Multi-function room needs special attention
Atmosphere of main living space must be comfortable, relaxing and hospitable
Q: I would be very interested to read your suggestions for my challenging living room.
We have lived in this house for about six months and are at a complete loss as to how to furnish this space.
For now, the only piece I have here is an antique dresser that I would like to keep, but I am open to moving it to another room.
The problem seems to be the myriad of openings and windows in the room wall, including the front door that opens directly into the space, a coat closet, a hallway to the bedrooms, double doors to the den and an entrance to the dining room. The fireplace and large hearth sits diagonally in the corner of the room. The walls are nine feet high and feature a cathedral ceiling and the floors are light oak hardwood.
A: What you have here is a room that must function as a front hall, a transitional space to other parts of the house, as well as a living room — a mighty tall order for any space, let alone the main room in your house.
In some ways, your living room reminds me of a hotel lobby that must serve a similar purpose — a place to greet people; for people to get from one space to another and; for people to sit and relax.
In all cases, each of these functions must operate seamlessly, without people stumbling over furniture to take off their coats or tripping over boots to get from the bedrooms to the dining room.
To create the best furniture arrangement, it is always a good idea to begin planning with the largest pieces, often a sofa.
Your massive fireplace is clearly the room’s focal point, and as such should be the focus of the room’s furniture arrangement.
Its unusual angle in the corner offers an opportunity to create a non-traditional angular arrangement that will make a “conversation island” in that area, out of the way of foot traffic.
A full seven-foot sofa is shown directly opposite the fireplace opening, flanked on one side by a large, comfortable chair and on the other by a lighter, more open-designed chair.
All the pieces are shown anchored into place by an area rug.
The resulting effect is a space that can feel as comfortable with two people as with five. Remember that the main activities of a living room are usually conversation and entertaining, so the atmosphere should be comfortable and relaxing and should express cheer and hospitality.
If this is the primary entrance into the home, it stands to reason that there should be ample space for two or more people to enter your home at the same time.
Through decoration, it will be important to create one unified space that serves many different purposes.
Treat all the walls with a similar finish, a colour that will nicely complement the fireplace stone. It may be a good idea to continue that same treatment into the dining room for a truly consistent look.
All the wood pieces should be of similar tone, perhaps taking a cue from the antique dresser.