We're pretty much starting over from scratch in this room, so we have an opportunity to change the layout from its current configuration, which looks like this
We could add another chair, like in the drawing below, but then the best seats in the room would be the side chairs. I'd rather get comfy on the couch.
We briefly considered a love seat instead of two chairs, but this actually limited our seating even further because really, only one person can comfortably sit on a love seat. It also still leaves one of us eating our dinner lying down.
That brought us to putting the sofa directly across from the TV.
As you can see, that's not going to work either. The sofa would block all the traffic flow in and out of the room, and the two chairs would probably look weird blocking the TV like that.
Finally, we arrived at the "TV over the Fireplace" solution.
We were reluctant to put a TV over our only fireplace in the house, but as you can see, it really does give us plenty of seating and allows for the best flow of traffic.
Have you done it in your own home?
24 comments:
Yes- we have the TV over the fireplace too right now...in our new home the TV is going to be on the opposite wall as the fireplace...so the fireplace and the TV can use the same seating. Happy Monday! Caroline
We had a similar layout in the family room in our last home so I can relate to how frustrating it can be to find the perfect layout. While I don't love the tv over the fireplace generally, I think it's the best solution for your space. It allows for a good flow through the space.
our fireplace is in a different room than our TV, but i think, if they were in the same room, we would have done the same thing. i love having the furniture centered towards something as beautiful as a fireplace, but of course, you want optimal tv viewing too :). We too eat many a dinners in front of the tv. I think its the best solution for your space!
We don't have a fireplace, but we looked at houses with living rooms sorta like yours, where the only real logical place for a TV would be above the fireplace. I guess all aesthetics aside, at the end of the day, the room just needs to be functional, and I'd rather have a TV over my pretty mantle than choke on my dinner. :) I agree with the previous comments-it definitely sounds like the best solution for your space!
Oh--I just remembered--did you see Centsational Girl's BOTB yesterday? I think someone had a tutorial there for covering up TVs with art somehow. Might be something to check out!
We have our TV over the fireplace and I love it. I much prefer having one focal point in the living room instead of having the TV and Fireplace compete with each other. The TV always seems to win, that bully! :)
Hehehe...I'm just laughing at the little stick figures lounging on the furniture...love it! And I couldn't agree more, that probably makes the most sense. I hate it when I have to do things that make sense. (c:
Although above-the-fireplace spot looks a little too high it might be best for you. Or else, do you have another piece to swap with the TV console so you can heighten it? Do what works best for your space functionally and aesthetically.
I thought for sure I knew what the final solution was going to be, but I was wrong. I agree that I think your solution layout is best for traffic flow as well. We don't have a fireplace in our current home, but with the size of our current home I'd very much be in favor of hanging the TV. You need to do what makes sense for your style of living and I think you made a great choice. I love seeing layouts like this too.
We had the same problem in our new house so we just dedicated a different room for the TV (no kids so we have a few spare rooms to choose from). So far I really like having the TV somewhere else in the house since we don't really entertain around the TV (no game day events or anything) so the TV room is ours and the living room hosts guests.
I think over the fireplace might be best. Maybe you can cover it with art/shutters like several bloggers have done?
Also is the wall between the two doors at the bottom too small for the tv? Your drawing looks like it might fit with a small dresser underneath?
I'm glad our new living room doesn't have a fireplace, they seem so tricky to design around.
I was against the over the fireplace position - so I ended up with it on the wall to the side (my fireplace is in the corner.) The truth is, it gets as much heat there as it would above - and leaves me with two focal points in the room.
Hi Carrie. I LOVE your hand-drawn floor plans with the flows marked out! They make me smile. Oh the damned TV. They always mess up a floor plan, no? But it looks like you've come up with a good solution.
Camille
This is a good example of how the best option is the one that makes the most sense for the people who live there.
Looking forward to seeing it all come together!
AWESOME!!! Totally cracking up at your floor plans, they are so cute! Looks like you've figured out the best solution...I mean, we all want our homes to look good but they've got to function well too or what's the point?!
So, we have a double sided fireplace. The husband insisted on putting tvs over both mantles. It works. Not magazine worthy..but functional.
We may install built-ins and I might make some kind of cabinet to hide it..but really, when would I ever close it? How else do I watch Design Star and Big Brother?
I struggle with the same thing! So right now I have no tv in the main living room. Anxious to see this complete!
We actually inherited the TV over the fireplace when we moved into this house. I think when it's done in a clean way (just hanging on the wall, instead of stuck in a giant hole which is our current set up) it can look great. There are tons of sites for how to make it less noticeable (but that is truly a personal preference thing)! All that said, I think the flow of the room is by far the most important thing and if the TV needs to be there, then you should go for it! M.
I fought for the TV-over-mantle solution in our living room, but my husband thinks EXACTLY maximizing the viewing height, angle and speaker setup of our audio-visual equipment is more important than looks. Silly husband.
I have no design-integrity sort of problem with the tv over the fireplace. In fact, you've shown that in a lot of rooms, it suits the traffic flow, viewing, and floor plan absolutely perfectly!
I'm totally ok with it...I think it makes the most sense in your space and you still have the firepace as a focal point too...would love to see pics when you're done!
http://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/
Did you go to art school?
Your plans with the little people are so lovely. he TV over fireplace doesn't sound like the thing you'd normally do, but it does give the best seating and flow... so why not?
Our flatscreen currently sits above our fireplace. While I think it's a little high we've gotten used to it. Since our mantel isn't that pretty I don't mind detracting from it. Plus, it was the only logical place to do it. I'm not big on hiding the TV. Yes, we watch TV, so what? So does everyone else. Your layout looks great!
I'm all for it, personally. I like one focal point. We have our tv over the fireplace in the media room. It makes the most sense. Good plan!
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