Any gathering of more than ten people will naturally break up into smaller conversations, so keep your seating arrangements tight. Hang a mirror to open up a room. That’s why I’ve pulled together some of what I believe are the smartest ideas for small seating areas when you don’t have room for a couch. Taken from the House & Garden March 2015 issue. This is the living room with two doors entering the living room and two doors leaving the living room. This example has a sofa and loveseat in classic l-shape orientation and includes two round ottoman seats. Positioned above the sofa and beside the entry to the dining area, it defines the living room as a stellar space that holds its own in the open floor plan. That is fact number one. Placing furniture in a living room that has doors and windows at every turn can be a nightmare of a layout dilemma – but don’t let it get to you. “Some people like a sectional to squeeze in more seating,” says McGee. If space doesn't allow it, make sure that at least the front legs of any large upholstered pieces are on the rug. This tiny abode is an exceptional study in taking advantage of what you have. All the inspiration you need to experiment with your layout. The exposed brick wall, wood floors and tall, sunny windows were already there when this designer showed up. This living room configuration is for those of you that like simplicity and ottoman seating. 1. Place no partition when you feel the overall space seems tiny. As this photo shows, the result feels very homey and topical. Nobody wants to feel like they’re entertaining in a train carriage or watching TV in a hallway. Save Pin It See More Images (Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Create visual interest by mixing rugs with different textures. If you desire more privacy, a tall, well-anchored bookshelf or a tri-fold Shoji screen sets off the dining area from the living room. I reached out to designer Donna Mondi of Donna Mondi Interior Design for a crash course on how to combine rugs. And, in a design such as this one, you get three additional beds, if the need arises. By Dennis Sarlo | Chairish and Monique Valeris. the stools are a brilliant touch because they create three distinct seating areas but could be used in multiple directions and they allow the eye to float across the room without obstruction, adding to the loftiness of the room. from this one angle, you can count 3 seating areas! It’s one of the many ways in which you can separate the zones that share the same floor plan. 10. But with some layout tweaks and a few visual tricks up your sleeve, you can learn to love your long room. As I have worked on another e-deisgn project, I have realized how great it is to have multiple seating areas in your living room… That last photo is one of my favorite versions of dual seating areas! Tell us Have you made two seating areas work in one room? One sofa, one loveseat, and two round ottoman seats. Jul 27, 2015 - Long living room features two separate sitting areas. The kitchen and the dining room often share the same space. A table and chairs to eat and another area where you can sit and relax with a glass of wine. If you have a lamp in one corner, position two more in the room to try and balance the light. TUCK IN SMALL SEATS — Once you’ve got your large seating covered (like a sofa), bring in smaller occasional chairs or upholstered cubes. Or take a leaf out of this homeowner’s book, and add two! One contains plain fabrics while the other chooses patterned ones. In this first floor plan, the living room has two entrances and two fireplaces, so I separated the room into two different seating areas; a lounging area and an entertaining area- each focused around a fireplace. I placed a sectional sofa by the largest fireplace and placed two console tables behind the sectional to create a divider between the spaces. Long, narrow living rooms (or family rooms) can be a chore to lay out and decorate, not to mention live in. If the living room and kitchen are in one room, they bring a sense of space, but you need to set the whole area so that one of the two rooms without losing their personality. View in gallery. You can even give each area a different function: one for watching TV and one for chatting, maybe. In the living room, a pair of chairs or love seats in an L-shape around an ottoman or low coffee table creates conversational seating. Don’t Crowd the Room With Clutter “I would be careful to not over clutter a space just because it’s large. This living room has a relaxed and luxurious lounge vibe in both distinct seating zones. I’ll show you how to create two outdoor seatings areas in a small space today. Both the living room and the family room are two important areas in a house. If you have a reading chair, position a lamp nearby. You can also use two area rugs for two separate conversation areas rather than one large one. Love this? Use ... Certain areas of your living room may be devoted to a specific task. Instead, divide your large room into smaller areas to create two intimate seating areas rather than one large one. Clever Living Room Dining Room Combo. One time there was a door to the sunroom in the middle of the large living room in an old Victorian. Of course, not every tight living area is conveniently wide open on one or two sides, as in the first example. Furniture placement and the layout of your living room will dictate how the space is used. The doors leaving are usually ... I’ve done larger rooms with two separate seating areas. july 2009. Simon Upton Two separate seating areas absorb floor space in the grand sitting room but, thanks to the armless sofas, one seating arrangement doesn't totally exclude the other. These standout elements capture the eye while improving how the space works. Most living areas fall back on the traditional model of having one couch act as the centering object of the space. And often it is the small area of the living space is a major obstacle for the realization of kitchen and living room combined interior design ideas into real life. A good solution for a room that is long and narrow is to create a second seating area. Put a lamp on your desk if you work in your living room. Double up. Given that, there is nice continuity between the two areas thanks to the natural materials used in the cane-sided armchair and the bamboo dining chairs. Nov 13, 2019 Peter Murdock. Advertisement. Problem: If Your Living Room is Super Long and Narrow ... Start With a Pair of Sofas: Set up the main seating area with two same-size couches and a coffee table in between. Part 3 of 3: Adding Accents and Decor. Fact number two is not to worry – you can get around this layout dilemma with some simple rules to follow. Abby of Abby M. Interiors created that space in her house and, not only does she have […] The living room in this image, however, shows you can place two different seating types. Or use a coffee table with two ottomans pulled up next to it. “ To make a large living room feel cozy, divide the room into separate areas if possible—ma ybe one smaller area moment next to a larger seating area, or flanking the room with back to back furniture into equal parts. The layout doesn’t interrupt the flow of walking through the space. Here we designed one large, rectangular living room two ways to show some of the possibilities and help inspire you for your home. 6. But we urge you to consider mirroring a pair in your floor plan—space and budget permitting, of course. Decorating a small living room is one thing, but decorating a small New York living room is a task and a half. It’s two facing sofas and two sitting ottomans. This open-concept design showcases four striking features, one in each space. Then you'll love Our collection of living room ideas. If you don’t quite have a large enough area for one, you could look at shelving – either side of the chimney breast is a great place to install shelving if you have one in your living room. In living rooms with limited space, instead of cluttering up the area with regular furniture with arm rests, diwan sofas that placed against the wall bring a lighter look to the room. To make them feel like separate spaces without putting a wall in between, one solution is to add a little bit of character to one of the areas with paint. A long, low cabinet or bench may create subtle definition between your living room and dining room areas. Sometimes people get confused and, as a result, the terms become interchangeable. This enormous living room is separated by a single wide archway, which makes it easy to separate the rooms into two distinct seating areas. This can be achieved by the use of combinations of colors, furniture and other decorative accessories. 30+ Elegant Ways to Arrange Living Room Seating. This symmetrical living room furniture arrangement (and sofa layout) may not seem profound, yet it's an instant game-changer for a number of reasons we detail below. You can have two separate areas to hang out, the sectional sofa and the fireplace seats, but they’re also open to each other and cohesive in style. “But in a tight room like this, it makes traffic flow tricky. And don’t forget living room furniture such as sofas, benches and ottomans that lift up to reveal hidden storage; providing seating and storing space at the same time. Tell us how or post a picture in the Comments below. To get started, you're going to want to arrange furniture in a way that maximizes the functionality of your open-plan interior without sacrificing style. When you have more than one seating area in a space—dining area, living area, etc.—you’re going to need multiple rugs to get the job done. If you don’t have the luxury of split levels and you’re having trouble making two seating areas work in one room, consider adding a covered seating area outside to extend your living space. This long rectangular living room features a refined layout with traditional appeal and ample seating. The only thing it was missing was color, and this darling space is the result. 11. Rug – Using area rugs is a great way to define seating areas, but the number one mistake people make in the living room is using an area rug that's too small. You can place two sofas back to back and then create the two different seating areas around them. Living room and kitchen in one - the range of common colors . Match the color of the living room and dining room seating sets. However, the fact is that the living room is far from being the same thing as the family room and there are some remarkable differences between the two. The coffee table is what sets this living room apart being a two-level white table with a dark steel frame. Seating area for large, small or awkward room via BHG. When it comes to setting up your dining room and living area, it's important to establish each one as its own space—otherwise, you'll end up having dinner on the couch, in front of the TV with a pop-up tray. Simple living room with one small white sofa, one white armchair and one armless antique chair around a rectangular dark brown coffee table. From floor cushions and lift-up coffee tables, to storage that doubles as a standing desk, below are 15 innovative seating area ideas for small living rooms that won’t fit a couch. The living room is typically the most used part of a home, so it needs to be multifunctional and reflect your personality. 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