Rearranging Furniture

My living room has always been difficult.  It is an awkward space and is narrow.  If I had an enormous budget and an interior designer, it wouldn't be a problem.  But I've been trying to make it work for years, with what I have, and it has never felt quite right.

I stopped by Jennifer's blog yesterday.  She challenged readers to use hutches/china cabinets in ways we might not normally use them.  This inspired me to move my furniture in the living room.  I have always had the end table next to the couch, but thinking out of the furniture-layout box, I moved the dresser next to the couch instead.  The hutch (mine is a desk hutch rather than a china hutch) went to the other side of the room.  I think it works. 

Here's the "before" ...

It feels cluttered and not right.

The hutch in the corner is almost finished.  I thought it would be perfect over there, but it just wasn't working.  It threw everything else off.

The dresser between the windows.  Not bad here, but the balance in the room is wrong.

"After" photos ...

The dresser is next to the couch now.  I love it!  I think it fills the wall space nicely and it looks less cluttered.  I tried the hutch here but again, it didn't work.

I still need to hang the mirror and update the pictures/art on the walls.  One thing at a time.

I put the hutch between the windows.  I'm a little more inspired to finish it now.  The chair is one I picked up for a couple bucks.  It needs paint and new fabric.  I'm undecided about whether I should use cranberry fabric (like the current fabric) or do a neutral instead.

This is where the hutch used to be.  I think this photo is a good example of "you should't line all the furniture up against the wall."  It doesn't look like it, but it is a good 4 feet from both walls.

There is still work to be done, but I'm so much happier with it.  Thanks Jennifer!