Hi Sylvia,

You're definitely correct about the shag pile; this will pick up and disguise all the food your kids may drop. I would recommend a rug that is flatwoven which will be a lot easier to clean up and if you're really desperate, it can washed.

The layout is very difficult as it is so square and there are windows on opposite sides. To create a little more space, I would recommend incorporating furniture with softer edges such as a round dining table. You will find that this will free up a lot of space in the corner where you currently have your table.

Definitely keeping your furniture light will help brighten up the room and make it feel bigger as well as giving you more of a scandi look.

I myself look for budget items and find that places like IKEA, Kmart and Target are great for some furniture and homewares. I've attached some links for you below.

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/70204744/

http://www.kmart.com.au/product/floor-rug---black-diamond/574353

Goodluck with everything!

Mary

Hi Sylvia, oh what a difficult shape room to work with!

May I ask do you really need/ use the dining table? Would you be able to take the legs off & store it? If you could i would put your lounge across where the Christmas Tree & table are now facing the entertainment unit, & then pop the Christmas tree on the right side in one of the corners there.

At the moment it very much looks like everything has been pushed out against each wall (which I know is the natural go-to in a small space), however I think your furniture needs more breathing space! Empty the corners on either side of the entertainment unit & then you'll find you could put a piece of art work in that area on each side, or a floor lamp? It would lift the eye a little & honestly give the feeling of more space.

Hi Sylvia,

How would it work with the dining table under the window on the left & pushed up against that wall? If you could move the entertainment unit over to the right a little & have the lounge where the dining is now facing the tv. There might still be room to have your single chair either side of the dining table or if in the back left corner to be turned toward lounge as required. The children's small table could go under the opposite window perhaps?

This might open up the room a little more visually, though you have got a difficult space to work with. There are some nice inexpensive framed poster prints available to help create a focal point & interest. The rug could be patterned too which helps to disguise spillage and there are some very inexpensive ones around. Keeping in mind that when the children are older you could change it for something else.

Choose a couple of colours that you like to go with the blue couch & teracotta tiles suggest colourful cushions & art to cheer up the room & maybe keep the rug in the blue & terracotta to tone in rather than add another colour.

Thank you for your comments and your sympathies, it is a difficult room to work with. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, behind the far wall is an enclosed garage which is used as a storage space and we are in the process of getting a shed built to move everything out of there and extend out, so the room will become more of a rectangle rather than a square and everything should fit into place nicely!

We have tried different variations of furniture placement which did look nicer but weren't practical for the age of our kids, like Lego at our feet when sitting on the couch etc. I think we will leave the furniture as it is for now, however I love some of your ideas.

Good point about the shag, that's gone, I will have a look for a low pile wool rug. choices flooring have some nice styles I like. I hadn't thought of incorporating a blue or terracotta toned rug, that could work well to better hide stains.

I love the idea of artwork, what would you suggest, something abstract? Incorporating colours from the room or more a statement piece?

I also love the idea of adding more circular elements and also a lamp to add height. Do you have any suggestions for either one?

I'm also concerned the room is a bit impersonal, do you agree?

Please keep the ideas coming.

That will be so good for you & your family to have that extra space Sylvia.

I found this art store Blue Thumb on Houzz which has art categorised from under $250 & upwards. This one is $540

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Also with the tv in the middle below the a/c unit it might be better to have one larger piece on one side & a collection of smaller ones on the other side.

As the room is going to change it might be better to wait unless you find something you love to help soothe the room. Large family photos or a group of favourite photographic scenes might suffice in the mean time. Also you could have a room size piece of carpet overlocked as a rug if you can't find one you like.