Do you have a family room that is perfect for watching TV, but not great for conversation? Or maybe one that works well for chatting, but you can't see your TV well?
Guess, what?! You can have it both ways and I will show you how.
Hopefully, you have already seen our DIY family room makeover. We love so much about the makeover, including the new flooring, DIY family room makeover, the color palette, DIY family room makeover, the art, etc. But, as I confessed when we revealed the room, I did not love how our 15 year old sectional sofa looked in the room {and some Apartment Therapy readers were more than vocal about our outdated couch when our room reveal was featured on AT–WOW}. We also did not love how inflexible the seating arrangement was with the GIANT sectional. However, at the time, it was just not in our budget to replace the seating. So we waited.
It was worth the wait! We can up with a fairly creative and economical solution and LOVE our new seating. Not only it is a more updated look, we love the new flexible family room design! What do I mean by that? I am about to show you.
First, here's a reminder of how the room looked with our old couch.
Here is our new flexible family room design featuring our “new” seating from Ikea! So much better, don't you think?! It opens up the room so much.
“But how is that flexible?” you ask. Ahhh, grasshopper, let me show you.
Seating Arrangement for TV Watching
This seating arrangement is how the room is set up on a day to day basis because it faces our girls' playroom, where our TV hangs. This set up is perfect for lounging and watching TV in the evenings.
Seating Arrangement for Visiting With Friends
What is awesome about our new flexible family room design is that when we have guests over, we can easily move the chaise lounges to create a more conversational seating arrangement. WIN! How cool is that?!
I am so happy with the increased flow and function in the space. And the old sectional is PERFECT in our girls' playroom.
What do you think? Do you have flexible seating in your family room? If not, would you like to?
Hi, I love your home!
Provide more detail on the four poster size pictures of the states you’ve lived in please? I love this idea and I have a long hall wall that needs just this type of artwork. I’ve lived in Missouri Illinois Wisconsin Texas and now Florida. I’ve never attempted anything like this so would really appreciate more details thanks so much
I ordered them off of Etsy a few years ago!
I wonder about the chaises. They always look good but I find people dont feel comfortable sitting on them. They tend to perch on the end. IMHO a sectional is far more functional even when not in fashion. My chaise went into the bedroom to collect clothes and my sectional is where we gather
We love this way more than our sectional! Once the sectional was gone we never looked back. We haven’t noticed people not wanting to sit on the chaises? But we are a pretty laid back crew. Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful room….and functional too. Love the fireplace, colors, furniture, accessories…everything!!
Thanks so much! We are really happy with it. Thanks for reading!
Do you find the couches comfortable ? I have heard different reviews about IKEA couches
We find ours very comfortable, Maddie!
Hi, I love your seating. Can you tell me where you got the couch, chaise lounges, ottomans from? Thanks
Hi Maddie! We got all 3 pieces at Ikea. They are from the Kivik line. I hope that helps!
I think this is super functional and turned out great! I was wondering about your Fireplace, is that also a DIY project? If so, is there a post about it?
Thanks so much, Sandra! Yes, the fireplace is also a DIY project that you can read all about here: https://designertrapped.com/2014/02/diy-concrete-fireplace-less-100.html
Hi Tasha,
I am planning flexible seating (ikea kivik) for our new house we will move into soon, and I stumbled across your post with a similar mindset to mine.
I have been debating about whether to go with two chaises or replace them with two large chairs/ottomans.So, my questions are, do you ever regret the chaises? Do you think a chair/ottoman would give the same effect with even greater flexibility?
I would love your input.
Thanks!
Michelle
Great question, Michelle! I don’t regret the chaise lounges at all. But, I do think chairs and ottomans would offer even more flexibility because if you have enough people, they could sit on the ottomans as well. I hope that helps!
Hello Tasha, love the room. Would you let me know the paint color? Where you bought the artwork, rug and furniture? Also, what are your room dimensions? Think my room is smaller, might need to scale down furniture. Thank you so much!!
Anna
Hi Anna! All the details can be found in the room reveal post, which you can find here: Though I am not positive the paint color is listed in that post–the paint is Phillipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore. Our room is quite large, roughly 20 x 30 feet. I hope that helps!
Thank you so much for your reply. I have found all of the info except for where you purchased the seating. Maybe I’m somehow missing it.
Hi Tasha,
I love your curtains! Where did you get them from?
Thank you,
Yuliya.
Hi Yuliya! The curtains are from West Elm and are still available! Hope that helps.
Tasha,
I am visiting from Kenarry: Ideas from the Home FB page share. I love your creative seating. We are struggling with a split view in four directions. Your post gives me some ideas. Do you have any thoughts? It is for our lake home, TV is on South wall, Fireplace East wall, Lakeview NW and West Windows, The TV can not be moved because the previous owners placed the entire house sound system wiring in that wall and there are walk ways in between.I would be glad for any hints.
Thanks for sharing your creativity,
Karen Marie
Dragonfly & Lily Pads
Hi Karen! So nice to “meet” you! Thanks so much for stopping by. Hmmm…how large is the room? If it is large enough, you could try placing two couches facing each other that would run length wise from north to south. That way, one couch could take advantage of the fireplace view, the other of the lake views and BOTH would allow a sight line to the TV. Does that make sense???
Tasha,
Thank you for your sweet reply. I have been racking my brain with this problem. You have a good idea but even though the space rather square, the back of one couch would be in front of the fireplace. Probably not the safest situation but, When I get a chance I will email you a picture. Right now I have a sofa and recliner facing the South wall. I have a Recliner and a set of lighter chairs facing the North but you can still see the TV Fireplace and Lake. It just seems busy or off.
Thanks for your help,
Karen Marie
I LOVE it! I needed this idea, thanks Tasha, it looks fab!
where did you get the prints of the stateS? Did you make them?
I didn’t make them, Melissa. I ordered them from Olive + Birch, an Etsy shop. Hope that helps!
That’s truly stunning. I wish we had gone with flexible seating when we re-did our lving room. I’m regretting it now.
Thanks so much, Ellen! I am very happy with our choice!
Great seating arrangement! What a perfect space now!
Thanks so much, Amy! We are loving it!
I absolutely LOVE the new seating! Definitely frees up space and provides that dual functionality. So brilliant. Where did you find the new pieces?
Thank you! Everything is from Ikea. The chaise lounges were previously used in our girls’ playroom, but we “stole” them for the family room and purchased a love seat from the same Ikea line to go with them.
I love this new furniture! It totally opens it up more, and is so functional!! We have a tiny living room and a gigantic “L” shaped sectional. Not super great for the space. I love the idea of lounges!
Thank you so much, Amanda! The lounges are so comfy and versatile. We love them!
Brilliant Tasha! It is so fabulous to have such an amazing and large space- the new seating choices are fab!
Thanks so much, Krista! We are lucky to have a large room and we are loving the new furniture layout!
LOVE it! Is that the same furniture from the play room with a new loveseat added?
Hey sweet Amber! Yep, we “stole” the chaise lounges from the girls’ playroom and purchased a love seat from the same Ikea line! We moved our old sectional into their playroom. How’s that for thrifty? :)