San Francisco Bay Area - Need help with this living room

by nlglady

Need help with this living room

I am taking over a residential care facility with a smallish living room. I cannot make structural changes so I need ideas to make this room look bigger, warm and updated without spending a lot of money. What do you think about a dark old mantel (shelf) over the fireplace? Should I paint the brick? What about having curtains on both sides of the fp?
There is a patio door on the right side of the fp. The second picture is on the right side of the fp just before the patio door. I am thinking of removing the mini office and use that as additional seating area. Ideas?

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kitasei What kind of residents? Do they have special needs to accommodate? What will they be using the room for?

4 months ago · Like ·

miramira Yes, paint the brick, get a more substantial mantel, get a more user friendly coffee table with rounded edges and get the TV wall mounted on a moveable frame to clear the room. Having a few extra chairs might be useful, but think you should somehow keep one smooth counter area with a chair to do some writing or computer work. Not sure as stated above what the needs of the residents are, or if this is supposed to be your office or for them.

4 months ago · Like ·

Welcome Home designs I like your fireplace and would not paint it. But I would make the mantle darker and I would paint the screen black ( or replace it with a black screen).
Is there another wall the TV could go on? It seems to overwhelm the fireplace?

4 months ago · Like ·

claudiann I think you need something hanging above the fireplace. I don't think the pole lamp is a warm feature.i would not put curtains beside the fireplace. Maybe shelves. Can the seats be separated? Could you put the tv where the office furniture is? What is on the left hand side of the fireplace? Could you post more pictures?

4 months ago · Like ·

nlglady Claudiann, you are right, the tall lamp does not add to the room. The left of the fireplace is a wall behind the leather seat. I am thinking of removing the seats and replace with love seats facing each other. I like the idea of wall mounting a tv and changing the surround with black face. The room will be for families of the residents of the facility when they visit. The residents will be elderly (65 and over) but ambulatory. I will be removing the coffee table and replace with a rounded edge wooden table. Thanks all for your suggestions and comments!!

4 months ago · Like

Darzy It's actually difficult for elderly to sit in...and get out of...oversized and deep cushy furniture. To decorate on the cheap...how about a couple sets of upholstered outdoor furniture? It's easy to get in and out of and the scale is a bit smaller so you can seat more people (and easy to keep clean). Put an area rug and nice lamps with toss pillows and it will be quite cozy. The entire set is only $300 at Walmart. Shop around because many look quite suitable for indoor spaces.

4 months ago · Like ·

Darzy

Mainstays Wentworth 4-Piece...

4 months ago · Like ·

nlglady Darzy, I agree, I need seats that are easy to get out of...maybe several individual upholstered sets and a love seat. Thanks.

4 months ago · Like

nlglady I like these!! Thanks Darzy.

4 months ago · Like

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio Obviously, the coffee table needs to move away from the fireplace, and the little decorations on the mantel are not helping.

One large piece of art work over the fireplace will help to center up the focal point. I agree with either painting the fireplace doors black or replacing them. polished brass is a little passé.

Once the basics are taken care of, the mantel and the brick may not matter as much.

4 months ago · Like