Space Planning in Singapore

Hi Christine!

I write to you from Singapore. I chanced upon your blog recently and have been obsessively going through your blog archive and taking in all your wonderful advice. Love your writing!

I need some help with the furniture layout for the living/dining area in our new apartment. (I have attached the floor plan - measurements are in millimeters. We combined the Main Bedroom and Bedroom 2 into one large master bedroom by knocking down the wall separating them, and sealed off the old Main Bedroom door, so now it's just one long wall from the kitchen entrance to the Bedroom 2 entrance.)

The very open floor plan has us stumped - from the (tiny) entryway, you can see right through the entire space to the bedroom entrance! There is also an awkward structural pillar between the 2 banks of windows that juts out into the space. A beam (fairly low - only slightly taller than average door height) also runs from the pillar across the space to the opposite wall.

In this space we need to incorporate a dining area and a sitting/TV area. The hardest part for us so far is where we should position the TV — it feels like if we can just get that figured out, the furniture layout will flow naturally from there. Our existing furniture (which we would like to keep if possible as they are new) are a 3-seater sofa (about 90"), and a 4 foot round dining table with 4 dining chairs. We are also open to the idea of built-ins if they make sense.

Would love to hear your advice on how we can make this space work!

Regards,
Steve

Hi Steve,

I actually have a brother named Steve in Singapore right now.  I did a couple of posts for them when they got there.  Check out this one, and this one.

Let me go over with you why I layed it out the way I did in the floorplan below.  We'll start with your living room/dining room.

1.  I put the sofa where the column came out from the wall.  This gives you a bit of a larger living area than trying to squeeze it in-between the columns.  Of course we want the table to be close to the kitchen.  I would line it all up.  Center the table with the sofa, with the sofa table, with the entertainment console.  I would move your hanging light above the table to ground it and make it all feel like it belongs there a bit more. Your current light is not in the best location.  I would get a drum shade pendant and hang it where I have it in the floorplan drawing.  You could even drape a chain if you are just renting, it would be better than having it off center like it is now.

(photo from country home)

2.  The sofa makes a natural room divider.  The area rug will help to solidify that area.  It will feel more intentional and less floating with the rug.  Absolutely do not put the sofa against the wall.  That would be a super bad idea.  Add a chair.  One with a swivel will allow you to go back and forth between TV viewing and conversation area.  The sofa table/console table to the back of the sofa makes the whole thing look better from the entry and dining area.  It also gives you more lighting options as you add a couple of lamps.  Consider a sofa table doubling as a desk to really use your space well.  Scale is super important.  Make sure your furnishings are not too small, or too large.  Use the floorplan I drew as a guide.

3.  I did maintain a walkway from the entry to the bedrooms.  Personally, I don't see this as bad.  Once you decorate the area, the eye will be drawn to your decor, and not straight back to the bedroom doors.  I also feel like this is a much higher functioning design than if you were to interrupt your traffic path with furniture  along that wall.  I added three wall lights and art work, turning it into a gallery.

(photo from focal point styling)

4.  Plants soften awkward corners.  Don't just ignore those little things I drew in there, add plants.  They are really crucial to making it look amazing.  Remember that every plant gets an uplight on a timer.  Now you have not only added life, and softened corners, but you have added ambiance. 

(photo from BHG blog)

5.  In your bedroom, instead of night stands, I gave you full on dressers to use as night stands.  Measure the height of your bed and try to meet it in height with your dressers.  They will maximize your space with storage, be a perfect scale, and also serve every purpose of a night stand.  I added a bench to the end of the bed, again a plant in a corner that we wish wasn't even there.

(photo from Little green noteblook)

6.  I then made you a sitting room in the adjoining area with an ottoman.  I did not notice a closet, so I gave you an armoire.  You have limited wall space.  Select some nice wall decor for the space you have, and light it up.  Remember that the headboard wall is your focal point.  Add a fun wallpaper, and make it look sensational.

If you think that my arrangement is just like what the photos are already showing, let me tell you the crucial differences.

1.  Scale.  Yours is too small.

2.  You put a console table half in the dining area and half in the living area.  It doesn't line up with the dining area, like it wants too, but it also doesn't fit nicely in the living area.  It is little things like this that end up making a space feeling "off". 

3.  Visual weight.  I really like your dining set.  The tulip table is a classic, and I love the clear chairs.  However, your dining area feels empty.  The light scale of the furniture, perhaps even more than their actual size, is making it feel insufficient, and yet your architecture really doesn't allow you to add more furniture.  Move it, like I said, but if it still feels too light, you can add a rug, and if that doen't do the trick, replace the furniture with visually heavier furniture. 

Storage Meets Style

Hi Christine,

I just recently moved into an apartment, from a home. I have an open living/dining area that is not large to begin with, and I want to add a computer desk that can fit two monitors as well as dining and living room furniture. What do you think? I like a more modern look. Can you make it look less like an cookie cutter apartment and more like a cool NYC apartment? BTW- my husband likes black leather...

Thanks,

Shelly

Hi Shelly,

I made some plans for you.

1. Window treatments. Add drapes. They will do tons to make your place look finished. The panels above are on clearance from West Elm for only $15 each.
2. Area Rug. Don't think that just because you have carpet- you don't need a rug. A rug adds texture, style, pattern, and helps to separate areas in an open floorplan.
3. Use a bookcase for a sofa table. You can use it for books, or put baskets on it with any type of storage. It's like adding another wall to your room. Also add some wall shelves in the dining area. Lowe's sells some great ones- 36 inches wide- only $27.
4. In small spaces- nothing works so nicely as mirrors to open up space, reflect light and honestly make a room feel larger. The mirror above (uttermost) is 30 x 60- I would use two- and hang them horizontally on top of one another.
5. The console table above would make a great computer desk. It is 87 inches in width- giving you some good elbow room- but only 20 inches deep. Not to mention that it is the latest washed finish.
6. Use stools at the computer desk. They tuck away nicely- but can also double as extra dining seating.
7. Watch your scale on your furniture- don't go too deep- 4 inches really does make a difference in your room.
8. I would get a dining table that starts pretty small- but will open up larger. Then use a chair out of a clear translucent material. I found this cool one that comes in translucent black or clear. I think I'd use black.
9. No- I have not forgotten about your husband- let's make your chair in the corner a nice black leather one. ;)

I can see the place in my mind and it looks fabulous! I am sure it will be the best looking apartment in the complex! Don't forget lighting. Add some wall mounted swing arm lights at the desk- an uplight on a timer behind the plant- and a pharmacy floor lamp by the chair, and a cabinet light on the top wall shelf. If you have a hanging light in the dining area- consider replacing it with a cooler one than came with the apartment.

As a side note- my sister Jackie is a fabulous cook- and has started a blog sharing her amazing recipes- check it out! She also has sprinkled in some fun stories from when we were kids.

Hanadi from Saudi Arabia

Hi Christine :
I am from Saudi Arabia. I really love your designs and ideas and i would like you to help me in my new apartment as soon as possible. Thanks

This is my formal living room layout. I didn’t buy the sofas and chairs until now. I don’t know how many pieces should I buy and how to arrange them (I prefer to have 2 chairs with a table in between in north wall).
I have a curve in the south wall and I don’t know how to deal with it.

Hi Hanadi,

Let me start with your formal living room. I would not begin with a side wall- but rather- the first thing to do is decide what the focal point of the room is. There was no mention of a TV- and no fireplace- which makes this less obvious. The room is oblong rather than square- which means that I would not have a center focal. What I did was choose a wall. I chose the long uninterrupted wall- without the curve. You now will purchase a focal point- perhaps a beautiful display case, or other large piece of furniture, or series of shelves- or even a large piece of art- or other wall decor. Now- in a long narrow space- like you have- I would use a U-shaped seating arrangement. Look at the photo a the top of the post as well as the floorplan. A U-shaped arrangement would be great. There are many good ways to do it- one sofa two chairs- one sofa four chairs, two mid-size sofas and two chairs, a sectional and two chairs. Fill the space in any of those combinations- but using the scale that I gave you in the floorplan. Don't worry about the curved wall- a perfect place for a plant.

What I have in living room : 1 sofa , 1 chaise long left armed ),
2 chairs , TV table , square coffee table, 2 square side tables, small dining table with 8 chairs, 1 small rectangle rug, 1 big rectangle rug.
What I need: 1) furniture arrangement,
2) where can I add a tree?
3) where can I add a console with wall decoration? free space area 1 or area 2?

I drew the dimensions you gave me- and you don't begin to have the space to put all of the furniture you listed. :) Scale back. Look at the floorplan I drew for you above. Whenever you move form one location to another- this can become hard. Try to look at the space as a blank slate.

My needs in my entrance :

1) console table with wall mirror
2) tree
3) floor light (if I have a place for it)
4) wall hanger
5) wall decoration if I still need
Where should I place them please ?

You can see above where I added a console table. See if there is space to put the tree where the wall comes out- it would be nice to soften that wall. I am not sure what a wall hanger is- but I am guessing it has hooks and holds jackets? I added a piece of wall decor and a couple of sconces.

Thank you so much for writing in- it is fun hearing from Saudia Arabia!

- Christine

Photo from Veranda

Will's Outdoor Living Room.

Chris,

We love your ideas and visit your blog regularly! We are embarking on an addition. We are wanting to close-in the existing covered back patio and convert it into an informal dining room, and build a new roof over our existing concrete pad to make an outdoor living area. We like to host and want the indoor area to be a place where we can fit family gatherings as well as a serving area for outdoor BBQ’s (as shown by the built-in cabinets/countertop area). The outdoor area we are stumped on; we just want some outdoor sitting/eating areas and more privacy.

For the future outdoor living area, we have a stamped concrete pad, but it is just too out in the open. I’m thinking a more secluded area with half walls & shutters, sitting/eating area, and maybe an outdoor fireplace? I can put the grill somewhere else. We only need access to the west and east to get to the backyard spaces, and we can eliminate the northeast stairs for less traffic patterns if needed. To the west of the stamped concrete pad are two steps to get to the side yard and an 8’ x 8’ pad for a future hot tub, but we changed our minds and don’t think we want to use it for that anymore.

Just use all of the areas as a blank slate, and build it as you would from scratch. We’ll send you before and after pictures when we’re done. Oh, and don’t hold back, tell us what you really think, just pretend we don’t know each other!

Will

Dear Will,

So good to hear from you! I haven't seen you in probably 12 or 15 years???? Wow- you must be getting old! ;)

I divided your e-mail into two- today's post is just for the outdoor section. You were a little too open on your "style" that you were going for here. Homework assignment #1- take your wife on a date this Friday- have a great meal- and then take her to Borders. Look in the outdoor landscape /gardening section- and peruse until you are inspired. Find a picture that you both LOVE- this will give me more direction. I will, however, give you general guidance.

Your are is 14 x 22. To utilize this covered area the best- you are going to want to divide that are in two- having a dining area and a living area. Keep the dining area on the right- (closest to your kitchen inside). You are going to want to do some things to define each area.

Consider:

1. From the ground: Outdoor area rugs.
2. From the ceiling: Ceiling fans not randomly placed- but rather carefully placed exactly over your table- and exactly over your sitting area.
3. From the walls: Center an outdoor fireplace in the living room section- do things architecturally to define the space. Remember that I said "architecturally"- but you want to do so in a way that includes greenery. A couple ideas are in pictures above- the stone wall- the beautiful trellis. Define your space. This can also be done with large pots.

Don't forget lighting. Plan that from the very beginning. Nothing says- "let's party at Will's place" better than a great outdoor lighting plan. Not just outdoor uplights on plants- but also accent lighting from above- and outdoor sconces on the side of your home.

When you furnish the two areas- shake it up. Finding a "collection" and getting the living and dining room pieces all from the same collection will add a minimum amount of textural variety- and our goal is to add a maximum amount of textural variety and interest.

With that said- get pieces that compliment each other. They should look like they go together- without "matching." For example- the dining chair above from Selamat in the blond color would look great mixed with the blond wood collection below from Restoration Hardware. A dark metal mixed with a dark wicker would do the same thing.

Make your eyes do a dance. There should be a focal point- like all good interiors- one in the "dining room" and one in the "living room." From there- add secondary points of interest around the area.

OK- get busy- go plan your date! Stay tuned for your "indoor" post soon.

Jennifer M needs to Bust a Move

Dear Christine,

I've been reading your blog and loving every minute of it! You are so awesome to give your advice so freely. I am really embarrassed to send you pictures of this room because I know it has so many problems. But, I know you are honest and will give me good advice so here goes.

I have been wanting to decorate my living room for awhile now and honestly I just don't know where to begin. It is the room you see when you first come into our house, but we are still in there quite a bit so it needs to be liveable. I want new furniture, a new light fixture(s), carpet, accessories, and wouldn't be opposed to painting,but I'm not sure how to do that without having to paint the whole kitchen too since they share a wall... You will have to- never stop the paint in the middle of the wall. It's no big deal- just one Saturday :) I will likely have to do it in stages too for financial reasons so I hope you can still help me. Almost everyone does this kind of thing in stages- the important thing is to plan it all out before you begin- this keeps you from making mistakes. Where do I start? What should I choose first? I don't know where the focal point should be since there's no fireplace or other obvious focus to the room. Good job recognizing that you need a focal point. By process of elimination- I would have it be the wall adjacent to the window wall. That means that we need something really "cool" on that wall. It isn't a very large space and I have young children so it needs to be family friendly as well as affordable. So, I'm coming to you for advice and inspiration and hopefully enough bravery to actually do something. I guess I'll start by describing the room. The room is 13feet by 14 feet with a banister for the stairs on one wall and a window on the opposite wall. About 4 feet of the longer side is wood floor and really more like the entry way than part of the room because of that. The "dining area" is also visible from the front door if that makes a difference. I want it to feel welcoming and cozy without feeling small or crowded. I would like to get new furniture and I was thinking of a couch and two chairs unless there is a better combination of furniture you know of for this space. (I'd also love to know the best way to arrange the furniture--the piano has to stay in this room) I made a floorplan according to your description and you do not have enough room for a sofa unless you put it along the window wall- which I don't recommend- or along the wall that should be your focal point wall- which would be bad- as it would face the entry wall- go with a love seat. (photo below from Pottery Barn) Keep the scale of your furniture small. In my diagram- I used a 64 x 36 love seat- and two chairs- that are about 32 x 32. The chair above is from Padma's Plantation- I would use different fabric- here is one from Beacon Hill- This type of chair would also be super easy to re-upholster if little kids give it more wear than you would like.but the chair is great- it is only 30 x 32. The taller back gives it the visual weight, however to balance the love seat nicely. Sometimes a smaller footprint takes you to chairs that are visually too small. I also like how this chair gives the room texture and style. This is not very large- make sure you do not purchase pieces that are too big.I have looked at the local furniture stores in my area and just haven't been able to find anything I love enough to buy. I scanned a picture of something I got out of a magazine awhile ago, but the store is no longer in business(see attached). I like the colors in this picture and the shape/feel of the couch. (would you consider that picture contemporary?)A sofa like this can be very transitional in style.- You could find a love seat in a similar style- keep it under 64 inches in width- but also not too small- you want it as close to to 64 inches as you can find. I've been thinking that I'd like to keep the furniture more neutral so it will be more lasting, but still allow me to change things up with accessories. A nice safe way to go when you are not seriously confident about what you love. I'm not sure what to call my style because there are so many different things I like. I don't want it to be too trendy, but I do want to love it. I am open to consider any ideas you have for me.I like all kinds of different colors besides those in the picture too,but I don't have any pics of them. How does the crown molding effect what will look good in the room? Every room looks more polished and finished with crown moulding. My biggest problem is fear that whatever I do is going to look bad so I just don't do anything. Do what I tell you to- and it will look great! If there's anything else you need to know from me feel free to ask. Sorry this is so rambling...Thanks in advance for your help!

Jen M

Hi Jen- where to begin? Let's start with the focal point wall. We are going to turn a plain wall into a beautiful focus of your room. People will walk into your home and their eye will be drawn to the fantastic view of this wall. Start with a furniture piece. I would use a chest- 48 inches wide or so. Here is an option from Decorize: Wouldn't that look great with your two striped chairs next to it? Yes it would. I would say that the chest should be really beautiful- something worth looking at- and eye-catcher- remember- this is your focal point wall- spend your $ here. I like this chest because it introduces a number of different colors- which will keep you from being tied down. Above your table put a mirror- this one is from Uttermost- 37 x 37- way "cooler" in person. I love the nine smaller mirrors. The size is perfect. Put a cool photo gallery on the entry wall- giving the mirror something to reflect. Add two sconces to the wall with the window- one on either side- Add two buffet lamps to the chest. Put them on a timer- have them come on every evening- this will be the ambiance that will make you love this room. You also need a floor lamp on one side of the love seat. These are from Uttermost also. In between the two lamps put some greenery. Put a plant in the corner with an uplight while you are at it.
Move your end table that is next to your piano over by your new love seat. Never put two case pieces next to one another. Of course you need a new ceiling fixture- make sure you don't hang it too high- your current one is way too high. The fixture at the top of the post is from Shades of Light.

Can you picture it? I can- and your room will look fabulous! Go do it! Do it with confidence! Bust a move!