Help With Furniture Placement

I have a living room with a corner fireplace that I am trying to buy new furniture for. I would like to maximize the space of the room as well as have a good space for seating to watch TV and entertain. The TV is mounted above the fireplace and the room is 14' x 19'. I need help with what kind of furniture to buy and where to place it. Thanks!

By Jenn from Hendersonville, TN

Answers:

Help With Furniture Placement

I recommend sticking with a loveseat and two complimentary chairs (which are identical). I would place the love seat parallel to the fireplace wall facing fireplace and TV, and place chairs perpendicular to it on either side. I like the idea of a small writing desk on the half wall opposite the fireplace. Keep it simple and add some nice larger accent pieces of art. I've seen friends use about a dozen frames all painted the same color that literally had nothing inside them. It was cool. Also, painting mismatched frames in the same color with photos in all black and white is a neat effect. But, you asked about the furniture, didn't you?

Have fun! And, never pay full price (or use credit) for furniture! (03/29/2009)

By Kellie Alexander

Help With Furniture Placement

Being something of an old fashioned fart of a man, I recommend buying a pad of graph paper. Invest in a cheap tape measure if you don't already have one. Draw a floor plan to scale. Keep it simple like 1 inch equals 1 foot. Then, make an elevation drawing of each wall (straight on view) again to scale. Include all doors, windows, electrical outlets, built in items like the fireplace,knee walls, serving windows, bookcases, etc.

Go to your favorite furniture and electronics vendors and take measurements of the pieces you really like. Make little paper or cardboard cutouts to scale of these items. You can then "play" with all the many possibilities. This kept my wife amused for hours! Then, when we ordered the furniture there was little to do about where things went. We took dimensions on forty pieces of furniture and eliminated the items that were too klunky or, just didn't fit into the flow of the room. The whole drawing and cutting out shapes took me about 90 minutes. That 90 minutes saved me several compressed spinal discs and a hernia moving things to the Mrs' satisfaction! V/R. Tom (03/29/2009)

By Tom D.