skip to main content

Design Dilemma Living Rooms Smaller Homes

living room ideas

5 years ago

does anyone have any ideas on how to design our future living room? we're thinking about knocking the cupboard under the stairs down to give more space...otherwise there will just be a little cove which seems like dead space?

Featured Answer

minnie101

5 years ago

It's difficult without knowing what storage you've got. I wouldn't keep as is in any case as you can't put any furniture there and moving a door to the front would be tricky. I can't find a picture but I would probably recess the tv under the stairs, assuming it will fit, the recess should make the room feel wider and then I'd make a cupboard in the alcove (albeit a smaller one). It looks as if you could have a long sofa on the left wall and then have a small accent chair to the left of the tv, something like rattan won't visually fill the space. You could also use a mirror over the sofa to make the room feel wider

Comments (15)

Kittihawke
5 years ago
If you knocked through the side wall of the cupboard to put in doors or pull out drawers you would not lose useful storage, then your little alcove would make a great desk/ home office space. Or a tv area with seating facing it and also you could have separate seating looking out the doors to the garden. I think by knocking out the cupboard altogether you would lose character and make the space a little generic.
Daisy Trinder thanked Kittihawke
Daisy England
5 years ago
I think I’d be tempted to knock it out under the stairs which will also give the room the illusion of more width as it looks long and narrow.
Daisy Trinder thanked Daisy England
Related Discussions
Looking for Ideas for Kitchen/Living Room
Q
Comments (12)
Two ideas. Both times I would block up the entrance to the second half of the room to make more usuable space. Both ideas have a island with a dining table attached. Obviously these drawings are not to scale but everything should fit in. I would utilise the kitchen cuboards for utilities- intergrated appliances. If you can dont forget to use the space under your stairs as well. Also use the long wall at the bottom of the stairs for extra storage and alcoves.
...See More
Ideas for Living Room
Q
Comments (1)
You said you bought a new cream Queen Anne chair , so is that in addition to the striped one as well? IF yes, then you may be tied into a purple/brown/gold theme. The black furniture will work in the room. IF you are replacing the striped chair with the off white Queen Anne , then you could do purple/ gray/ black colors. Here are some inspiration ( color wise) photos: Purple with brown Purple with gray/black. I think an area rug will tie all your colors together , so find a large one that works in the color scheme you choose.
...See More
Living room with stove ideas???
Q
Comments (1)
Recently bought a new house and am looking for ideas. An older couple had the house previously and I feel it shows in the décor. The room is circa 23 sqm (250 sq ft). The room is now empty,
...See More
Kitchen/Living/Dining Room Renovation - Ideas Needed!
Q
Comments (1)
Hi, what a lovely "canvas" to begin! My late husband loved wood. I think it is too drab and have changed mine for glass and various off whites as the rooms are non-square here and the house is old but takes modern too. My gut feeling is that the way forward is to choose an exciting "theme" for downstairs first. Would you consider bright and airy sky, or tropical, or geometric, or bookish, or carnival, or countryside, what about a space rocket on the wall for the kids - it can be covered when they grow tired of it? And as it is it has my pet hate - a good window - wasted - with a grim reminder of housework - a sink in front of it instead of one out of sight with a strip light over it!!!!
...See More
PRO
DecoZen
5 years ago
I would definitely knock through and put the tv there with some shelving. Then you place the sofa opposite and create a little reading corner with an armchair by the window. I know the tv cable is near the window but if you put the tv there you are limited to putting the sofas in only one direction and it’ll be a very small sized sofa because it will be a squeeze to get to the stairs otherwise.
Daisy Trinder thanked DecoZen
Carolina
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It could be a useful space to store stuff like a vacuum cleaner and other items that you'd rather keep out of sight?

If you knock out the wall, partly or entirely, you might need to have a new floor or have to repair the floor where the wall was. I would investigate that first.

I'd probably leave the wall, place a sofa against it, TV on opposite wall, long low cabinets under it, chair in the corner where the radiator is and a chair facing the windows. Art on the short wall in the niche.
Daisy Trinder thanked Carolina
Carolina
5 years ago
Also, I don't know if you already have furniture, but light coloured pieces on legs (so you can see the floor under it) will make the space look bigger.
PRO
Hampstead Design Hub
5 years ago

There are quite a few options, but I wouldn't turn it into a closed behind doors storage, it might make the room look smaller.
Daisy Trinder thanked Hampstead Design Hub
Daisy Trinder
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi guys, thanks so much! I think we'll most probably replace the flooring and so knocking it down seems like the most likely direction.
Daisy Trinder
Original Author
5 years ago

This is the house next doors floorplan (we havent got one of ours yet!). So our living room would have the stairs on the left rather than they are on this one on the right. I guess it would make sense if a small dining table was put next to the entrance doorway? Or would it be better down by the doors? This is our sofa https://lucas-furniture.co.uk/browse/living_room/products/lucas_furniture/alfredo/307-1358/large_sofa in Mallard with mustard :)
minnie101
5 years ago
I think I would live with it for a while before making any decisions as lack of storage could cause an issue. Will bed 2 be a guest room?

i don't know if this helps but I remember a post from a couple of years ago (sad I know!) with an identical layout which shows furniture in different positions (there may be more than one post if you click on her name)

https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/help-with-living-dining-room-layout-open-plan-stairs-dsvw-vd~3789870?n=26
Jules Mc
5 years ago
Sad person. No. 2 here because I also remember that post Minnie (and others with a similar layout )
I think the first question I'd ask is do you have to have dining space here? If not you've got more room to play with.
As someone who also has a 'stairs in living room' layout I've lived with it for a while and come realise that under stairs, out of sight storage is far better than any desk nook etc that is pleasing to the eye and a good use of space but I'd never want to sit at facing the wall. If I was going for any understair bespoke open unit it would for tv placement as suggested above. And what puts me off that (apart from cost) is the seating arrangement facing the main entrance to the house. When I've can afford it i plan to plasterboard in the handrail so as to have a floor to ceiling wall which I can then put the sofa against without the draft that often comes down the stairs, particularly in winter. I'm not going to go the whole hog and create a hallway because I've got a porch and so will go as far as the end newel post. Can't find any similar inspiration pics unfortunately but hope you can visualise what I mean .
Emily
5 years ago
I just followed Minnie’s link to Laura’s thread and then clicked over to Zachs thread and I’m astonished how many layouts are possible for a space like this! I think if the best solution isn’t amongst them then it might not even exist so definitely worth checking out.
Carolina
5 years ago
Funny, I remembered that post too and followed the link that Minnie posted and then to link to Zach's post and they turned out to be neighbours. Wouldn't it be funny if Daisy is a neighbour too? Lol.

I like the sofa you've picked Daisy :-)
Sarah
5 years ago
If you did choose to knock the under-stair-cupboard out, then would your sofa fit under the stairs? This would then allow you to mount the TV on the wall opposite and have your dining area by the French doors. This also means that you are sat facing into the room. Here is a pic from my previous home which shows this...
PRO
PictureFrame.TV
5 years ago
We would hide the TV in that wall under the stairs behind some glass. So the wall looks completely clean. Using mirrored glass, it will give an increased sense of space too. Attached is a project where we hid a 98" TV inside a glass wall. It gives you an idea of what it could look like when both on and off.

Sign Up to Comment

Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

More Discussions

Panelling hallway & cupboard

0

Interior Design Classes April to June 2024

0

Help, do i cancel the windows order

1

Further Education & Training Centre Open Day: Interior Design Classes

0

Authentic Feng Shui Workshop

0

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.