Family room layout/decor help

[linz]

H and I bought a new home this summer and I'm stuck on the family room. We have another living room area which we use as a play room. I specifically want help with the corner where the lamp/end table are. I feel like it looks too bare. I also wonder if this is the best layout of furniture? The room opens into the dining room which leads into the kitchen.

[stephm0188]

It needs color. It's all very taupey beige, which is probably why it feels bare. Add color with art and accessories, maybe some patterned curtains and throw pillows.

[magdala]

stephm0188, is right, it needs color. There is no linkage between the fireplace wall and the seating. Adding colorful accessories to the fireplace wall and then the same color family to the couches will link the two halves of the room.

[InBetweenDays]

I agree with the others. You definitely need more color - on the walls, as throw pillows/blankets, and on the fireplace hearth.

I'd also consider getting bigger lampshades for the lamps, and maybe moving the chair in the foreground over so it's across from the loveseat. Or closer to the fireplace and slightly angled back towards the couch.

A coffee table with books/sitters could look nice too.

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 24, 2016 20:49:49 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I agree with the others. You definitely need more color - on the walls, as throw pillows/blankets, and on the fireplace hearth.

I'd also consider getting bigger lampshades for the lamps, and maybe moving the chair in the foreground over so it's across from the loveseat. Or closer to the fireplace and slightly angled back towards the couch.

A coffee table with books/sitters could look nice too.

I agree about the seating - you could easily make it look very purposeful by moving the chair.

[partiallysunny]

Color. Larger rug.

[bullygirl979]

Agree with PP. You need a bigger rug, some color. Also, I cannot tell from your pics, but your end tables may be too small, as well.

[munkii]

With the way the TV is hanging, I don't think you can move the sofa, but can you move the loveseat off the wall and bring it in closer, or maybe switch it with the recliner? The way it is set up now, there is no intimacy or grouping. Like others said, you need more color, a much larger rug, larger lamps, and art.

What are the track lights for? They seem random and not very helpful for TV viewing. The little piece of art by the door needs to be hung lower and/or grouped with other pieces.

If the fireplace is gas, a seat cushion or vases or something to the hearth. If it's woodburning, add a decorative wood holder and some tools.

[dr.girlfriend]

- Bigger rug
- Seating clustered -- I would move the loveseat to the other side but have it at right angles to the couch, as long as there's still enough space for traffic flow around it, and put the chair next to the window. Then I'd do bookshelves or tables with art above them on either side of the window. And throw pillows or at least a nice blanket on the couch.

[caddywompus]

Definitely needs more color overall. I would place some large colorful pottery or something on that big hearth, and coordinate the color in the rest of the room with pillows, throws and artwork. Maybe 2 matching pieces on the corner walls by that back lamp. I also agree with moving the loveseat to the near side of the couch, at a 90 degree angle, to sorta close in the living room and make it more cozy.

[linz]

Ok thank you! I don't really want to do a coffee table as we have young kids and they tend to run around that room a lot. But will try rearranging the furniture. I wasn't in love with the layout, more just where it got thrown to start. I also will adjust the track lighting (as I've been meaning to) and decorate the fireplace as we don't plan to use it. I bought those curtains new when we moved in and could kick myself for not getting something better with color, but I was in a hurry to just get windows covered. We also don't really need the lamps since there is enough light, they came from our old house. 

[froggy76]

I would add color and artwork, get a bigger rug, and move the furniture away from the walls. The big couch can come forward a bit, and you could even get a console table to put behind it for decoration. The recliner could go next to the fireplace angled toward the couches to create more of a conversation area. A coffee table or ottoman would also make everything look cozier and more finished, but I sympathize with wanting to keep space for kids to run around.

[doctoranda]

You could do a big ottoman (with a nice color) instead of a coffee table and I would put some plants (I personally love plants) here and there. Maybe you could also put something on the fireplace ledge (either a basket with wood, plant, some non-breakable art, stack of mags, assembled candles, wtvr). I also agree with moving the chair across the love seat, and also to move everything away from the walls.

[lolalolalola]

Oct 25, 2016 10:03:37 GMT -5 superduper said:

I agree with everyone else:

bigger rug
more color through accessories
a more cozy seating area
re-direct where the track light is pointing
accessories around the fire place
more substantial wall art

I'd also get bigger lamps and bring in a coffee table or large ottoman. Actually, I'd probably do a large round ottoman which can double as additional seating and is a great way to bring in color and texture.

Where is this ottoman from? 

[auntie]

Specific to the corner you asked about.

The lamps are a problem. The scale is too small for both the room in which you have placed them and for the manly over-stuffed furniture set. They look matchy-matchy, like they came as one of those $99.99 Bed, Bath & Beyond sets with a floor lamp and 2 side lamps.

Beyond that, the space seems to be designed along the lines of safe choices and feels a little devoid of personality. You need some art, perhaps sculpture on the hearth. A large plant might work in the corner especially if you float love seat and chair off the walls. The furniture placement feels a bit like you moved it out of the way so you'd have room to play Twister in the center or something.

[linz]

Oct 27, 2016 4:35:47 GMT -5 auntie said:

Specific to the corner you asked about.

The lamps are a problem. The scale is too small for both the room in which you have placed them and for the manly over-stuffed furniture set. They look matchy-matchy, like they came as one of those $99.99 Bed, Bath & Beyond sets with a floor lamp and 2 side lamps.

Beyond that, the space seems to be designed along the lines of safe choices and feels a little devoid of personality. You need some art, perhaps sculpture on the hearth. A large plant might work in the corner especially if you float love seat and chair off the walls. The furniture placement feels a bit like you moved it out of the way so you'd have room to play Twister in the center or something.

I thought about just removing the lamps completely. We had them at our old house because there was literally no light in our living room. Now we don't need them at all. All the furniture is old so wasn't bought for this particular room. I did wonder if a plant would work in that corner. I moved the recliner and love seat and like the layout much better. 

[eponee]

Is painting the fireplace wall an option?  I agree that the table lamps are out of proportion so get those before deciding on a paint colour for the fireplace wall = it's less painful to get the paint last because there is more choice than if you got the paint first and then the shades.  Although you said that you dont really need the lamps, they would add interest to the room.

Then get some new cushions and a throw or two for the sofas.  I agree with moving the chair closer to the sofas.

That ottoman is gorgeous and would look great, and I like the idea of a big plant in the corner, maybe a fiddle leaf fig

[dr.girlfriend]

Oct 27, 2016 13:21:39 GMT -5 superduper said:

Oct 26, 2016 14:43:43 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

Where is this ottoman from? 

I think it was Wayfair. I'll see if I can find it again.

superduper lolalolalola

Here it is:
www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?parentid=16007&aid=cj?aid=cj


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[lolalolalola]

Oct 29, 2016 19:33:46 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Oct 27, 2016 13:21:39 GMT -5 superduper said:

I think it was Wayfair. I'll see if I can find it again.

superduper lolalolalola

Here it is:
www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?parentid=16007&aid=cj?aid=cj


Save

Thank you! I've been looking for this for a while. Even ships to Canada!

[dr.girlfriend]

Oct 29, 2016 21:53:07 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

Oct 29, 2016 19:33:46 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

superduper lolalolalola

Here it is:
www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?parentid=16007&aid=cj?aid=cj


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Thank you! I've been looking for this for a while. Even ships to Canada!

Google reverse image search has changed my life.  :-)  If you haven't done it before, right-click on the picture and copy the address.  Then go to Google, choose "Images," and click the little camera in the search bar.  That allows you to paste the picture URL in, and then it finds other instances of that picture on the web.  I did that and then chose "Shopping," but if you also want to find the origin of the picture (e.g., there's a beautiful pic of tile and you want to know what it is, so you're looking for the person who originally posted the pic) you can sort by size for the largest pic and that's usually the original one.
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[whisperingalene]

Oct 25, 2016 18:00:03 GMT -5 doctoranda said:

You could do a big ottoman (with a nice color) instead of a coffee table and I would put some plants (I personally love plants) here and there. Maybe you could also put something on the fireplace ledge (either a basket with wood, plant, some non-breakable art, stack of mags, assembled candles, wtvr). I also agree with moving the chair across the love seat, and also to move everything away from the walls.

I agree- we have a relatively inexpensive leather storage cocktail ottoman in our family room which is great for storage, but also has soft sides to it for the kids.  A few natural element accessories- a wicker basket to hold pretty blankets or firewood, a wood tray on an ottoman, etc. will help warm up the space. Down the line, I might also consider a nice reclaimed wood mantle which will help bring some warmth to the space.  Right now with the limited color and hard surfaces, it comes across as a bit sterile.

I myself am afraid of color- so I believe it's possible to use accessories to help bring a space together and to make it cozy.  

ETA: I would also consider blinds in addition to your curtains- you can keep the blinds closed and the curtains will add some softness.