with the flow.


ETA:  I feel like I need to see more photos of the space....maybe different angles that show the entire space.

[TBM]

Feb 26, 2015 11:33:28 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

In a small space I think it's fine to use the furniture to define rooms. Mine is a bit awkward now because of the new recliner (which I adore) but I like having a definite edge between the living and dining spaces.
I agree with TBM that it feels like a waiting room right now, which is why I'd cozy it up with more furniture.
As far as the chairs, I'd put them together with wall lamps behind them, and tables (kind of under the lamps) on the end that also serve the settle and proposed new sofa/loveseat.

Have we seen your recliner?  I need photos!


I think I would switch things around and put the chairs by the window, and maybe add more chairs (or a chair and a half or loveseat) ....or maybe an upholstered bench with or w/o arms/sides,  rather than another sofa.  We may have a problem with chair collecting at this house though ,   but I find it easier to move them around (and back) as needed.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I like the idea of getting a second piece of some sort and using it to define the space versus the dining room, but I can see how it might also impede the flow of traffic. It really isn't as large a space as it looks in those photos. I think the reason it looks so large, though, is because of the vast open space on the rug.

I like TBM's idea of getting maybe a chair and a half or loveseat, but I think I'd either switch the loveseat and settle and put the chairs over by the dining room (so they can be easily moved if necessary) or put whichever is narrowest near the dining room, opposite the other long piece and leave the chairs where they are. Also, I'd get a coordinating (not necessarily matching) tufted ottoman to fill the "blank" in the middle of the room.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Yes. What exactly are you looking to do?

Move the tv but keep the equipment located as-is? Something else? Also, what do you have currently that's connected to the tv? I don't need brands, just a list of equipment. (i.e. bluray, vcr, wii ...)

[TBM]

Feb 26, 2015 13:46:11 GMT -5 @juno said:

Feb 26, 2015 11:27:26 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

There are gizmos to make wireless work.
:whispers: YHL taught me that. I can't remember what they are called. RFID maybe?

OK, well, I'll need someone to walk me through this slowly and with small words   One Google search overwhelmed me.  mrs.jacinthe, does your H know anything about this stuff?

It's called an IR repeater. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

I just asked R, and he said assuming your tv is HDMI compatible and all your devices are plugged together into one HDMI compatible item, this is your best option: www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815804040

He says "there are cheaper options out there, but Gefen seems to have a good reputation in that area."

[mrs.jacinthe]

Feb 26, 2015 14:06:53 GMT -5 TBM said:

Feb 26, 2015 13:46:11 GMT -5 @juno said:

OK, well, I'll need someone to walk me through this slowly and with small words   One Google search overwhelmed me.  mrs.jacinthe, does your H know anything about this stuff?

It's called an IR repeater. 

An IR repeater is designed to make your remote control work through walls, cabinet doors, etc.  I think @juno is trying to move the TV away from the equipment.  At least that's the impression I got.  If I'm wrong, please correct me.  LOL

[mrs.jacinthe]

Ahhh, ok. Fishing cables through the wall isn't the easiest thing to do. Honestly, you have a couple options. A) You could have an electrical box installed behind where the tv will hang and use the above-recommended HDMI wireless receiver/sender. B) You could run the HDMI/etc through the wall too and have everything connect via wire, but behind the tv.

Option A requires an electrical plug installed at height, a tv mount, the wireless HDMI thingy listed above, and possibly an IR repeater (dependent on the setup).
Option B requires an electrical plug installed at height, probably horizontal in-wall HDMI/AV cable runs, a tv mount, and possibly an IR repeater (again, dependent on setup).

ETA: R says that IR repeater is necessary if you put the equipment behind something solid (like a wooden door) or if there's no direct line of sight (like you put it in the front room instead.)

[mrs.jacinthe]

Feb 26, 2015 15:59:37 GMT -5 @juno said:

Feb 26, 2015 14:30:46 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Ahhh, ok. Fishing cables through the wall isn't the easiest thing to do. Honestly, you have a couple options. A) You could have an electrical box installed behind where the tv will hang and use the above-recommended HDMI wireless receiver/sender. B) You could run the HDMI/etc through the wall too and have everything connect via wire, but behind the tv.

Option A requires an electrical plug installed at height, a tv mount, the wireless HDMI thingy listed above, and possibly an IR repeater (dependent on the setup).
Option B requires an electrical plug installed at height, probably horizontal in-wall HDMI/AV cable runs, a tv mount, and possibly an IR repeater (again, dependent on setup).

ETA: R says that IR repeater is necessary if you put the equipment behind something solid (like a wooden door) or if there's no direct line of sight (like you put it in the front room instead.)

Thanks for all this.  I'll have to think about what we're going to do.  I'll have to come up with a plan I can execute in phases ($$-wise).

I'm sure R would be glad to help with the wiring, setup, etc when you decide.  He loves doing this stuff. 

[nomad100]

I think it almost has to be #2 if you don't want to have to sit sideways to watch the TV (not sure if this is your main TV room). The settle doesn't look that comfortable to sit on for very long (but I may be wrong).

[nomad100]

Not sure of the size of the coffee table, but could you do two smaller tables instead of one big piece? It would help with the moveability aspect as well.

[nomad100]

Good luck. Furniture stuff in a long and narrow space can be a PITA.

In our old four square, we had a similar set up with the LR flowing into the DR (with similar dimensions since our house was about 25x25 ft) and needing to have traffic flow. We had a big coffee table and just kept it since we had it but when we got some smaller pieces when getting ready to sell (to make the space seem bigger), we did the 2 tables as one coffee table and wished we did it sooner. Made the space seem so much bigger (and the smaller sofa helped too ).

[TBM]

On paper, I prefer #3. It seems like a more balanced layout with the way that both seating pieces relate to the coffee table and the way the settle relates to the tv. The second one just seems like nothing actually relates to anything else...more like it is all arranged for fit rather than function.

I usually find that it is kind of a crapshoot as to whether what it looks like on paper actually feels right in the space, which I guess is why I wind up moving things around a zillion times. ;p

[mrs.jacinthe]

I like option #3 above. Settle facing the tv, new loveseat in the window. I think I'd probably move the end table to the other end of the settle though, or get another one to go there, for sake of glassware/lamp/whatever.