Question: My living room is long and narrow. It is carpeted, and the front door entry, kitchen and dining room are covered with 12-inch terra cotta tiles. I want to get some ideas of how to arrange furniture.

We have the TV on the small wall, the couch on the long wall and two oversize chairs on each side of the fireplace. It looks elongated. I would like the room to be cozy. We do not have a TV room, so this is where we watch television.

Also, the point in the vaulted ceiling starts in the center of the long wall and runs to the dining room. I have yet to purchase end tables or coffee tables, so I could use some suggestions.

Anne Peterson
Groveland (Tuolumne County)

Answer: A long room has the potential to be cozy, but dividing the spaces within it is necessary to create that charming, intimate feeling.

Because your room is an L shape, let's divide the space into two rooms. The more permanent approach is to construct a pair of walls that divide the living area from the dining area. But if building walls isn't practical, you can create the effect of walls with fabric.

Select fabric that you'll use in other applications, such as window treatments and upholstery accents. This fabric should have some body to it. Use it to create shirred drapes that hang from rods spanning the desired length. These drapes will act as walls. Use two different fabrics sewn back to back or a reversible fabric so the dining room side has a finished look as well. Let the drapes hang straight down as though they're walls or make them wide enough that you can do a gentle pull-back for a more dramatic effect.

With two distinct spaces, we can start placing the furniture. You didn't mention your furniture style, but since cozy is what we're going for, I'll assume it's traditional. Let's take the largest piece, your sofa, and place it diagonally, facing the fireplace. To help define this area, let's put a console table behind it. On this table we'll put a medium-height lamp on the side nearest the wall. This gives you reading light on the sofa and helps divide the room with light. A bowl of flowers, some books and other charming accessories will complete the effect. A large plant on the floor behind the table will enhance the room division even more. Watching television is a primary function for the room, so I've put the TV opposite the sofa in a corner cabinet. The new walls we've added give us the corner we need for this piece of furniture. Ideally, the cabinet should have pocket doors so the TV isn't visible when not used. Next to the sofa is a club chair and in front of both is a coffee table. On the short wall where the TV used to be, let's put a console cabinet with a large, framed mirror over it. The cabinet provides storage and the mirror serves to minimize the narrowness of this part of the room by visually doubling the space. On each end of the console cabinet put a pair of tall candlestick-style lamps. The mirror will double the illumination they provide. Accessorize this space with more charming items, including a small piece of framed art on an easel.

On each side of the console cabinet is a pair of upholstered occasional chairs. These can be brought into the sofa area when you need more seating for guests.

Opposite the console cabinet, I've placed a writing table and chair. To add height to the space and make a lovely statement, this piece should be a tall ladies' secretary -- a delicate, ornate desk with a shelved cabinet above it. Sometimes the cabinet's doors are glass panels. The reflection of this charming piece in the console mirror would be delightful.

In the newly created corner across from the TV corner, I've added a little wood cabinet. This piece is there to create balance and fill the space. Over it you can hang a piece of art, either on the new wall or from the fabric wall's rod. In this case use monofilament, wire or cord to hang the art and disguise it with a pretty ribbon for a more decorative appearance.

To anchor the living room, add an interesting area rug over your carpet, and make sure it's on the same diagonal as the sofa.

For a cozy ambience in this living room area, use warm colors and fabrics that have interesting textures and patterns. Fabrics should complement each other to maximize the effect you want. You can use floral patterns, stripes, plaids and solids all together, as long as they're coordinated with a basic theme. (Many fabric companies have designed patterns that work together and display these combinations to help you make your selections.)

In any room, accessories, lighting, art and plants make the ultimate statement of style. This may be the most challenging aspect of creating cozy rather than chaotic and cluttered spaces, so select pieces wisely and place them together in groupings that convey order and intent.

 

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