Let’s play rearrange...

[BlsdMama]

To be deleted later...

All is removable. Willing to put tv in a different location. Willing to rehome the piano to another area if absolutely necessary.

Wishlist:

Able to have conversation without the sofa ONLY existing for watching the fire or television.

We have additional chairs and will be buying new furniture this spring.

 

Suggestions and/or pictures appreciated.

 

[BlsdMama]

Oh, and the little radio thing is going away.

[Bambam]

Why not put a chair - extra wide or loveseat if there is room under TV? This assumes there is no possible way for TV to fall. 

[PeterPan]

Do you have any options to put in that corner if you move the tv? Your fireplace/mantle is adorable, but it's confusing what the focal point is with the mantle mirror and the tv side by side. I'd either put the tv on the fireplace or move it to another wall. It could go on the wall where the poppy art is.

It sounds like you really want the room to work for conversation, so maybe start there? How would you like your conversations to relate to the fireplace? If you brought in an L-shaped sofa, maybe it could back the glass doors and face the tv on the poppy wall. Then bring in a chair in the corner. That way you can face the fire and talk.

Have you looked for an online furniture arranger or drawn it out on paper? 

You might also watch Craigslist for furniture. Not good luck for couches, but I got a couple really neat chairs (vintage, antique, upholstered). 

That piano wall is interesting. Does anyone *play* the piano? If they don't and no one at all wants it, obviously it could go. Is there a *function* you'd like to bring into the room? We have such long winters, I'd be wanting to slurp up that light and sit near it. The wall colors confuse me. Again, I can't tell what the focal point is. 

Would you like to do puzzles in there? Grow plants? I don't know, just thinking. It seems like a nice big space. Maybe a games cabinet or some book shelves?

[school17777]

I’d move the tv to the wall with the poppy picture as PeterPan suggested and then put your long couch directly across from it, in front of the sliding doors and the love seat facing the fireplace.

[Liz CA]

I agree with the TV on the wall where the "poppy painting" is and I am in favor of covering up TVs. To me, they are not a decorative thing of beauty but more of a black hole when not in use. Our TV is an older and smaller flat screen and sits in an IKEA shelf with other things around it. If I could have found something that works in our place, I would have gotten an arrangement with doors. Something like these options on Pinterest:

Covering up TV options

 

Edited December 7, 2019 by Liz CA

[PeterPan]

The other thing I just noticed is that moving the tv is going to make the room more accessible. It would be really nice (seems to me) for you to be able to come right up and join a conversation. So if the seating arrangement is conducive to that, more *open* as you come up to it, that might be really helpful. And that way you can come in, stay where you are, and enjoy the fire too.

Like really prioritize YOUR place in the arrangement and make places where you like to be in the room. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by PeterPan

[Storygirl]

I don't know about the tv on the poppy wall. I think it would be awkward hanging above the couch and that there would need to be a sofa or consul table sitting under it. That seems to be the only long wall to place a couch against, so I think it could create other furniture placement issues.

In my family room, we have two couches facing each other, with a coffee table in between. One of the couches is against a wall (under a window), and the other is freestanding, with room to walk behind it. Perpendicular to the couches is a television and cabinet on one side of the room, and the fireplace on the other. So if the room were  rectangle, the couches form the two long sides, and the tv and the fireplace form the two short sides.

I think you may be able to do something similar, with two couches facing each other. One sitting against the poppy wall and the other with its back to the French doors (leaving a space behind it to access the doors). Then move the piano and put the tv in that corner, with a cabinet underneath, which you can use for miscellaneous storage.

I can't tell how long that poppy wall is. I'm assuming it is long enough for a couch to sit there.

[kbutton]

Given that I seem to have "this room" in my house as well, I am really curious how people deal with a couch in front of presumably functional doors unless the room is really big, especially when you already have the couch moved farther into the room to accommodate the wide doorway behind it. We actually have a decent layout right now (we actually ripped out a corner fireplace to deal with it--wasn't in fantastic shape, was way too limiting for furniture). We also have better traffic flow--that looks like a nightmare for where you're supposed to maintain a walkway and your decorating sanity. 🤣

I would put the TV on the mantel. I've seen it done in other homes, and it's cute. 

Put a single chair where the radio thingy is. 

Your piano corner is wasted no matter what you do unless you turn your back to the fireplace. It makes a great place to put the piano because it's not in a direct path.

Fireplaces are a lot more limiting than people think they are. 

End tables with lamps might make it more cozy and suggest more uses than just TV (place to put a book, a cross-stitch project, etc.)

OR 

Put the couch on the poppy wall, put two chairs angled toward each other nearer to the glass doors, and if the love seat fits where the couch is, put that there. You could still watch TV by angling the chairs, but it's not the primary orientation for the biggest piece of furniture.

[Storygirl]

10 minutes ago, PeterPan said:

The other thing I just noticed is that moving the tv is going to make the room more accessible. It would be really nice (seems to me) for you to be able to come right up and join a conversation. So if the seating arrangement is conducive to that, more *open* as you come up to it, that might be really helpful. And that way you can come in, stay where you are, and enjoy the fire too.

Like really prioritize YOUR place in the arrangement and make places where you like to be in the room. 

I agree. If you have the two bigger pieces of furniture facing each other, instead of having the couch blocking the width of the room and facing the fireplace (as it is now), it opens up straight paths through the room from door to door. The ottoman is nice to have in the middle of the room, but it could easily be moved to the side as people need to make a path (unlike a coffee table, which is harder to move). And an ottoman can double as additional seating.

[Corraleno]

I would not put the TV on the "poppy wall" since that appears to be directly facing the glass doors, and there would be so much glare on the screen you wouldn't be able to watch TV during the day without covering the door with blackout curtains. I would put it over the mantel and add a cozy armchair in to the left of the fireplace where the TV is now.

 

[Storygirl]

2 minutes ago, kbutton said:

Given that I seem to have "this room" in my house as well, I am really curious how people deal with a couch in front of presumably functional doors unless the room is really big, especially when you already have the couch moved farther into the room to accommodate the wide doorway behind it.

 

I think it can be awkward to place a couch in front of doors in some rooms. But other times it can work. It depends, as well, on how often the doors are utilized. If people are constantly coming in and out of them, it's different than if they function more as windows, with other doors being the main ones used. In this picture, it looks to me like the tile area in front of the door provides a good amount of space for walking behind the couch, but it depends on how wide the doors swing.

[PeterPan]

22 minutes ago, Corraleno said:

glare

Yeah, we have glare in our basement arrangement with glass doors. It's a catch 22. She could put full length curtains and draw them. I find it's only an issue, at least in our room (glass doors facing southwest) around 3pm each day. So it's not ALL day and it's not even necessarily the time when I'm most likely to be there. 

I think I would arrange for what makes the room work well for accessibility, honestly. Like to be able to drive up, transfer to Mom's preferred seat, that would be really snazzy. I'd start with that. 

Furniture stores sometimes have decorators who will come out and help you figure out the layout for your room. This really might be the time to do that, just because I think there are additional functions and useful features you could be working in. Either way you're gonna buy a couch, kwim? But if they'll help you figure it out and then it works easier for you or is easier to be in, that's a real bonus.

They have some nice chaise couches now, so that could be really nice. I love Story's flex seating idea too. 

Or take pictures of your room into the furniture store, along with a scale drawing, and let them help you. This is certainly a scenario they've encountered before. I would be really bold, like I'm going to sit here, I want people to be able to sit with me, sometimes I want to watch tv and sometimes I don't, etc. Whatever you want in the space. 

[PeterPan]

Living Room with TV over fireplace ...pinterest.com  Tv over fireplace, couching facing, with chairs flanking for conversation. But to me, really hard to get into. Not that I'm on wheels and know, but I go places with friends on wheels and am just thinking.

Take a peek inside D.C. area designers ...pinterest.co.uk  More like op's room, showing if face couch toward poppy wall with tv.

Living Room Update for Safety ...aginginplace.org An L couch with CHAISE in front of glass doors. 

It's also a thing if you google wheelchair accessible floor plans. Might get you ideas on how to make the living room accessible for the long haul. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by PeterPan

[kbutton]

32 minutes ago, Storygirl said:

I think it can be awkward to place a couch in front of doors in some rooms. But other times it can work. It depends, as well, on how often the doors are utilized. If people are constantly coming in and out of them, it's different than if they function more as windows, with other doors being the main ones used. In this picture, it looks to me like the tile area in front of the door provides a good amount of space for walking behind the couch, but it depends on how wide the doors swing.

I didn't think it looked that big, but furniture comes in so many different sizes these days that it's hard to tell. 

 

[PeterPan]

You can do motorized blinds/shades on a remote for the doors. 

[mominco]

Can you take the tv out and put 2 chairs on either side of the fire place -something like this

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/charlton-home-goodfield-armchair-chrl8211.html?piid=24799910

Of course I cannot tell if they fit but you get the idea,then get a lighter sofa set 

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/wrought-studio-cyr-2-piece-living-room-set-uspf9384.html?piid=32294108.

If you have room to move the piano do it and move TV to above mantle.I am suggesting this color for the sofa based upon the curtain you have and the Poppy painting on the wall.Are you changing the floors as wells?Now for the center table there is a storage ottoman on wayfair that is the same color as the sofa.You can hide a few throws or books,the kids or you should be able to easily reach into it. I like what others have said to have the big pieces facing each other as it will be easy for you.  

[BlsdMama]

4 hours ago, PeterPan said:

Do you have any options to put in that corner if you move the tv? Your fireplace/mantle is adorable, but it's confusing what the focal point is with the mantle mirror and the tv side by side. I'd either put the tv on the fireplace or move it to another wall. It could go on the wall where the poppy art is.

It sounds like you really want the room to work for conversation, so maybe start there? How would you like your conversations to relate to the fireplace? If you brought in an L-shaped sofa, maybe it could back the glass doors and face the tv on the poppy wall. Then bring in a chair in the corner. That way you can face the fire and talk.

Have you looked for an online furniture arranger or drawn it out on paper? 

You might also watch Craigslist for furniture. Not good luck for couches, but I got a couple really neat chairs (vintage, antique, upholstered). 

That piano wall is interesting. Does anyone *play* the piano? If they don't and no one at all wants it, obviously it could go. Is there a *function* you'd like to bring into the room? We have such long winters, I'd be wanting to slurp up that light and sit near it. The wall colors confuse me. Again, I can't tell what the focal point is. 

Would you like to do puzzles in there? Grow plants? I don't know, just thinking. It seems like a nice big space. Maybe a games cabinet or some book shelves?

No one plays.  I'm still holding out hope. The last two I put in piano fizzled - but there's still five more....  It's a Starr and we bought it while in Oregon for our oldest.  She played constantly, but went off and got married (the nerve, lol)  -so there's sentimental value there.  I could move it to another room-ish... Meaning I could put it in our extra big entry, but the seat gets in the way.  I could get a smaller seat?

I LOVE the idea of shelving and a place for games.  Games are such a big part of who we are as a family.  Would it look weird?  I've always wanted to move the doorway in the living room so I could put shelves on each side of that fireplace.  But the area on the left is super deep and the area on the right is shallow.  I have not looked for a furniture arranger.  There is a gal I went to high school who has gone into business doing this.  She's amazing.  I could consult.

I think the biggest catch is this - that kitchen entry is the only one I can entry with the big wheelchair.  The other tv is down the basement.  So, family movies in the living room is the only viable option.  We also were playing with switching walls and putting it on the poppy side.  

The function I want is this: I want company to be able to be in this room.  It's a GREAT room - tons of light from the doors.  The backyard is gorgeous in the summer - I have a long and curvy hosta bed, a locust, and a maple, along with peonies and lilacs all in that view.  But we NEVER go in there.  

I also love the idea of plants. I'm getting to have quite the collection and they make me happy.  You bring up a good point and that's the emotional connection to the room.  I never spend any time in this room unless it's in the summer because I can open the door and enjoy my plants.  Now that I'll be in the house so much, I'm trying to find a way to enjoy the house, lol.  It's true that I have put zero energy into the house except structural remodeling and paint on the walls.  I'm an outside girl so my energy has gone into planting and growing out there.  Plants and games are both things we love here.  (Okay, the plants are me.)

[BlsdMama]

4 hours ago, school17777 said:

I’d move the tv to the wall with the poppy picture as PeterPan suggested and then put your long couch directly across from it, in front of the sliding doors and the love seat facing the fireplace.

Thank you for adding to the voices.  That's what we're thinking maybe too.... Trying to see if the wheelchair will be able to squeeze.  Darn thing.

[BlsdMama]

2 hours ago, Storygirl said:

I think it can be awkward to place a couch in front of doors in some rooms. But other times it can work. It depends, as well, on how often the doors are utilized. If people are constantly coming in and out of them, it's different than if they function more as windows, with other doors being the main ones used. In this picture, it looks to me like the tile area in front of the door provides a good amount of space for walking behind the couch, but it depends on how wide the doors swing.

Good thoughts - it would be enough.  We've done it before because it looks nice, but didn't bother to move the tv, lol.  Works in the summer when we rarely sit to watch a show, but not so much in the winter. :P 

They most often only function as fresh air and sunshine.  I don't like the kids to run in and out there because of light carpet and kid feet. :) 

[BlsdMama]

2 hours ago, Storygirl said:

I agree. If you have the two bigger pieces of furniture facing each other, instead of having the couch blocking the width of the room and facing the fireplace (as it is now), it opens up straight paths through the room from door to door. The ottoman is nice to have in the middle of the room, but it could easily be moved to the side as people need to make a path (unlike a coffee table, which is harder to move). And an ottoman can double as additional seating.

The furniture is open to suggestions. 😉 

[Storygirl]

Can you give the piano to your oldest to have in her house?

[PeterPan]

35 minutes ago, BlsdMama said:

I could put shelves on each side of that fireplace. 

Yes!! Even just one side would be really nice. If it's deep on the left, that could be good. You need depth for board games. They really take up more space than you think, lol. I've been cleaning out my games closet, and it belched all over my couch in the most horrible mess. 

If you do the games, try to bring in a table, kwim? I have this antique table, I forget what it's called. Oh, drop leaf. Mine isn't a drop leaf, because it's smaller. But a drop leaf would work too. Something that could be smaller when it's two people and bigger when it's more. Or just plunk a big table where the piano is, any old table like even a dining table, and just play games. Hey, what about a pool table? That would be so stellar there. Then people would hang where you are. You can knit or whatever you do while they play pool. 

38 minutes ago, BlsdMama said:

But we NEVER go in there. 

I love your idea to talk with your decorator friend about why. I think the colors could have an effect. I think there's also the function issue. If you want people to use a room, you have to bring in functions, things they can do there. So bring in billiards or a game table or a nintendo switch (hello, you have an awesome room for this) and people will show up. Get a chair that is really comfortable for you, something that is YOURS, and put your knitting basket there, kwim? 

I think the red is a little stark. Colors have emotions. Maybe have your friend help you pick a new palette. Doesn't have to cost a lot of money, just kind of pulling it together with what you like. Fresh walls, curtains from Target (or no curtains), some furniture that puts the fun in function, you can get use out of this room. 

What do you DO if you walk out through those patio doors? Is there a way those connect? Like is there something you need to store in this room because it's what you'll do when you go out through those doors?

41 minutes ago, BlsdMama said:

It's a GREAT room - tons of light from the doors.

I'm huge on yellow. Maybe some light shades of yellow and some light blues in the fabrics would make it a little more cheery and pick up the sunshine? I don't know. Most people like neutrals, lol. But yes, I can see it's a sunny room! The trick with colors is to get a sample can ($5, just ask) and paint it on a piece of dollar tree poster board. Then you take it around each wall at different times of day so you can really see how the room will look.

43 minutes ago, BlsdMama said:

I'm an outside girl so my energy has gone into planting and growing out there. 

Ok, so my FIL was an avid gardener, and when his health declined, I got him marijuana lights. They're not really marijuana lights, but I joked they were. They have these LED grow lights, plant lights. So I think THAT is what you put on that wall where the piano is. Give the piano to your dd, who is clearly the one who loved it, and you set up a kick butt, ROLL UP planting station for yourself. Think through what it means to make it accessible. That way you get to garden inside. And you get these grow lights and you string them up along the entire length of that wall. I think if you bring in a large dining table (or have someone build you something out of old doors, whatever you've got), this can really work.

You NEED to be gardening for your mental health. There's nothing wrong with your mind. So grow whatever you like and put in the lights so you can do that. It can be your Christmas present to yourself, marijuana lights. 

Research it, but something like this                                             Exlenvce 1500W 1200W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower,led Plant Growing Light Fixtures with Daisy Chain Function (Triple-Chips 15W LED)                                       I think if you had two, they could run the length of that wall with a table under them. If someone will build it for you, then you could have a shelf below for storage and a narrow shelf above to hold watering cans. But you know, whatever. Found stuff, repurposed stuff is good. Personally, I wouldn't try to make it swanky, just functional. And I'd make no excuses about it. You like growing things, so you're going to grow things. And it's a great room for growing things.

 

[PeterPan]

Do you like bird feeders? Hummingbird feeders? You could stick a hummingbird feeder on that glass door and get visitors. If in the spring you do some containers on that porch and put up a feeder, you'll assuredly get visitors. 

You could also grow some succulents. You could do plant stands in front of that stationary door. Ikea probably has some on the cheap.

Do you like wind chimes? You could put a wind chime on the porch. 

You can do all these things that connect you to the outside. Are your wheels able to go through the door? Or they can but it's hard to get the door open? Could you go through a sliding door better? Or could it be switched to french doors so you could get through them more easily? That's a more expensive fix, so I'm just thinking out loud. 

But yeah, definitely think through what could be done. To help you enjoy the space more. Bringing in your favorite colors (purple? you had a lot of purple there, lol), things you love, helping you be able to go outside independently, etc.

Let us know what you do or what your decorator friend says if you talk with her! 

Edited December 8, 2019 by PeterPan

[PeterPan]

52 minutes ago, BlsdMama said:

The furniture is open to suggestions. 😉 

What piece would make YOUR life good? I would start there and then buy all the other furniture to fit. Most people can sit on anything and like variety. You could hang a swinging egg chair in the corner by that odd door you don't like. Seriously, I so totally would, lol. You'll have to reinforce the ceiling to do it, but sure hang a swinging chair. People like variety.

For you, what would be ideal? A couch with a chaise? A recliner that has a lift and a massaging function? A Benedict Cumberbatch shaped chair you can fall into on a hard day? Haha, I don't know. 

So yeah, I'd start with what you want and then let the person helping you pick out things to go around it to seat as many people as you want flexible. For the games, you can have a folding card table or a drop leaf table and just pull in chairs. 

Here's that chair for the corner.                                             Greenstell Rattan Wicker Egg Hammock Chair with Hanging Kits,Weather Fastness Hanging Chair with Comfortable Red Cushion and Pillow,Basket Swing Chair for Indoor,Outdoor Bedroom,Patio,Garden (Brown)                                      

[Anne]

I have no good ideas, but I love Peter Pan’s creativity here!!  

 

Anne

[PeterPan]

Sorry to keep posting here, but I'm getting excited about the thought of growing things and all this rearranging. Where are your pictures of your kids??? If you want to BE in this room, don't you want the pictures of things/people you love?? So one of those walls needs to start to have a serious montage of pictures of your favorite people. Do you use a laptop stand? You can add your phone pics to your amazon cloud account and get them to show up on your tv screen saver. 

I was thinking you could put your kids over the plant stand (because both grow), but that's a little weird. Just another wall. The poppy wall if you put the tv over the mantle. If you don't put the tv on the mantle, then a family portrait on the mantle might be lovely.

I'm in picture mode, haha. You can see with my other thread. I guess you could do ledges if you want. Or just have people bang and hang pictures. I'll bet you have tons of them with all your kids, mercy. Have you ever made a collage? Here's the software I've used. You'll love it. You can make something big with tons of your happy pictures and then print it as a vinyl cling to stick on the wall. Or print onto canvas. http://www.shapecollage.com

[matrips]

I can’t tell the dimensions of the room, so maybe this won’t work, but these are my thoughts of what I’d try.  TV on poppy wall, an end table under it, and a slim chair kind of under the tv, but closer to that doorway.  Big couch along wall with outside doors; it looks like only one door opens.  One chair, plus a small table and your mobility chair where the couch currently is.

[kbutton]

Houseplants do make things homey! I am literally aiming for jungle in the rooms where I have the right light. For succulents, I have a grow light on a vacation timer during the winter months to give just enough supplemental light.

Could you still putter in the dirt if you had it closer to you? I have seen raised beds on stilts a number of times, and bins like these are also an option: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/stock-tanks?cm_mmc=SEM-_-Google-_-Agriculture-_-StockTanksTaxExtAd&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI98OUi5Ol5gIVUPDACh2D0QqTEAAYASAAEgK2u_D_BwE

We have our berry bushes and a fig tree in a big tank like those until we figure out where we want them permanently (moved in 2017 and the yard needed a LOT of work--regrading, drainage, etc., and a fence needs to come down as well). We haven't had luck in the past with container gardening, but this year was fantastic--we just needed bigger buckets and better dirt/organic fertilizer. If you have some nice containers, maybe you can have your DH or someone build you a box platform of some kind for you so that you can reach them.

https://www.gardentech.com/blog/gardening-and-healthy-living/gardening-for-everyone-creating-accessible-gardens

 

[KungFuPanda]

How about this? Can you put the tv over the piano?

[wintermom]

Can you ditch one of both of the sofas and go with a couple comfy chairs, a round table high enough for eating, and a really nice floor lamp. The sofas in that room are so big that there is no room for anything else. Also, if you rarely go in this room but want to use it for a conversation/visiting area, why do you need a TV at all? You could turn this room into a "conservatory" where you enjoy plants, sitting and having tea or snacks with friends, and listening to musical recordings/live music. Make the window, looking at or going out into the outdoors the focal point, and the fireplace the background. Put the larger furnishings in front of the fireplace, unless you use it and want to enjoy this. Or you could change the focus in the winter to have the cozy fireplace as a focus. 

ETA: You could also take out the carpeting and put in different flooring. This may help change the mood and dynamic of the room as well. Right now, the carpeting seems to pull down the energy of the room. Something that reflects light or adds interesting texture may make the room a lot more vibrant. 

Edited December 8, 2019 by wintermom

[Acadie]

12 hours ago, KungFuPanda said:

How about this? Can you put the tv over the piano?

 

This is brilliant!

[barnwife]

KungFuPanda's idea is good. It even leaves space by the fireplace for a shelf for books. games, knitting, etc... I like the idea of there being space for a hobby of yours (like plants) if this is a room you intend to use (more) going forward.

[PeterPan]

If you put the tv over the piano, one it's too high (should be lower), and two your line of sight is through a traffic way. The foot traffic from the door to the left of the piano to the outside divides the room into two spaces. And if you check distances, you really want to be maybe 10-12 feet from your tv. I have a tv in the basement, in kind of an open room, and it can run 13-14' even when I'm pushing the couch forward. It makes the room feel not cozy. You want to be on the closer side to the tv (10-12) and have the tv a fuzz lower so you don't have to strain your neck. It will make it feel cozy. 

There are charts for distances from the tv, the field of vision, how big a tv you can take in, etc. The decorator friend will know all this. So you can work backward and get a viewing distance that is comfortable for the size of tv she has.  Something like this Crutchfield › Articles & Videos: Home › TVs & Video › TVsTV sizes and viewing distance - Crutchfield

[klmama]

I agree with KungFu Panda, except I'd remove the TV completely.  You said no one uses this room, so either you have a TV elsewhere or you just don't watch.  Give the TV to one of your adult dc, or sell it and use the money to pay for something you want in the room!  The arrangement is great for conversation or for playing a board game on the coffee table.  Either way, there's room for you to pull up to the end of the table in your new chair to join the group.  If you wanted to shift to the couch, there's room to pull alongside it so you can make the move.  It looks like a win to me.

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by klmama

[PeterPan]

Fwiw, a person's viewing habits can change. My father was not one to watch tv, but now that he has a tumor in his spine and sits (and then stands and then sits) more, he watches tv and finds it pretty important as his window to the world. There's also a lot that's adaptive about the new tech. You can use an Alexa enabled device to make calls from across the room, even if you say drop your phone. You can use it to play the radio, watch youtube, play your favorite music, etc., all with your voice.

Edited December 8, 2019 by PeterPan

[KungFuPanda]

If she removes the tv entirely, she can’t watch a movie with the family because the other tv is in the basement and inaccessible. 

Oooooh, what if you got a projector tv. You could put the equipment over the piano and a white, roll-up screen on the ceiling over the fireplace. When you’re not watching anything it would disappear into the ceiling, but when you are watching a movie your furniture is still oriented toward the fireplace so you only have one focal point to cope with. 

Also, the ottoman could shift to the perimeter when it’s needed as additional seating and returned to the center for family lounging.  

We put vinyl plank in our house to make it more wheelchair friendly. We’ve only had it for about three years but it has suffered no damage from dog claws or heavy equipment. Real wood is nicer, but with the expense and damage risk we went with vinyl. It was DIY friendly and I was able to do it by myself in a few days. It’s also water proof so if I’m clumsy while watering my plants, or if ds’s tires are wet, there’s no harm done. 

[ElizabethB]

You can get a fold down piano bench and store it the space under the piano or keep the bench in another room and move it to the piano for practice.  In our house growing up, we stored the piano bench in the bathroom for some reason, and moved it to the piano when my brother or I were practicing.  I might have to ask my parents why if they even remember, LOL, there was room for the piano bench where it was, I think.  Maybe the piano bench got used in the bathroom somehow? 

[ElizabethB]

In one of our houses, we had wood cabinets next to the fireplace on both sides, it looked really nice and we did store games in there, open shelves on top and cabinets on the bottom.  If you made them flush on both sides with a wood that matched the fireplace, it would look really sharp.  

[Ottakee]

I agree with making this space what you want it too be....no matter what is "correct" or fashionable.

If you want to add plants and/or a game table, do so.  Put the TV somewhere that is easy for you to view it.

The vinyl plank flooring is a great idea.  My mom has it for her power wheelchair and it looks brand new even after last winter and her big power chair rolling all over it.  Then you could putter with plants, etc and not worry about spilling dirt or water.  

[Pen]

Could you put sofa where piano is? 

And then more movable pieces of furniture that could be moved to face the couch for conversations,  or toward the tv / fireplace when that’s desirable.  And your new wheeled chair could go either direction too.

[ktgrok]

I'd get rid of the bigger couch, or move it under the poppy picture if there is room. Make the focal point the view, not the fireplace or TV, since what you love is the outdoors. Then use  more chairs plus some ottomans that can double as chairs, maybe some floor pillows, etc for the kids that face the TV and flank the view. 

[school17777]

On 12/8/2019 at 12:24 AM, KungFuPanda said:

How about this? Can you put the tv over the piano?

I think this set-up is difficult to actually watch tv because you have to turn your head to view the tv.  Or, just two people can comfortably watch if they lie down facing the tv.  The same goes for the fireplace, but that’s not as big of a deal because you don’t need to have your body/neck consistently turned towards the fire to enjoy it.