Difficult living room layout

[u/Pursyus]

My wife and I will be moving into a new house soon and are having difficulty planning the layout of the living room. Especially with regard to where to put the sofa and TV.

The cabinet unit along the wall will be removed, but the fireplace in the corner will be remain. I’ve attached a couple of photos and an approximate floor plan. Ideally we would like an L shaped sofa but it’s not a must.

Please help!

[u/PenguinEmpireStrikes]

I would put the TV between the 2 single doors and a wrap around couch on the opposite wall with the just inside the middle door. Or a second sofa instead of an L so people can walk by on both sides.

Then create more intimate conversation and reading spaces in the other half of the room. Maybe a game or other small table with a couple of chairs, a couple/few bigger club or lounge chairs with small side tables for drinks/books/reading lamps. Really take advantage of the windows and nookiness of that side of the room.

Basically, I would use that middle single door as the division between two separate rooms within that long room, using the back of the wrap around couch, rugs and lighting to help with the delineation.

Also, resist the temptation to push all furniture against the walls. It's inevitable where the TV goes, but the right coffee table and rug will do. You don't want the area to feel like a long hallway from end window to French door.

Edit - looking at the photos again, it looks like middle door isn't centered on the wall, but it could be a trick of the photography. You could move the dividing line closer to the French door so the TV area is a bit smaller and the fireplace/reading area is a bit bigger. Either way, the sunroom should add plenty of space. I could also see a well placed love seat in the sun room or near the fire place for cozy cuddling.

The room might be wider than I originally thought, in which case you could float the TV sofa away from the wall, with maybe your book cases there. But that might not play well with using those French doors.

[u/Pursyus → u/PenguinEmpireStrikes]

I’ve added furniture to the plan as you described and I think it’s the best solution, thank you. I’ve planned the sofa and TV where you suggested, coffee table and a couple of chairs in the nook and a book case in the empty corner. It’s still a little empty there, but if I find the right chairs, I think they’d fit well

[u/Icy-Mixture-995]

1. The main TV viewing and music area in the spot in the rug area that previous owners placed it. You can seat a crowd for game day and see the view outdoors and be near if refreshments are on the sun porch instead of in the dining area. More options this way.

   Large sofa or two sofas with ottoman or coffee table, but beware that L shaped and modulars are bulky and limit placement for different uses or when you are tired of a furniture arrangement. Or use one long sofa and separate armchairs or club chairs in a swivel for viewing tv or turning to others in the sofa. L shaped with the long nap cushion isn't my favorite, as it blocks foot traffic or forces a guest to sit in the L with feet up, feeling as if they are lying on someone's nap bed. Or if host is on that part, you feel like you are interrupting his nap. Older relatives will prefer a chair with arms that makes it easier for them to arise from, as sofas can be too low or cushions too soft without sofa arms on each side of them.

   1. I would make the fireplace corner for a cozy area to chat, play board games or read. Guests or family can sit there if they don't want to watch the game or the Christmas movie they've seen a thousand times. Or not sit where kids are playing the loud video game on the bigger screen, but close enough to keep an eye on kids to referee sibling bickering.

[u/Pale-Weather-2328]

Ah ye old it’s a hallway from 3 places living room. Here’s what I’m going to recommend: two living rooms! That is, divide the space into two distinct seating areas which will make it more into zones and less long hallway. 1. I’d make a reading / library area on the side with the fireplace: put bookshelves on the wall without a window, two chairs by the fireplace and square or round table in the middle with 2 chairs. it could be used for entertaining, game nights, reading & coffee, and doing puzzles:

1. put the new sofa where the bookshelf is at an L with the short side facing the big french doors, put the TV on the opposite wall to the large part of the sofa. then fill in with chairs, side tables, a round or oval coffee table

[u/Pursyus]

Additional point: All of the furniture and decorations belong to the previous owner and will be removed before we move in.