Help me think about house layout

[mcburglar]

I'm totally unsure about how to set up our new house. There are two living areas that are interchangeable. I can't decide how to group our needs. Do we put tv, couch, and table in one room? Office area with table? I don't know!

I've been playing with a room design app. This is one possibility. The big empty room is the kitchen which could have room for the table. I don't know how to set up the other half of the front/dining room. And I don't think I can get all of the books/desk/ storage pieces in the room with the couch.

I'm going to mock up another option but it will take awhile. I'm slow.

Thoughts?

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[mcburglar]

And a second layout. This has the tv and sectional in the front room.

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[sunshineluv]

I would prefer to have the table in the room with the kitchen.

[ktstorm]

Where are your bedrooms in regards to your layouts?

Our living room is just down the hall from B's bedroom and we can't use it all since he sleeps with his door open. Around the corner is the dining room and kitchen which we can use though. So my vote is to keep the tv and couch as far away from the bedrooms as possible.

[alicia45]

Where are the bedrooms? Upstairs? Do you already have an office?

I'd be tempted to put the table in the kitchen, the family room of the first option and then with that extra room off the front, I'd make it an office/playroom. Lots of shelves, a kids table for art, a desk for you in the corner. It seems like the perfect play space because it's a closed space. You could close a door if it's a mess.

[mcburglar]

sunshineluv I would prefer the table in the kitchen but am afraid it will block the flow.

[mcburglar]

I mocked up the whole house. Badly.

jamaicam Thad's toys will live in the bedroom and our spare room. I think I'll have a basket of toys in the living area but I'm trying to keep it to a minimum.

ktstorm the living area is entirely separated from the bedrooms. Thank goodness. We are sick of creeping around the sleeping kid.

[mcburglar]

alicia45 I would like to make the front room a study kind of room but I feel like it is weird to walk in the front door into that. The foyer is very small. And there are no doors, just door ways in the living area.

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[alicia45]

May 28, 2015 8:39:11 GMT -5 mcburglar said:

alicia45 I would like to make the front room a study kind of room but I feel like it is weird to walk in the front door into that. The foyer is very small. And there are no doors, just door ways in the living area.

Okay, this makes sense now. Do you think you'll actually use two seating places? If not, I'd make that room an office or library or something usable. I agree with a pp, in that you want your tv as far from his room as possible. We couldn't watch movies in our room when her room was the office downstairs. She'd wake up every time!

Oh, and what about a pull out sofa in the spare room for guests?

[alicia45]

May 28, 2015 8:43:48 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

I'd probably make the front room the more formal room. You could have your bookcases in there. Also, you could have your desk in there - if you don't already have a desk, you could think about a bureau type desk so it looks a bit more elegant and not so obvious?

Then I'd have the tv and whatever is the most comfortable seating option in the room beside the kitchen. I'd be very tempted to put the table in the kitchen. And probably get a nice trunk or cofee table with storage for some of Thad's toys (as some will always migrate there and it's nice to have something to throw them in quickly when you suddenly want to look neat!)

Yes, storage for the inevitable toys. We have cube storage with canvas drawers. When it's all cleaned up, it looks fine and our living room doesn't scream "there's a kid that lives here!"

[mcburglar]

May 28, 2015 8:47:11 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

May 28, 2015 8:43:48 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

I'd probably make the front room the more formal room. You could have your bookcases in there. Also, you could have your desk in there - if you don't already have a desk, you could think about a bureau type desk so it looks a bit more elegant and not so obvious?

Then I'd have the tv and whatever is the most comfortable seating option in the room beside the kitchen. I'd be very tempted to put the table in the kitchen. And probably get a nice trunk or cofee table with storage for some of Thad's toys (as some will always migrate there and it's nice to have something to throw them in quickly when you suddenly want to look neat!)

Yes, storage for the inevitable toys. We have cube storage with canvas drawers. When it's all cleaned up, it looks fine and our living room doesn't scream "there's a kid that lives here!"

There will definitely be some small storage all over. I'm a mess. I require lots of places to shove crap.

[mcburglar]

I also want to showcase this piece a bit. It has been living at my parents' house but it is mine and I love it.

Its the green thing.

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[ktstorm]

I know a lot of people who have a formal living room/office at the front of their house, and then a "family" room at the back of the house. Not weird at all!

When you have guests the adults can congregate in the formal living room, and kids can play/destroy the other area.

I love the green piece

[mcburglar]

How do we feel about floating shelves? I'd still need some heavy bookshelves probably but I love the look of floating shelves.

Will they ruin my walls if I change my mind later?