Help me with a new lounge layout please!
Discussion
We’re almost done with decorating the house we moved into last year and carpets throughout are on the agenda soon. We’re thinking about new furniture at the same time. What we have now we brought from the old house.
We can’t get our head around the layout of the lounge. I can’t come up with a better layout than we have now.
It’s just the two of us (plus a small spaniel). No plans for kids. Occasional entertaining for maybe 4-6 others. Bigger gatherings would be summer BBQs, so everyone outside. Every now and then 10ish family members come over, but we tend to just squeeze in wherever we can, being family and all. Plus we have a large kitchen diner, so some tend to hang out in there.
This is what we have now:
Room dimensions empty:
It’s a real open fireplace that does get used. There’s a good chance we’ll put a log burner in there at some point.
The windows don’t open inwards. I just couldn’t work out how to flip them on the free software I used.
I’ve got one eye on resale, as we probably intend on being here for about another 3-4 years and then move on.
I feel like we could make better use if the space, but my lack of imagination is holding me back.
Any ideas on how to lay the room out better?
We can’t get our head around the layout of the lounge. I can’t come up with a better layout than we have now.
It’s just the two of us (plus a small spaniel). No plans for kids. Occasional entertaining for maybe 4-6 others. Bigger gatherings would be summer BBQs, so everyone outside. Every now and then 10ish family members come over, but we tend to just squeeze in wherever we can, being family and all. Plus we have a large kitchen diner, so some tend to hang out in there.
This is what we have now:
Room dimensions empty:
It’s a real open fireplace that does get used. There’s a good chance we’ll put a log burner in there at some point.
The windows don’t open inwards. I just couldn’t work out how to flip them on the free software I used.
I’ve got one eye on resale, as we probably intend on being here for about another 3-4 years and then move on.
I feel like we could make better use if the space, but my lack of imagination is holding me back.
Any ideas on how to lay the room out better?
Edited by HaplessBoyLard on Tuesday 19th January 22:45
I keep coming to more or less the same conclusion. I want a layout that means
1. We’re not facing away from the fire
2. Doesn’t make the patio door a pain to use, or impossible to use.
3. Doesn’t mean someone is sitting 18ft away from the TV or miles from everyone else in the room.
4. Doesn’t waste loads of space. At the moment, the space behind the sofa and where the square coffee table just wasted
Square lounge in my next house I think.
1. We’re not facing away from the fire
2. Doesn’t make the patio door a pain to use, or impossible to use.
3. Doesn’t mean someone is sitting 18ft away from the TV or miles from everyone else in the room.
4. Doesn’t waste loads of space. At the moment, the space behind the sofa and where the square coffee table just wasted
Square lounge in my next house I think.
Edited by HaplessBoyLard on Tuesday 19th January 23:25
Long and thin lounge is tricky... I suppose you could have two “zones”? TV down one end with a large two seater sofa directly opposite, and a socialising area the other end? You could swing the sofa to face into the room if / when you’re entertaining.
Not sure how you’d furnish the other end - couple of single seaters and a sofa, maybe?
Not sure how you’d furnish the other end - couple of single seaters and a sofa, maybe?
I would move the coner sofa down to the tv end but only so the end of the sofa lines up with the fire place edge.
Get rid of the big coffee table. Put the armchair where the big coffee table was with the footstool.
Put the bookcase either by the arm chair or behind the sofa by the door.
The little coffee table in front of the sofa.
Get rid of the big coffee table. Put the armchair where the big coffee table was with the footstool.
Put the bookcase either by the arm chair or behind the sofa by the door.
The little coffee table in front of the sofa.
I would start with removing the bookcase and slightly moving the sofa towards the patio doors ( just a bit to line up with fireplace) and bring the coffee table ( I don't know if the one in corner is too large or the one next to it it's too small) but I would position that in front of the sofa and armchair to create more polished look. If the footrest from sofa is removable you can stick it between the tv and the fireplace when visitors around to stay in a social circle. The bookcase could go where is the large coffee table ( or you can put the footrest in front of the bookcase and rotate for the right look 
HaplessBoyLard said:
Sherman, Vigtora...thanks. Food for thought for the meantime.
We are looking to update the furniture though. Primarily the sofas, but we’d be happy to find some other bits to go with them if need be, so what I’m asking is what would you do starting from scratch?
From scratch I would still lay it out the same. Maybe a longer straight sofa rather than a corner sofa but not dis similar to what I prevously said.We are looking to update the furniture though. Primarily the sofas, but we’d be happy to find some other bits to go with them if need be, so what I’m asking is what would you do starting from scratch?
Wombat3 said:
Nice to see a room not dominated by a huge TV.
Whatever you do do NOT stick it on the wall over the fireplace!
It’s 48”. I still consider that pretty big Whatever you do do NOT stick it on the wall over the fireplace!
I’ve no intention of it going above the fireplace. I can’t be arsed cutting holes to feed cables. No idea if it would get too hot up there, but it’s not happening regardless.
sherman said:
From scratch I would still lay it out the same. Maybe a longer straight sofa rather than a corner sofa but not dis similar to what I prevously said.
I agree with the straight sofa and good size coffee table perhaps consider two armchairs or poofs (could be used as a footstool too) for visitors ( you can position them either from each side of the sofa or as an L-shape or even in the corner where the large coffee table stands now, depends on the size) What about this?
Get rid of the book shelf and big coffee table. They’re probably a bit imposing anyway.
Get some shelves knocked up for the spaces on the wall either end to accommodate the tat that’s currently on the bookshelf. Get a small side table for a 2 seater near the fire. Keep the smaller table we currently have, because I made it and she’s not throwing it out
I’m not a fan of coffee tables in the middle of the room when there’s limited width. I’d kick it all the time, and I lay on the floor a lot as I’ve got a chronic stiff back and like to stretch while she’s watching Eastenders.
Maybe a smaller footstool that could be shifted between either sofa as we see fit.
Might not need the armchair either.
Edit:
Or this...
Sofa, armchair and one of those oversize “snuggle” chairs.
Get rid of the book shelf and big coffee table. They’re probably a bit imposing anyway.
Get some shelves knocked up for the spaces on the wall either end to accommodate the tat that’s currently on the bookshelf. Get a small side table for a 2 seater near the fire. Keep the smaller table we currently have, because I made it and she’s not throwing it out
I’m not a fan of coffee tables in the middle of the room when there’s limited width. I’d kick it all the time, and I lay on the floor a lot as I’ve got a chronic stiff back and like to stretch while she’s watching Eastenders.
Maybe a smaller footstool that could be shifted between either sofa as we see fit.
Might not need the armchair either.
Edit:
Or this...
Sofa, armchair and one of those oversize “snuggle” chairs.
Edited by HaplessBoyLard on Wednesday 20th January 01:23
8-10 years ago I bought a house with a rather oddly shaped lounge and couldn't work out how best to use it. I actually got rid of all the furniture, except for the TV and then got a bunch of really rather expensive (and actually very comfy) bean bags. Over a period of a few months, I watched how people would use the bean bags and used that to work out what "full time" furniture was required.
HaplessBoyLard said:
What about this?
Get rid of the book shelf and big coffee table. They’re probably a bit imposing anyway.
Get some shelves knocked up for the spaces on the wall either end to accommodate the tat that’s currently on the bookshelf. Get a small side table for a 2 seater near the fire. Keep the smaller table we currently have, because I made it and she’s not throwing it out
I’m not a fan of coffee tables in the middle of the room when there’s limited width. I’d kick it all the time, and I lay on the floor a lot as I’ve got a chronic stiff back and like to stretch while she’s watching Eastenders.
Maybe a smaller footstool that could be shifted between either sofa as we see fit.
Might not need the armchair either.
Drop the armchair and put a pouffe in its place and move as needed between the 2 sofas. Get rid of the book shelf and big coffee table. They’re probably a bit imposing anyway.
Get some shelves knocked up for the spaces on the wall either end to accommodate the tat that’s currently on the bookshelf. Get a small side table for a 2 seater near the fire. Keep the smaller table we currently have, because I made it and she’s not throwing it out
I’m not a fan of coffee tables in the middle of the room when there’s limited width. I’d kick it all the time, and I lay on the floor a lot as I’ve got a chronic stiff back and like to stretch while she’s watching Eastenders.
Maybe a smaller footstool that could be shifted between either sofa as we see fit.
Might not need the armchair either.
I also wouldnt put the shelves above the tv. It will distract your eye from the picture constantly.
I would put 3/4 shelves on the wall beside the two seater. Even possibly make one low enough and deep enough to be used as a cup rest and shelf.
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