How to arrange a living room and separate functional zones?

New York hampton style living room

How to arrange a living room is a question that we unexpectedly had to ask ourselves again three and a half years after moving into our home. There is nothing bad that would not work out for good - at least we always try to do that, so when half of our house was renovated after the flooding that affected us in March this year, we decided to make a metamorphosis of our living room and separate functional zones: dining room, TV corner and play corner.

 

So far our salon was an organizational mish-mash.

 

Place under the stairs it was perfect to hold children's toys, and right next door we fitted ours dining corner, that is, a round table and chairs. I admit - I did not like to sit there, because I was terribly irritated by the toy look and the feeling of eternal mess it caused. So I regularly arranged different furniture for storing toys under the stairs, from a black chest of drawers, through a children's bookcase with containers for toys, to high-gloss cabinets, so that every time I came to the conclusion that the toys would "flow out" anyway.

 

I am addicted to the sun, a under the stairs, where I arranged our dining room, there was probably the darkest corner in our house - another reason why I didn't like spending time at the table. All other corners of the living room were already occupied (one by the kitchen, the second by the sofa, and the third by the TV), so I dreamed of running a cable in the ceiling and hanging a table lamp, but moving the cable in an already furnished house with concrete ceilings is a real challenge so this topic remained in the dream zone.

 

Like most of us, I placed the couch and the TV "intuitively" against the wall, which made it difficult to talk about any TV and seating corner, because this zone covered the whole room. What's more, in our case sofa and TV were located on two opposite walls of the living room and were separated by 6 meters. It made us have a serious problem to choose any video on VOD while sitting on the couch, not to mention watching movies with subtitles, which we had to completely give up, despite not the smallest 51 inch TV - just the distance made it We have long since started to think about either a new (bigger) TV (which was never my dream design element) or a new sofa that would be put in a new place. Also, during family movie screenings, Mikołaj did not want to sit on the sofa, but preferred to lie alone halfway along the living room on the carpet, and I did not join him only because I rated the comfort of a comfortable sitting higher than the comfort of watching a movie.

 

Our living room with a kitchenette is about 30 square meters, which is not large, considering our large kitchen with U-shaped furniture. The arrangement of all the furniture under the walls meant that in the middle of the living room was big space, optically adding a few square meters to the interior, which at the initial stage of decorating the living room was our priority.

 

In this arrangement, when there was a dining table and 5 chairs next to the toy cabinets under the stairs, naturally the play corner fell right in the middle of the living room. So completely dominated the day part of our house.

 

 

How to decorate a living room?

 

Division of the living room into zones

 

During the renovation, where the whole living room and staircase was painted (among others), we decided to, however, in this small space separate functionally and almost physically 4 zones: kitchen, dining, leisure and children - to play. And that's all putting the corner sofa right in the middle of the living room - because we decided that although this would make the room optically smaller, its area is still large enough to allow you to move freely around it.

 

Because of that now couch she was to become a central element of our salon, we took a closer look at our old one, where for 8 years both the cat and two children managed to leave quite visible traces. Centrally positioned, it turned out to be a bit overwhelming because of its height and lack of legs, which is generally a heavy construction.

 

I thought it was the perfect opportunity to think about replacing a worn-out sofa bed with lighter, but still a spacious and comfortable sofathat will ensure our whole family rest together - we love to hang out not only with children, but also with Grandma or cousins. That's why we rejected the idea of ​​a small sofabecause, although optically it would fit better, it would not provide us with such a comfortable rest, and there is nothing more beautiful than after a hard day or on Sunday morning to wield a comfortable sofa with the whole family.

 

Seeing our interiors, it is not difficult for you to guess for sure that I love everything that is bright, warm and nice, but I was sure that with two children, it's at least a crazy idea to have a bright upholstered sofa again, one of which was enough for us only for 8 years, of which over 4 were without children. Many people recommended a leather sofa that is of good quality almost like an oilcloth, but I did not take it into account at all, because the skin is too cold for me, raw and unpleasant material, which, moreover, cozy pillows that I love so much .

 

When I bought a year ago feeding chair in a very light gray shade, due to its purpose, the lady in the store offered me to order it from an easy-to-clean fabric. I didn't use it then, because time was running out, but now I decided to sell the old sofa and put a new one here, quilted, totally light gray sofa with openwork legs giving lightness to this huge furniture that appeared centrally in the middle of the living room in the elegant, easy-to-clean upholstery.

 

It was this corner sofa that allowed us to divide the living room into four functional rooms:

 

TV and entertainment corner

Placing the sofa this time 3 meters from the TV, I managed to create a cozy corner here, and this impression is enhanced by photos, flowers and decorations set on the windowsill.

 

Before:

how to decorate a cozy living room

 

After:

how to decorate a classic New York style living roomNew York Classic style living roomhamptons style loungeNew York style living room

 

Corner with RTV equipment and ramp for curtains i lighting have been designed so that my next dream will fit perfectly here - wall unit, in which I plan to house family treasures and souvenirs, arrange photo albums and frames on the shelves, vases and knick knacks that will give this interior an even clearer character. Like today, cosiness the salon adds fireplace i small woodshed.

 

hamptons style lounge

 

Before:

living room metamorphosis before

 

After:

metamorphosis of the salon after

 

 

A dream, sunny dining room

 

Table and chairs arranged under the window they provided light to the dining corner almost all day, and I I loved this place with myself and it completely compensated for the loss of this space in the middle of the living room. Moreover, it can be said that I moved here with almost all my activities - I drink my morning coffee here, do my makeup, eat meals and even work. Since the table was set up here (3 months ago), never once in the evening went to work in our home office in the attic. Wojtek, moreover, neither. The proximity of the kitchen, coffee and water make it difficult for us to return to the attic. This is my fairy tale.

 

Before:

how to arrange a living room with a dining room

After:

hamptons style dining room

 

An indispensable element of our family dining room - in addition to a fold-out table, which will seat 8-10 people at Sunday dinner, are high chairs for children - they look almost like those for adults, but both the height of the seat and the footrest are adjustable according to their height, thanks to which we develop good habits in our family from the beginning - eating at the table, with the whole family, at pre-planned times and of course - without company TV.

 

best white wooden high chair New York style dining room how to decorate a dining roomround table in the dining room marine lamp in the dining room blue hydrangeas in the dining room

 

 

Play corner under the stairs

Since toys have lived here for years, it was natural to create a play area right here. There are not many of them here anymore, I gave up on all shelves and cabinets or drawers. Each son has a dozen or so of them here, with which he is just playing: Mikołaj keeps them in a box on wheels, and Maks in a natural basket, every week or two we exchange them together with toys from their children's rooms, because the rule is perfect for us - the more toys on hand, the less interest they get. And since it's just a toy corner, not a dining room, the sight of them stopped annoying me completely, you can just see that it's a children's zone. The only thing missing here is a fluffy carpet.

 

After:

corner fireplace in the living roomplay corner in the living room how to arrange a play corner in the living room lace dress Manifiq & Co. Delicia Manifiqhow to store wood in the living room

 

Kitchen has changed little and I will devote a separate post to its functional organization.

 

Probably every person who enters our living room and sees two raging children and this one turbo-couch, rubs his eyes with amazement, but after three months of use it still looks like new, a it was already dirty from apple juice (Santa baptized her on the first day), milk, coffee, pizza sauce, strawberries, banana… I trolley wheels (I don't remember any more dirt), a we wipe any dirt off it using only water and a paper towel.

 

It is provided by Italian fabric Persemprain which we can buy ready furniture in one of the stores cooperating with Persempra, the list of which is available here with convenient search on the map and even buy it by the meter to get along with it give your furniture to the upholsterer. Bright furniture in the living room no longer has to be just our dream, even if we have children, a dog and a cat, and at the same time we love to enjoy red wine, of course on a comfortable sofa.

 

New York style sofa and pillowsmontessori children's corner in the living room family and children's photography

 

How do you like our salon metamorphosis?

There is nothing bad that would not turn out to be good, right? I would never decide to do this renovation myself, and yes - the changes for the better happened somehow by the way.

 

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67 comments
Leave a comment:

  • 21.06.2022

    Great article! I really like this metamorphosis. Especially the TV corner, because I myself had a problem where to hang the TV in the living room. I'm stealing some inspiration from myself. Thank you very much and best regards <3

  • Magdalena
    Reply
    04.01.2022

    Changes in the salon are definitely a plus. However, my attention is drawn to another element - the dress. Seems to be a feeding model to me, right? Where can you buy one?

  • 08.02.2021

    Everything fits together here - you can't get enough of it 🙂

  • Małgorzata
    Reply
    26.10.2020

    Beautiful interior ❤️ Where do the curtains come from?

  • 29.04.2020

    Very well described but even more beautiful it looks in the pictures I am in love with how you arranged this salon. Such a question where you can get such a corner is beautiful.

  • Bartosz
    Reply
    03.09.2019

    The interior is the most cool, aesthetic and ideal for relaxation.

  • 12.08.2019

    The table is lovely and a lot of people will fit around it. Beautifully selected colors, it is elegant and subdued. Wonderful!

  • Aleksandra
    Reply
    08.08.2019

    How to arrange a living room? So that you feel good in it - and the one here in the photos looks great! The floor is great! I like it very much, it is bright and spacious - what I like 🙂 So I can move in 😉

  • 29.07.2019

    I am in love, fascinated, delighted! All in one!!! You have a woman talent and a sense of style. I will look here and steal ideas more often 🙂

  • 09.07.2019

    A beautifully arranged apartment - in white and gray, which is what I like! Best Regards

  • 04.07.2019

    I love this style! It is in this style that I would like to have a living room or bedroom. A lot of white, gray ... I will also think about such a fireplace, because it is a great thing and in addition it looks beautiful.

  • 28.05.2019

    The wood for the fireplace looks fantastic! Great idea and placement, hardly practically impressive! Definitely YES 🙂 Regards!

  • Ania
    Reply
    20.02.2019

    I wanted to ask where you bought pillows that appeared on your blog and what paint you have painted the walls is beautiful!

    • 20.02.2019

      The paint is white from Flugger - it is much warmer than the white market colors. The pillows are from the Dekoria store.

  • Carolina
    Reply
    26.01.2019

    Can I ask where you can buy this is a table?

  • 21.12.2018

    A beautiful salon, I now go on blogs and watch different styles to get inspired and I must say that this is one of the prettiest I've ever seen. You really created an original atmosphere, although I, with live children and a cat, can't afford white.

  • 20.12.2018

    Beautiful interiors.
    Straight and classy.
    Personally, I don't like too many accessories, unnecessary decorations, I love simplicity.
    Looking at the pictures in my head, I still meant "in such a place I could relax".
    Pozdrawiam

  • 14.12.2018

    Beautiful interior, I like a uniform tone in the interior broken by texture, Bravo!

  • Eliza
    Reply
    09.12.2018

    It looks beautiful, I love bright interiors, and I have long dreamed of such a rocking chair. 🙂

  • 05.12.2018

    Very interesting home decor. Interesting curtains. In my home I used fabric blinds, tailor made and for the color of the interior. It looks great. 🙂

  • Ania
    Reply
    06.11.2018

    Beautiful living room, I love such interiors 🙂 Can you tell where these chairs are from? We are just arranging our socket and looking for something like that 🙂 Are they comfortable, they work?

  • Joanna
    Reply
    01.11.2018

    Beautiful interior Agnieszka :), elegant and cozy at the same time. I plan a similar layout of the kitchen and dining room. Could you specify the length of the wall at which the kitchen and table are? Thank you in advance and best regards,

    • Joanna
      13.11.2018

      Thank you Agnieszka! 🙂

  • Katie
    Reply
    27.09.2018

    IS A PROTECTION FOR STAIRS FOR A Toddler? BECAUSE I SEE BUT THERE ARE FOLDED?

    • 02.10.2018

      If this is the one bought at IKEA, they withdrew because they had a problem with it. It was unreliable and unfortunately there were cases of - fortunately not dangerous - accidents involving toddlers.

  • Kasia
    Reply
    22.09.2018

    Beautiful interior!! Very cozy. Could I ask about the floor? What panels are these? I greet warmly.

    • 25.09.2018

      I have to admit that the salon perfectly suited my tastes! I am waiting for my husband to have time off, then I will talk him into a little renovation 😉

  • Strawberry
    Reply
    13.09.2018

    A beautiful living room. Everything matched to perfection. Ms Agnieszka and where can you view / place an order for HM design sofas? Best wishes 🙂

  • 12.09.2018

    A very interesting article. He envies the apartments. Beautiful and spacious, additionally thought out in every detail. I am pleased with the appreciation of nature in the interior. For me, fresh flowers in a vase are a must have 🙂 And those blue hydrangeas …… .. perfect.

  • Strawberry
    Reply
    31.08.2018

    Beautiful interior. Yesterday I watched the company's fabrics on a small pattern. You can ask which color is on the sofa? Regards Jagoda

  • 29.08.2018

    I didn't even know that one room could have so many zones. And here I am asking for something nice for everyone, as they say. When decorating the living room, I will definitely take your ideas into account.

  • 28.08.2018

    A beautiful living room and, in fact, zoning will help you maintain order 🙂

  • Marzena
    Reply
    28.08.2018

    Where did the cushions come from?

  • 14.08.2018

    And here is your dream fireplace! Wonderfully! : *

    • 16.08.2018

      Thank you, Justys: * it's a pity we didn't manage to sit here together, but maybe we still have everything ahead of us 🙂

  • Agnieszka Jarczewska
    Reply
    14.08.2018

    Please tell me what color the wall is because it is beautiful !!

    • 16.08.2018

      It's Flugger paint, but not so pure white, just broken, I'm looking for a bucket 🙂

  • 09.08.2018

    And as they say, "For those who want nothing difficult" 🙂 It looks beautiful and I really like the place for a play corner near the fireplace, which will definitely work in winter.

    • 10.08.2018

      Thank you very much - in winter we usually smoke when the children are already asleep, so that no one would hit the hot glass, and in the morning it is just nice and warm 🙂

  • Żaneta Sausage
    Reply
    05.08.2018

    Everything is beautiful. I steal an idea for curtains 🙂 I would love to know where a dress is from? She is beautiful 🙂

    • 08.08.2018

      I am very happy 🙂 The dress is from Manifiq & Co 🙂

  • Aleksandra Nowakowska
    Reply
    03.08.2018

    Beautiful, simple, gray curtains. Could you write where did you buy?

  • 03.08.2018

    Of course - we already have two, thanks to them meals with the whole family at one table are commonplace 🙂 You can find them here: https://muppetshop.eu/product-pol-6061-Krzeselko-do-karmienia-Highchair-Up-Kidsmill-White.html - you can think about buying a plastic cover that protects the tray, it's still wood, I'm just waiting for mine 🙂

  • Agnieszka Laucz
    Reply
    01.08.2018

    Beautiful ♥ ️ Little son like painted ♥ ️ Regards!

  • Jxjsj
    Reply
    01.08.2018

    Does this sofa fold out? 😉
    It should be "lunch" instead of "tour" 😉

    • 03.08.2018

      This sofa does not fold out, we did not need this function in the living room, but in this upholstery you can order any sofa, even in BlackRedWhite, fold out and order in one color or another.
      PS and where is the word "go around" because I can't see?

    • DorciaD
      16.08.2018

      Could you tell us what company this couch / corner is for?
      The interior is beautiful! greetings

    • 16.08.2018

      Of course! is a Roche modular sofa from HMdesign