Buying new leather couch for living room — too big?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I need help! We brought our house over 12 mths ago and still have not started to style or refurnish to suit the house. My husband and I would like to start by buying a new leather modular couch for our living room - mainly where we watch tv and sit back to relax for the day. We have two young children so it is currently also filled with toys (these will be going! And lounge will be toy free zone). We have a restricted budget, and I have found it hard to find a couch that ticks all the boxes in that price range (up to $2500) Ideally I would have liked a "L" shape but haven't found a suitable one in our price range or lighter colour. I thought black or brown would look too bold in the room? The leather lounge we like is quite big which would be nice to have some space when visitors come and we can both lay or sit comfortably, however I'm concerned it is too big! And the chase may cut off the room as it is narrow. Colour is mocha. Can we design around this modular and still have half decent looking room?? Or am I kidding myself

Now photos - 1) Our Lounge room below, don't laugh and this may not help due to the clutter, but I have placed items to give an estimate of the size of the leather lounge (toy play station represents end of couch, and closer to the camera the ottoman is the length of the chase) The front door is entering on the right of pic where foot mat is. 2) the proposed leather modular. 3) Then 2 sliding doors seperate lounge room from dining room (this pic was not taken with items placed in position for lounge estimate) Please excuse mess, odd bits of furniture and total lack of styling! (A wee bit embarrassed)

Featured Answer

olldroo

8 years ago

Congratulations on your new home. I think you have been very sensible to live in it for a year before starting your decorating, it has given you time to consider the lighting and aspect of each room in all seasons as well as time to evaluate how you want to live in your home and exactly what you need.

The lounge does look very big and bulky and will definitely dominate the room, so I would keep to the lighter colour. Don't worry about the kids and dirt - as Kookykaren said, leather cleans easily - sharp objects and textas are your bigger worry regardless of what colour you choose.

Laying newspaper on the floor to the size of the lounge is another way of checking how it will look as it gives you a better indication of bulk than tape.

I would keep your ottoman simple (one with storage is an excellent idea with the children), just a tone on tone fabric or a pattern using the colours in the rug on the floor of the photo of the lounge. I don't think you have room for too large an ottoman but I would have a square one made the same height as the lounge so when just you and DH are watching TV you can push it against the other end of the lounge and both have a chaise. You can then bring some colour with art work or some patterned cushions on the lounges.

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Comments (13)

PRO
User
8 years ago
Nothing is impossible, you email us the dimensions of the room and Ania J will get to you with a couple of options… You are absolutely right with your colour choice, keep it light ! These days with treated fabrics you don't need to be concerned about little dirty fingers! Also what would be ideal is an ottoman that has storage, so it a few toys creep into the room you have the place to pop them into.
Pazz
8 years ago
If you take the measurements of the modular and mark it up in the room using tape and it will give you a good idea of whether it will work or not... nice modular btw and colour is great... good luck :)
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We built our house in 1975 and had a similar problem; A teeny tiny family room with too many doors. After several years of squeezing ourselves into this poorly functioning excuse of a "family" room, which has entrances in every corner bar one, plus an entry into the kitchen and sliding door to outside, in a fit of frustration, I decided that our under-utilised formal lounge/dining would be used as a living room with the TV, although we chose to keep the dining table in that room as it is a long narrow room. I made this change 26 years ago. The family room is now just a sitting area with one 2.5 seater couch and a side table at each end, no TV and is a great space for a few people to congregate in to keep the cook company or just to read. However it would have worked equally well with the dining table there. In any case, because of all the doorways, it is really just a walk-through area, but now feels spacious and "settled" instead of crowded and messy. I can recommend the change.....you will feel much less at "sixes and sevens" with your home.
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Gioenne Rapisarda
8 years ago
Awesome idea from Ania J Interior Styling about the ottoman with storage! Even once the toys disappear, perfect for blanket storage, extra pillows etc!
ezza8200
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for your comments! I was concerned about going the lighter colour with children but think I will just bite the bullet! I think a storage ottoman is a great idea but I was concerned it would fill the small space left too much?

i think using the tape to mark the size of the couch would be a great idea too - I will get more dimensions from the store and get hubby to help me on the weekend to move everything

Measurements for the room are 550cm x 355, however the doorway shortens the entry and I have a wall mounted heater which the couch would hide but needs to be at least 30 cm away from. And of course I would like to give the couch room to breathe from the wall. See my rough diagram below.

This was my rough idea for a lay out for the room. (Hope you can read my scrawl!)
ezza8200
Original Author
8 years ago
Any ideas for the storage ottoman size, shape and colour would be greatly appreciated too - Im thinking adding in greens or blues or yellow for my added in colour. Reflected in some artwork on the wall above the couch
amandalouiselane
8 years ago
It fits beautifully, but with the light floor and walls I would go for a darker brown. You can always add light and/or bright cushions.
Valerie Maddocks
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Your ideas will produce a lovely intimate space and a storage ottoman can be used as a coffee/serving surface for when you are entertaining. Add complimentary throw/cushions and rug, plus your choice of art for the wall/s will give an amazing result. I agree a paler colour as per your preference will give the room a more spacious feel. Re-furnishing is a very exciting step - good luck! ☺️
kooky_karen
8 years ago
Regarding the colour - remember it is leather and cleans up easily so don''t worry about the colour. Having said that, I think a dark brown or black would look better against the white walls. Just need to keep the scissors, pens, etc away from the ankle biters.
Sabina
8 years ago
Congratulations. I have to agree that a lighter colour suite would suit your space. You can add depth and colour though artwork and cushions. All the best
Laura
8 years ago
Nice couch. If your not in a hurry there are ways to save money. I asked about the floor stock of a leather lounge I liked and was told it was current therefore not likely to be sold soon. Went away to save t order one and was called a month later to say I could buy the floor stock for half price (2.5k). We were tired of black/ brown and beige and bought a green lounge. Also re toys. I have a TV unit with big drawers for stray toys. Works well. The DVDs are stored elsewhere.
Is Bee
8 years ago
Don't go leather. It's revolting to sit on- sweaty in summer and cold in winter. We had a brown leather couch which didn't wear well- looked awful after 3 years and shows every scratch!
Carol Jones
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Lovely couch! As you intend to pull the piece away from the wall, consider a narrow console table behind it [kind of like in the photo you supplied of the piece] for somewhere else to put decor items under the proposed art work.

Also, we have a tiny loungeroom and have converted the foot section of our chaise to become storage.

Buying new leather couch for living room — too big?

olldroo

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Buying new leather couch for living room — too big?

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