Help for a Cluttered Living Room

by Katrina
(South Australia)

Hi everyone!
Our small living room has the piano and a bookshelf along the right hand wall.

Our large blue couch is on the opposite wall to the left of the piano, so it is the first thing you see as you walk in the door. The window is above the couch.

The TV unit is to the left of the door ie on the same wall as the door.

The room has a cluttered feel partly because of the piano being next to the bookshelf (both near the doorway) and partly because the blue couch is very large and difficult to get to around the black coffee table.

I want to rearrange the furniture but preferably without having to buy a new couch - or move the piano!!

Thinking of a possible change in colour scheme eg a lighter coloured rug to open up the area...also considering buying one of those transparent coffee tables to make the area appear less cluttered.

Any suggestions as to colour scheme/furniture placement? Should I move the couch/TV/bookshelf?

Cheers,
Katrina - South Australia :)

Comments for
Help for a Cluttered Living Room

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 06, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Balancing the Bulk
by: Charlotte

Hi Katrina

I can't quite work out the exact layout of your room from your description.

Do you have one wall with nothing on it? Or is the room open to another room?

Is it an upright piano, against a wall? or a grand piano?

Working out room layouts and furniture arrangements is much more easily done with a plan, so I highly recommend you take a little time to plan your room out on paper first, and try out a few different layouts (without moving the heavy furniture) to see which ones fit best.

By thinking of your furniture simply as shapes in a space you can be more creative and develop new layouts that you might never have considered before.

It's not too difficult or time consuming - click here to find out more about drawing your layout plan, and tips for furniture arrangement

Big bulky items of furniture, and dark colors can make rooms feel dark and cluttered, so lightening the color scheme in any way you can is always a good idea.

A lighter rug, a see-through coffee table, as you mention, or even a white or cream throw over an existing sofa can make a big difference.

How about your wooden furniture, including your piano - how do you feel about painting it in white?

Combined with a pale, neutral color scheme, this would certainly give a neater and cleaner feel to the room.

Balancing the bulky items around the room can also help your room feel more balanced. For example you have the piano and bookshelf next to each other, but the room may feel more balanced, as you mention, if they were on separate walls.

Also consider investing in a wall-mounted TV, which could free up valuable space.

The section on small spaces might also be of interest to you.

Hope some of these ideas help you Katrina...

...do try out your layout by drawing a plan - I think you'll find it really helps.

Good luck with your room re-arrange!

Best wishes

Charlotte

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Your Living and Dining Rooms





Search for words or phrases inside my site:

Custom Search


Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape
Follow Me on Pinterest

Follow InteriorDesigny on Twitter


Search My Site:
Custom Search


“This practical guide is a must for any DIY decorator!”

Interior Design It Yourself - Volume I-III - E-book package out now


"If you have no idea how to decorate your house or apartment or you're just not sure what you should put in which room...

"...Charlotte shows you, in an easy-to-understand way, how to tackle any project."


says David - New Hampshire, USA


-----------

"Love, love, love your site! I bought your ebooks and find them helpful and inspiring."


says Linda - United States


-----------

"I used Charlotte's book when designing my new kitchen ... I had my new kitchen planned in no time at all.

"I also used the personality colour palette to get the perfect colour ... Brilliant!"


says Sophie - Scotland, UK



CLICK HERE to order the
Interior Design It Yourself Book





AROUND 1 MILLION READERS PER YEAR (2010-2012)

Read what you say about us:

Your website is the best source of information for decorating homes that I have come across.

Sharon - Australia

I just love your web page it is fantastic for people who don't really have the design skills...

Elizabeth - Scotland - UK

'You are the first entry on my favorite places. Beautiful work, well (very well) written.'

Shirley - Laurinburg NC - USA

'U can't believe how happy I'm to find such a helpful website! it's over than great, really!!'

Lama - Sydney

'I really appreciate this amazing website & ur helpful tips... you really give us so much attention & I loved your advice...'

Mostafa - Cairo - Egypt

Thank you so much to all my lovely and loyal readers!



Charlotte - author of the Interior Design It Yourself website and books


Local Contractors