COLUMN: Room shape dictates furniture placement

DEAR GAIL: We've decided to use our living and dining room as a great room, where we will watch TV. We love the room because it also has a fireplace, which is in the dining room area. The room is long and narrow, and we have a large sectional. We have the sectional in the living area, but we are too far away from the TV and fireplace. We placed the sectional in the middle of the room, but it just cut the room in half. What else can we do? -- Catherine H.

DEAR CATHERINE: What you are describing is an oblong, or what designers call a bowling-alley-shaped room.

A common mistake in an oblong-shaped room is to place the furniture against the walls, which just lengthens the bowling alley effect. Another mistake is to treat the room as one large room. Being that it is long and narrow, there is no way that a conversation could comfortably take place.

What you need to do is angle the furniture, so that you gently weave through the room instead of walking straight through. You also want to create pockets of space behind and between the furniture. This will make the room seem larger and will provide areas to layer pieces, as well as allow for additional furniture.

So, the first step is to create two separate areas.

Since you mentioned that the TV and fireplace are at one end of the room and your sectional is at the other end, let's get the furniture closer so that you can see the TV and enjoy the fireplace. But, instead of placing it straight, you'll want to angle it to create a pocket area.

The easiest way to determine how to angle furniture is to first think of a square within a square. Then take the inside square -- your furniture -- and turn it 45 degrees. You are still going to keep your furniture arrangement in a square pattern, although it will be angled across from the TV and fireplace.

Next, place a sofa back table behind the sectional piece closest to the wall. This would be considered one of the pocket spaces. Place a lamp and accessories on the table. A tall palm tree with an uplight would also work well.

Next to it, you could place a decorative furniture piece or a larger accessory grouping.

You now have created a separate area in the living room to use as you choose. This area will not feel completely cut off since you have angled the sectional, which does not create a feeling of a dividing wall.

You could also place two overstuffed chairs and an ottoman for a quiet corner in which to sit and relax. If you have a window, a bistro table and chairs would be a nice area to sit with morning coffee or a snack.

Or, if you need extra work space, consider a decorative writing desk. Make this area warm and inviting since it is probably by the front door.

I am a firm believer in that a home must function first, and just because the builder wrote living and dining room on the floor plan, does not mean that is how the rooms must be used.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 8170 S. Eastern Ave, Box 4-275, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.

Real Estate home