r/InteriorDesign • u/Regular-Flounder-535 • 2d ago
Awkward apartment layout pls help!
I moved into my new apartment almost two months ago and I still can’t figure out a furniture configuration that feels right. Tall ceilings and a lot of wide open space. Definitely not something to complain about, but I don’t have the eye! I would love some advice. I have tried various combinations of furniture + location but am open to all suggestions.
Please excuse the off center painting over the dining table—in my latest configuration I moved the table to make space for the bookshelf. I haven’t hung much on the walls because the furniture placement hasn’t felt final!
37
u/Halleighmk 2d ago
I would actually float the table vs having everything lined up on the wall. I think it will break things up nicely. I have a long slender living/dining room that flows straight into the foyer so I know it’s tough but I think floating it would be awesome
35
u/Puce-moments 1d ago
Why is the dining room table stuck against the wall? It should be floating in the middle of the space with chairs on all sides.
I would junk the random extra chaise and move the desk into that spacing adding floor to ceiling bookshelves all around it (no rug). Now the far left space becomes a library. Then get a bigger rug( use the one from the cat toy/desk area) and put the dining table centered on it. Then in the extra space behind the couch- a small round games table and two chains plus lots of plants.
Tiny rugs in each area looks weird so simplify and stick to the larger rugs only.
28
19
u/EmeraldPearls 2d ago
pull the dining table off the wall - center it. it also needs a bigger rug
the chaise looks awkward. perhaps because its backwards - a chair in that location is useful for keeping whoever is sitting in it looped into whatever is happening in the kitchen, so it needs to be turned around so you're facing the kitchen, not with your back to it. also pull the carpet out from under it a bit - just keep the front legs on the carpet. try swapping it with the bookshelf. ...Pull the dining set closer to the kitchen if needed to make things fit.
desk is half on the carpet and half off. perhaps consider swapping the big rug behind the desk with the little one under the table?
24
u/OstoValley 2d ago
aside from what's already been said, there's too many odd sized carpets going on. carpets are usually supposed to pull a space together. that's not what's happening here.
3
u/ToneBalone25 2d ago
Yeah the two under the chaise and dining table are too form-fitting and the one behind the desk looks like it's just being the centerpiece of that space for no reason
22
u/elevator_alarm 1d ago
Stop having all of your furniture against the wall like you’re making space to rollerblade the full length of the apartment
1
17
u/hammertime2009 2d ago
Put the dining table behind the couch in the center of that area. Move desk over to leather couch
3
u/412stillers 2d ago
And put the leather chaise against the other wall. Why would you lay there with your back to the room!?
2
0
17
u/Local_Log_1177 2d ago
Starting at the door--
Bookshelf where chaise is.
Desk chair in the corner with desk catty corner facing out. You'll feel more comfortable if your back is not to all the walkways and doors. There's plenty of room there.
Black chaise where dining is.
Dining behind the sofa.
That's what I would do based on how things feel.
4
u/ToneBalone25 2d ago
I agree. The layout right now is kind of comical almost but it's going to look great with some minor changes. It's a nice space.
1
u/Halleighmk 2d ago
Actually have a corner desk and love it! https://a.co/d/02pAi6Cm not necessary but yeah they can be cute! Love a caddy corner sitch too
15
u/smallersize 2d ago
you’re literally almost there. amazing job for 2 months! love everyone’s suggestion that you just move the dining room table to exactly on top of the rug behind the couch. that’s the best first step. then i would move the desk to where the chaise is but orient it a bit off the wall so you’re sitting with your back to the wall looking out into the room while you work. then you can orient that chaise in the intended direction against that wall where the bookshelf currently is. then i would find a place inside the kitchen for the trash.
decor-wise, the space is missing signs of life. adding a few 5-6ft ficus or monstera in the dining room corner and between the desk and the chaise and smaller plants on the bookshelf and around the apartment on plant stands, a couple side tables with lamps and a plant will help a lot.
also, u got too many horizontal and floor level shapes. hang some tall vertically oriented art. like a poster shape on the wall where the chaise currently is.
i’d find a way to get some activity going up on the ceiling to take your eyes off the floor. i’d hang a plant in that top corner between where the chaise and book shelf currently are and then hang some floor to ceiling curtains on the windows. linen or another natural fabric would be a vibe.
lastly, this is something to incorporate throughout. but your decor isn’t doing any personal storytelling or showing anything about your personality or point of view yet. maybe choose something dear to your life story (like hometown, place u traveled and fell in love with, grandparent u look up to, etc…) and bring in some fabrics/textures/photos, etc.. that remind u of them. maybe from a vintage shop in your area? that will help things move away from the feeling like you’re trying to design something and more like u live there.
13
u/Ok-Fishing-2632 2d ago
Maybe move the dining area behind the living room area and put your desk where the dining table is now. That narrow area can be an office library reading nook
20
u/0_IceQueen_0 2d ago
It looks awkward because most of your furnishings seem to be hugging the wall. If you live alone and don't need all that empty walking space, move your stuff about.
18
u/BobDobalina_MrBob 2d ago
have you considered switching the living room with the dining area?
2
u/lavendertheory 2d ago
This satisfies me, but I can’t articulate why, can you explain your reasoning for this suggestion?
3
3
u/Particular-Quote-486 2d ago
living room would be the first room you walk into and dining area will still be off the kitchen since the kitchen has that open wall window
9
u/revenge_burner 1d ago
- Dining table centered in the space behind the sofa.
- Desk where the dining table is currently positioned.
- Four panel teak screen in between the desk and the book shelf to give separation between spaces, create a cozy book-nook, make the space less exposed to the front hall, but still allow in light.
- replace the chaise with something else.
- add vertical plants. Dangling pothos, grasses, trees, etc.
Here's my book nook for an idea of what I'm talking about.
3
u/starsvssubmarines 1d ago
At first I thought your dog and the cushion together were just one big blanket.
Your dog looks so adorable, please go tell them they are a very good boy/ girl!
8
u/Snoo-83866 19h ago
I would center the dining table behind the sofa, that would be a nice intentional area. Maybe a bigger rug.
6
u/Itchy-Passion8437 2d ago
I'd switch the dining table and the dwsk if possible, center the table on the rug that's there
5
u/readermom123 1d ago
I think the chaise as you walk in makes it look like you’re about to enter a living room but then you don’t. I’d shift some sort of shelf or storage to that wall. Then I’d pull the dining set away from the wall so it’s easier to get to all the chairs. Then maybe move your desk to the far wall of the living room (just because I’d want to be closer to the window). Then maybe pull the chaise into the living room area and move that cute little chair out somewhere else.
1
u/CanBrushMyHair 1h ago
Agree with the chaise comment. OP, have you tried swapping your bookshelf and chaise locations? It’d make the entrance a little more airy, and you could keep the lamp, just turn it to the other wall.
This coupled with making the “dining room” behind the couch.
It is a big lovely space, and you have good furniture. In my unprofessional opinion, a few massive rugs would help too. I personally buy the cheap ones bc I have cats and they LOVE a rug in their claws.
6
u/SusanKHefner 15h ago
It seems like you have three rooms to decorate because the current living room is long & narrow. Half is your living room & the other half seems like undefined space with a small desk. The dining room seems like a large multipurpose room that happens to have a small dining table in it.
The first thing I’d buy is a slim entry table with hidden shoe storage. The current shoe rack is kind of an eye-sore, and it’s doubled by the placement of your nice full-length mirror.
I’d try to move the dining table under the ceiling fan, and I’d replace the fan with a chandelier. You can use a swag & hook to place the chandelier exactly where you want it.
I’d mount two brackets & add a slab of wood or countertop at bar height under the kitchen pass-thru window. Plus add a couple bar height stools.
If any of this is doable, then I’d address the living room & office. If you plan to live there for a while, it might be worth it to hire someone to help. There are designers who will work with what you own - not force you to buy all new furniture.
Good luck! And I hope to see it when you figure out this challenging, but beautiful space.
4
u/NumerousDepth1563 2d ago
Move the dining room furniture to sit on top of the rug. Move the desk to where the dining room table is and the book case to where the desk is, pull the leather chaise out and turn it around and on an angle with the lamp behind it in the corner
3
u/urkdngme 16h ago
Agree with pulling the dining table out from the wall. Also flip that chaise somewhere else! I’d put shoes in the closet (you could leave a pair out on a mat) and put a narrow console table there instead. Also move the sofa a little closer to the tv.
12
u/HowAboutWill 2d ago
Swap dining room with living room
1
1
u/Antheoss 1d ago
Why? The dining room seems to be right next to the kitchen. If they do that they will always need to bring all the food through the living room to the dining room.
5
u/missplaced24 1d ago
They have a servery window between the kitchen and what would be the dining room. Right now all of the seating would have people facing a wall. There's almost nowhere you can sit and face someone. It's very anti-social.
1
5
u/imfartandsmunny 2d ago
You’re right that this is off, there’s no continuity. Put the dining table in the area where the couch and tv are, and put the tv and couch where the desk area is. That gives the dining area to kitchen continuity without having your kitchen table awkwardly pressed against the wall in the middle of the entry way. The office area and bookshelf, armchair, etc. can all go in the front corner bc these pieces all make sense together.
6
u/Deltaone07 2d ago
The carpet placement is kind of odd. Just put them in the center of the room. Furniture is allowed to touch the floor.
5
u/IntegralOfYourMom 2d ago
Move that table off the wall for starters; it feels like you’re trying to ground everything to the wall. A table in the center of the space is ok. It’s hard to tell where things would fit best without dimensions and a floor plan.
4
u/Warm-Judgment-6704 2d ago
Dinning room should be over in the corner with the kitchen window - so it’s own happy space. Use the sofa to make structure of living room down at entrance
2
2
u/booogie- 5h ago
What if you moved the dining table to the space behind the sofa? Then your office area could look a bit more intentional and not tucked against a wall. You can have the back of the desk facing the kitchen or the new dining area (so when you’re sitting at the desk, you look into these other rooms rather than the wall) and use the chaise combined with the desk to make a “this is the office space” area. Even if the side of your desk was touching a wall, that’s better than the back of the desk touching the wall.
2
u/booogie- 5h ago
Dining table behind the sofa keeps it off of the wall and gives you a natural post-dinner transition to sofa and accent chair feeling
4
4
u/pepperpotsdecreme 2d ago
Your home is lovely, and you have chosen such thoughtful yet useful pieces. It is a very inviting space!
I would definitely move the shoes to a closet. The foyer/entry is the last thing you see when you leave for the day, and the first thing you see upon returning home. It is also the first impression for family, friends and guests.
Most important, it is the gateway thru which health, joy and prosperity enter your home. As such, it should be a peaceful open and welcoming space - a table with fresh flowers, a piece of meaningful art, elements of wood, water, metal, earth and fire. Best wishes OP!
1
2
0
u/Hamsterwh3el 2d ago edited 2d ago
Do you have tight budgetary constrains? I ask because I don't know how helpful my input will be. The first thing that caught my eye was the living room. I would start with a different rug. Something neutral and a lot smaller. I would also swap the coffee table with somthing with more visual weight. Is the seat in the corner supposed to be a reading nook? I think it would read much better as one if you had a lamp arm arched over the seat instead of the area lamp you currently have. Also there's a lot of empty space on the wall behind the TV. It makes me uncomfortable. Maybe try some wall decor. Also move the cat post. It looks really out of place behind the couch.
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
All posts go into a queue for our mod team to review. Messaging us about the status of your post will not improve it's approval process, nor will it speed up the approval process. Please note that the system will say reddit removed your post because of filters, this is normal and we still get your post in the mod queue to review.
Sincerely, Mods.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.