If we could hang out, I’d invite you in, offer you a seat and something to drink, maybe apologize for the baby and baby-toy land mines you’d need to step over and then I’d ask your advice.
But since we most likely can’t hang out in my living room, I’m bringing my living room and request for advice directly into your Internet-reading device.
Care to help?
Our living room has been going through an evolutionary phase as we and the babies adapt to life together. We’ve always planned to make changes as we go, hoping to eliminate wasting time on making the wrong decisions ahead of time. Would we really need to cushion every sharp corner? (Not so far.) Just how much needs to be moved up or out? (Kind of a lot.) What’s safe for them to play with even though it’s not a Baby Toy? (More than They’d lead you to believe.)
We made a pretty big change to the layout this week, replacing our old entertainment center with something simpler (and lighter) from IKEA. We moved furniture around and broke a big design rule by pushing everything up against a wall.
Design don’t rule in this house anymore. Functionality does.
Since we made the big (2 a.m.) move, we’ve been restless. We’ve moved the sofas, chair and tables three or four times. The changing table, which will stay in the living room for now, is currently doubling as a blockade until we get a second baby gate to block the second entry that used to be blocked.
We’ve stood back and scratched our heads, moved this here and that there, and we still aren’t settled. The thing is, Rob and I have run out of ideas and are quickly approaching the I Don’t Care And I’m Sick Of Moving It Just Leave It Alone territory.
Except it’ll still bug us, and we won’t be able to quit until things are just right.
We obviously aren’t experts on furniture placement, but maybe some of you are. Or maybe you’re just smarter than we are and can see a brilliant solution. Maybe? What do you think?
Pardon the mess. Naptime had just started, and I didn’t think to clean up before snapping the images. Oh, and the sofa on the left seats three – the one on the right seats two. Both have reclining ends. Also, all wall stuff you see is temporarily there.
And because you’re such gracious guests, have a peek at our three little amigos. They kill me with cuteness.
Eleanor, Callista, Toby
OMG, HI TRIPLETS!!!!!!
I have no idea what to tell you. If you put the smaller couch back on the wall where it used to be (the one with your wedding pictures & the star mirror) once the gate is up, can you still see the tv? That would leave the window wall opened up & you could put the chair in the other corner.
I don’t know. I suck with this kind of thing.
I am not good with placement but I can recommend getting a corner bookshelf as a end table. We store toys in it to keep our sanity. I think we can straighten up pretty quickly and teach lt too as well. Also target makes nice inconspicuous cabinets to hold a lot. We have one under our bar and it just kinda disappears. Hope that helps
Truthfully, how much time do you spend watching the TV anymore? If it’s not a main point in the living room anymore, you could place it in a not-so-center point of the room and place one of the couches where the TV is, perhaps? I dunno … tough call! I love your paint colors, btw!. I would have to agree in maybe some inexpensive shelving or storage — that may add a bit of fun design you are looking for while still being functional and space-saving!
post some pics once you find what you’re happy with! i’d love to see what you come up with!
I think I just died from the cuteness of those little munchkins. Toby? That little smirk is killer.. what a heartthrob!
I have been wracking my brain and staring at those pictures trying to figure out what I could possibly suggest! I’m thinking maybe put an end table where that stuffed cow is.. at least, I think it’s a cow! This would provide a little bit more storage for toys and whatever you need to show in there quickly to tidy up! I’m also thinking installing triplet-height shelves for the kiddies! Maybe store their books and stuffed animals and toys on them. They’ll be able to get them themselves while providing you with a little bit of storage!
Good luck
ohmygoodess, the cuteness. i’m sorry but after seeing that pic all design thoughts flew outta my head 😉
I have been stalking your blog for a while and I am so in awe of you. Your composure with 3 kids…whew, and I only have one 😉
Anyway, I would move everything in from the wall quite a bit, like 4 or 5 feet. Centered around the tv with the chair to the right of the tv. Then behind the sofas I would put slim bookshelves or console tables with baskets for toys, maybe the expedit ones? Even with shelves behind you’ll still have a good 3 feet or so for the kids to crawl and run around and you’ll more than double your storage.
But heck, right now we have our tv in the fireplace so I won’t feel bad if you don’t take my advice!
I know you’re restless now, but try and give it a week. Then you’ll know more about how you like the new set up, and what’s missing. Plus, I often find that inspiration comes in leaps and burst, so sometimes you need to be *bugged* for a while, before you know how to fix it.
I am a design failure, so no help there! But I got distracted anyway by the triplets and their cuteness! SO BIG!
The little toes peeking out on the bottom left just about killed me.
Not sure as to the placement, but i’m a big one on functionality. Who cares if it breaks a “design rule” if it’s what works for you and your children at this moment, you know? But one thing I WOULD do is be sure to get those wall fastners for all furniture that is above baby height (That tall bookshelf,TV stand, the television itself, etc) My daughter is 17 months now and if there was something she COULD try to tip, she would do it. Gives me SO much peace of mind knowing she’s not going to topple something over on herself!
Honestly, at this point I think you need to go function over form. If it works to keep them contained (and safe) then it’s good enough. In a year you won’t even need the gates and you can rearrange to be prettier.
I’m glad we’re not the only ones who used furniture in lieu of a baby gate. The ottoman was double tasking at our house for a good month before we put the last one up.
Maybe put the two seater on the wall where the TV is, move the TV to the wall with the couch, put the brown chair beside the TV and move the couch to the wall of windows? That would at least make the seating feel less “squished” and more…conversational, maybe?
PS. Those 3 are soo cute!
as a momma of twins, i feel your pain in terms of trying to figure out where to put everything haha i am hoping to get some great ideas from what you come up with. our setup is nearly identical to yours right now. we use two superyards to corden off a large portion of the room as “baby safe” without having to barricade the entrances of the room they are only crawling not walking yet though, so i know that will only fly for so long.
I second the toppling furniture comment- anything in the whole house or garage needs to be anchored including the tv-which you might want to put up on the wall! I’ve heard several “child kills big screen tv on accident with bat or other toy” stories.
Otherwise for someone soon to have three running toddlers it looks about right space wise. They love a big long open space to run and THROW themselves on the couch seat. I let the kids have dedicated ride on toys or a bouncy Rody for indoors only. I don’t know if you have a play room, I’m guessing no, so just go with it! Maybe get rid of the extra recliner to make just an L with the couches. Also, a cute kid table that looks nice for them to color at tucked in the corner of the couches. I made an extra large one by cutting off the legs of a real table and got cute matching chairs.
If you have it nearby-a dedicated giant plastic bin (or3)in a closet to throw everything in for clean up. Then small toys in little bins on the shelves. This can settle the parental brain when the chaos overwhelms.
Open space=good! When there are more toys (really!) you don’t want to be threading your way through furniture groupings and such! Parents want to beeline it baby! I have just tried to duck tape the mouth of the design-y voice in my head for a few years. (she is ROLLING her eyes and smirking at me)
I’ve got nothin. I suck at this type of thing. We live in a tiny apartment, so all of our stuff is pushed up against a wall. Clearly a designer, I am not.
Toby’s face in this kills me.
I’m going to go totally out there, but have you considered moving the TV to the wall where the big couch is now? Then moving that couch to face the TV (thus being kind of in the middle room? You could make more of a grouping that way, and then have room behind the couch for toys and a play area.