Natwerk Designs

How to arrange my living room?

Hi, I live in an asymmetrically designed home. The whole home raises in levels which ascend and I have 5 levels altogether. Too look at it from the top level you see half walls on triangular angles descending downward to the final floor level which is a sunken living room. This living room has driven me nuts for two years. I change it all the time because it just doesn't "work" Is there anyone that can give me some help? It has no walls to decorate on! The North wall has a large wall to floor window space that takes up one third of the wall, then further along is another window, just past two steps to enter the sunken lounge. The southern wall has a door that leads under a stair case and then is indented into a 45o angle for the fireplace to sit in. That wall continues along after the fireplace and is solid brick. It has the width of a student desk of wall space enough for a small two seater. The east wall has a huge window in it that would serve as a window seat as it is a bay window and very beautiful with lovely gardens outside it. The west side of the living room has no wall at all... it is open completely and leads up two stairs toward the dining table. Moving around the room, in an anti-clockwise direction I have very very little space to furnish nicely as I have no walls whatsoever. I have a 3 seater, 2 seater and a large arm chair. I also have a small white Ikea desk covered with photo frames. My home is modern and architecturally designed. Therefore there are no shelves, mantles, of any kind to 'dress' it makes it hard to decorate. Any help will be very, very much appreciated. You can see the living room at this link: http://thelivingroomminuswallsquestion.shutterfly.com/pictures/18 Looking forward to great ideas Thanks in advance One thing I forgot to add was I have 6 children. We need seats. I was thinking a corner lounge suite?! I added the white desk to give some colour with the black frames. Curtains and walls, I am afraid have to stay as this is a rental. So I have to work with the colour. My dining room looks warm but far too much timber for my taste. http://thelivingroomquestion.shutterfly.com/pictures/8 (UPDATED LINK)

Public Comments

1. I have been looking at your pictures. I think there are too many pieces of furniture around. Here is my advice. Get everything outside and restart decorating your room not with what you need to get in the room but with what you'd like to have in your room ( see what I mean ?) Use the largest windows as 'walls' for the greater seater and test the views you have inside your room. Also use the smaller window to use your ikea desk but with the chair in front of the window ( light in your back) Think in 'spaces' , space to work, space to read, space to watch TV, space to have dinner, space to have friends at home. Once you have put in your room what you like, look at what has remained outside. Less is much often BETTER Now the question is : do you need it inside ? Can you put these left pieces somewhere else? Can you sell them (ebay) or exchange with something you are missing ( small cabinets, open shelves thet can stand in the middle of your room and act as a separation,etc...) Take some pictures of your trials and decide what you like best. And Enjoy I have included a link to for you to see my point : http://comin-design.com/etagere-separation-forge-palissandre-p-1545.html
2. I agree with Fab. The walls with big windows ARE enough..you don't need to decorate the walls..the windows are fabulous on their own. The problem is those big bulky bunchy white couches. Ugh. Those need to go! It does look like there are too many pieces of furniture in the room. Those couches don't look modern at all...in my opinion...I do not like white. I'd sell or donate all those couches..and buy new/used ones...in another color. I like dark furniture with colorful paterned pillows. And you don't need so many couches. The rooms look clutered with furniture. I also think your space is missing live plants. Or a live tree. Artificial would work, but live would be better. To me, having plants in a room makes it like home. And I don't like the window dressings you have up. White walls and white curtains/shades. You need to add color! Good Luck.