Question: My large (27- by 16-foot) living room is also the television room. I have a fireplace on one end and the TV on the other. There's also an enormous window with a view and a love seat. How should I configure the furniture? Two sitting areas?

Jennifer Lowery
Kensington

Answer: Long rooms are always a design challenge. How do you have an intimate conversation with someone who is sitting 10 feet away from you? How do you watch a normal-size television from 15 feet away? Your intuition to make two seating areas is a good one.

The challenge with two seating areas is to integrate them so they still look as if they're part of the same room. Additionally, we want to design the furniture arrangement so that people can relate to each other from one side to another if the need should occur.

VISUAL COHESIVENESS

How do you visually define each space? The most obvious way is to use areas rugs. They should be similar to each other to keep the space integrated, for example, a pair of Oriental rugs if the room's style is traditional or two custom-made rugs with borders that will define the spaces even more clearly. As well, bordered rugs lend themselves to many different furnishing styles. Choose carpet materials and borders that complement your own taste.

Since the visual anchor of this room is the fireplace let's start with it. It's the first thing you see when entering the room and should visually draw you into the space.

The small window on one side of the fireplace seems like an afterthought, so my suggestion is to "design it out" visually. Because you already have a large window, we'll save that one for the "big" drapery treatment -- otherwise, fabric swags on either side of the fireplace would have been one way to disguise the small window. Instead, put a piece of art on each side of the fireplace. (Make sure you cover the window with plywood before hanging anything over it.) Because the scale of the fireplace is large, the art should be large as well. This will create a better sense of balance on this end of the room. Again, to keep things in scale, decorate the mantel with only a few interesting but large pieces grouped together.

Because people tend to gather for conversation and warmth near the fireplace, the seating area near it should be conducive for conversation or for cuddling up with a good book. Large, comfortable chairs should be placed on each side of the fireplace facing each other. One ottoman for both chairs makes this area more intimate. Use end tables for glasses and reading material, and place small table lamps on them or floor lamps nearby. Next, let's consider the wall with the large window. Consider taking a dramatic approach to the drapery style. Use rich textures and bold trims. Large, extravagant tie-backs and contrasting trim on the fabric will make this area even more interesting.

Opposite the large window wall you could place an antique or reproduction armoire to house the family's entertainment system. When closed, it hides the hardware but when open it allows the TV to provide a focal point. Place the sofa in front of the large window with a view to the armoire on the opposite wall. Another comfortable chair, a coffee table and a couple of end tables finish this seating arrangement.

An upholstered bench-style seat without a back provides the perfect transition piece to tie both sections together. Place it perpendicular to the sofa and parallel to the fireplace. It will visually connect the two areas of the room and help groups of people converse across the large space.

FABRIC CHOICES UNIFY THE LOOK

The colors and textures of the fabrics you choose for the room will help integrate the space visually, so select a palette that provides warmth and interest. Don't be afraid of texture. It adds depth without taking up "eye space."

Repeat some of the fabrics throughout the room. For example, the drapery material could be used as throw pillows on the chairs near the fireplace, and the ottoman fabric could also be used for the sofa. Let your own creativity dictate how much to use.

Finally, a divided room needs to be clutter-free to keep the eye moving from one part to another. Too much stuff in one place and the eye will get stuck, causing the overall effect to be lost.

 

TO GO BACK TO THE "ARTICLES" PAGE, CLICK HERE