Design Dilemma: Planning a Furniture Layout for an Awkward L-Shaped Living/Dining Room

Design Dilemma: Planning a Furniture Layout for an Awkward L-Shaped Living/Dining Room

In the first ever YouTube edition of our IG series Design Dilemma, we are tackling a viewer’s design question: “How do I arrange the furniture in my L-Shaped Living/Dining Room”. The L-shaped layout is so common in older bungalows and apartments that we thought many people could benefit from a solution to this Design Dilemma!

A few tips for any room layout:
-think about pulling your sofa away from the wall
-use your largest wall to anchor your tv and centre the arrangement around that
-consider traffic flow, can you create a pathway between rooms that doesn’t involve someone walking in front of the tv?
-use a large rug to anchor the arrangement (layering an area rug on top of broadloom is okay!)

Want to submit your own Design Dilemma, subscribe and leave your Dilemma in the comments below!

Our Drapery Guide Blog Post: https://www.tiffanyleighdesign.com/blog/our-guide-to-custom-drapery

Check out or Instagram to see previous episodes of Design Dilemma!: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyleighdesign/

#awkwardroom #furniturelayout #designadvice

23 Comments

  1. Annie S on April 4, 2022 at 6:21 pm

    I live in a new build condo that has a den that I have no idea what to do with! There’s no hardwired light and no window (it’s at the front near the door in a north facing condo so really really really dark). I tired having my home office I’m there but it was just too dark. What’s the best solution to brighten it up? I’ve considered getting an electrician to hardwire, plug in sconces, table lamps but don’t know what would be best.

  2. Brenda Cruz on April 4, 2022 at 6:23 pm

    Hi, like you videos. My problem is that my main living room is Open concept and I only have one wall to place TV and I have open stairs that face the living room which makes it a little difficult to place furniture in a way that it doesn’t close up the living room and not block the walk way to the rest of the house and stairs . The rest of the living area is all windows 6 total with a full glass door for the backyard that’s in between the dining room and living room .

  3. Eliyou18 on April 4, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    Hi Tiffany! This video is exactly what I was looking for! My house is designed exactly like this, except I work from home and currently my home office with 3 computer monitors is facing the window. It feels like it’s my focal point and I can’t come up with any creative ways to rearrange it.
    I’d love your input!

  4. Meera Shah on April 4, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    Loved it. Looking forward to this series!

  5. Erin Cicinelli on April 4, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    I have a design dilemma that revolves around a beloved digital PIANO. My partner and I recently purchased a home with an open concept kitchen, dining, and living area. We plan to purchase new furniture for this space (including sofa, coffee tables, dining table, chairs, window coverings, etc.), but I own a digital piano that I would love to keep. The problem is that it is… dark brown. I aspire to a light, bright, neutral aesthetic with some natural elements, and I am not sure how to make this piano work. Do I try to paint it a different colour? I would like to avoid this if possible but would be willing to try if that is the best option! Or should I just ditch it and store it at my parents’ house? I don’t want to feel like I am "designing around" a piece that I don’t think is beautiful (although I do love having it around)! Is is it possible to make it work in this new space? Help! The piano looks like this: https://www.oxygenmusic.com.au/casio-celviano-ap270-digital-piano-brown

  6. Made by Chann on April 4, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    Thank you for answering my question! I LOVE it. I do admit that currently my living room is moved around and the sofa is floating where you have the chairs and the TV is on the wall next to the bathroom. I liked my new layout but never loved it. This I am going to try this weekend because it looks perfect. Thank you again 🤗

  7. Chesca Alston on April 4, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    Love this! Looking forward to more. 😍

  8. Lauren Winsor on April 4, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    Hi Tiffany, I love your design dilemma series. I have a project that we’re about to undertake that could use your advice. This spring we are renovating most of our first floor and will be dividing an existing den into a powder room, mudroom and office. The office portion already has a wide brick fireplace that runs floor to ceiling and some basic built ins to one side of it. I would love to reface or paint the fireplace but my husband loves the natural brick. Do you have any ideas on how to make red brick look modern? Most of our house mostly is white and light but I’m interested in making this space more of a jewel box. I’m happy to share photos but not sure how to do that here. Thanks!

  9. Emma Courtney on April 4, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    Love this Tiff! x

  10. Jennifer Tyas on April 4, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    Hi Tiffany! We recently purchased a century home that has been relocated and restored. Our basement living area runs the length of the house (and approx. 1/2 the width) with a gorgeous french door walkout at the end. Our sectional and TV is set up by these doors to enjoy the light. However, it leaves the front half of the basement (where you walk down into the basement) empty with a gas fireplace along the long wall. We can’t exactly do built ins around the fireplace as there is no end to the wall before the TV area. However, we need some storage space! Thoughts on making this area make sense would be so appreciated!

  11. First Last on April 4, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    Tiffany would you like to try your hand at my impossibly long, narrow and odd L-shaped basement?

  12. Lee Khang on April 4, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Hello, I Just found your page and I Love your designs and style.

    I have a dilemma with my family room. It’s L shaped and just really awkward space. I used it before as my in home daycare business which I closed last year due to the pandemic. Now every time I look at the space it’s very uninspiring since it just filled with toys, a sectional, and TV console.

    My goal is to create a living area and play area for my family but I’m lost as to where to start. I don’t have it in budget to buy new furniture so I want to make it work with my current furniture. It would mean so much if you could help me.

    Thanks, Lee

  13. Taylor V on April 4, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    So informative and helpful! The advice from this vid is definitely applicable to soo many spaces. Can’t wait to see more!

  14. Jessica Cowan on April 4, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    Hi Tiffany, my partner and I live in a quaint and quirky story and a half 75 YO home. We purchased this place in October of 2020 and we love it- but it has presented us with some unique challenges. The home is built around a large 3-flu chimney in the middle of the home. We have a formal living area in the front of the home that runs into a smaller dining room and a larger sunken family room at the back of the home. We love to host family and friends and are having some difficulty making the front living area and the dining room function at its best. Would absolutely love your feedback on this!

  15. amy elizabeth on April 4, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    Love this video! Great use of the space and unique use of the entire room! I’m wondering if you can do similar for the opposite problem, a looooong living, dinner and kitchen area! Or suggestions for wall decor when you have a long space the goes from living to dining to kitchen!

  16. Fudge Training on April 4, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    I love it!!!!!!

  17. Petra on April 4, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    Sooo happy to see your beautiful face 💖

  18. Krista D on April 4, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    Love this series! I’m so ready for you to give me advice on my space so I can optimize it 🙂

  19. Priya n Much More on April 4, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    Beautiful design

  20. vanessa Greco on April 4, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    Hey Tiffany! I have a shelving dilemma. Our bell box takes up an entire shelf in our open shelves. According to my husband it can’t go in the cupboard because the signal from the remote won’t catch the bell box because of the solid door. We have a huge gap of where it sits and I’m wondering if you have any ideas of how to hide it or at least make it look a little less hidden? If you have any advice we can attach a picture to show you!

  21. Debby Ashmore on April 4, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    I have one of those old (1960’s) bungalows in Canada. When you walk in my front door you are in my living room. It also has an L shaped living room dining room. The window in the living room is huge (112") and looks out to my driveway and/or main entrance. The dining room has a smaller window and looks into my backyard. The problem is that the window in the living room is not centred to the wall or anything for that matter so furniture placement seems a bit "off". Directly across from the living room window is the wall I put the TV on the wall. Sofa infront of the living room window and love seat facing the front door. Yuck….any suggestions.

  22. Julia Pouliot on April 4, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    Hi Tiffany! Thank you so much for you advices! My house is planned a little like an L shape, but with french doors and a fireplace. Would it be possible to send you pictures and details of the place to get your inputs? Thank you !!!

  23. Claire Cooper on April 4, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    Hi Tiffany! I have a paint color design dilemma. Several rooms in my house need painting. I’m considering whether to stick with the current wall color or go with a new, lighter white. I don’t like the current wall color, but a new color would mean choosing something lighter than the trim. If I could, I would also pick a new color for the trim because I don’t like it either, but I don’t think that’s an option. Unfortunately, a substantially off-white was chosen for the trim and the window frames for the entire house. I believe the window frames are made of vinyl which means they cannot be painted and I’m limited to working with the current trim color in every room. My concern is that choosing a white paint for the walls that is lighter than the trim will make the trim look muddy especially if there isn’t enough of a contrast. Any advice would be much appreciated!

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