Design Advice for a Living Room - Designed in a Click Consultation

I’m sharing another Designed in a Click consultation today, this one for a living room.

This homeowner was consdering reupholstering her sofa and loveseat which felt a little plain to her. She wanted some ideas for the tv/bookcase wall too, something on the walls up high. She was also wondering if a new rug would help this room.

Let’s dive in and I’ll share my thoughts and the advice I gave her!

My blog contains affiliate links. Any purchases, at no additional charge to you, render me a small percentage, are most appreciated and make this blog possible. :-)

I love the wall color here and I think the black at the fireplace works to give a bit of a modern vibe. It also serves to diminish the impact the tv screen has on the space too, which is nice.

First of all, I'd like to address the layout. 

I understand you might want to  have your sofa pushed all the way back against the wall because of tv viewing, I get that. However, it does feel like everything is pushed back and like there's just this big open space in the middle.

I also know it is not that big of a room. However, I don't prefer to see the furniture so separated from each other. I especially would like to pull the sofa in, closer to the fireplace, so there is a walkway behind it. If that was a full height wall the sofa was backed up to, I might view this differently. However, especially since there is no room for side tables there and the sofa exactly matches that length, it just feels a little awkward to me.

I'm also, generally, not going to do a sofa and loveseat matching either. I would do two matching sofas or maybe a sectional (in other situations), but I likely would not do a sofa/loveseat combination. In this case, if you move the sofa to float in the room, then doing two matching lounge chairs that would sit opposite each other, would look more interesting and be appropriate for the layout.

They could be swivels so they could face the tv or not. It could also give you the mix of fabric you would enjoy more too.

Then, I would recommend some smaller size square ottomans, like 3 identical ones, instead of the one larger ottoman. The benefit here is that they can be used separately by several people in the seating group and you can do a different covering on them. They can even be leather to help with durability.

I have 4 square ottomans in my own living room and we love the versatility they provide.

Four square ottomans pushed together add flexibility of use in a living room or family room.

With all that in mind, here are some furniture suggestions.

I like these simple cubes and you could do it in the Maynard Camel leather which would warm up the cool tones in the room. 

Here is a nice swivel chair from Ballard Designs. I’m showing it in a performance fabric, Rienzo Indigo Sunbrella, that might work with your wall color.

Next, I'd look at the rug.

I don't mind your rug, but I do like the idea of adding some warm tones. And with the rather modern look you've created with the charcoal tv wall, I think doing something a little more linear would be nice. I think this rug, below, would tie your wall color and the caramel color together nicely.

I don't mind having a neutral sofa, a similar color to what you have, but in a more durable fabric would be fine. I would do the three front cushions though, in a contrasting fabric. Something that would echo the warm, caramel color. Maybe something like this.

This would be a fun accent pillow on the chairs.

You would likely have room then for some narrow side tables beside the sofa. I like the idea of bringing in some black to repeat the fireplace wall finish. 

Wall Decor

Looking at the fireplace wall and something for the high wall sections, I do like some kind of ornamentation above the cabinets. I would like to see it tie in to the black of the fireplace section. I think these wall decor pieces are about the right size and I like the round shape and that they are rather airy and natural looking.

If you prefer to leave your layout as is, I certainly understand. I think the rug I shared above and the color options would still work well.

See the storyboard I have, attached. I photoshopped the round wall decor in over the built-ins.

New furnishings proposed for this living room.

I’ll be reopening my Designed in a Click consultations in July. I have some living rooms I’ve consulted on last year in the links below to help you see how they can help.