Arranging
Can I tell you about the one somewhat embarrassing thing that really solidified my decision to buy my house? In a moment of inspiration, I hit upon the perfect living room arrangement.
I am fully aware that I have a super big thing for interior design, but I never realize how much I love it until just such a new design opportunity presents itself. From the moment I set foot in that house, I’ve been mentally creating layouts and color themes and whatnot, and my plans slowly change and refine themselves as time goes on. Just yesterday I was looking over some notes I had taken back in the beginning, and it was interesting to see what new ideas had already grown from those early seeds. (And yes, that’s right, I have a whole notebook devoted to my notes, sketches, pilfered magazine clippings, etc.)
The best part is when something feels pretty good but not perfect, and then suddenly my brain makes a new connection and perfection is hit upon (as in the case of my future living room layout).
The thing with this layout (I’m sure you’re dying to know) is that it solves the issue of where my workspace will go. Currently I use our third bedroom as my workspace (as I think I’ve mentioned), but the things I don’t like about it are that a) I’m away from all the action, b) it’s freakin’ cold down here, and c) my boys want to be where I am, so they bring themselves and all their toys down into this tiny little room. Since we have no third bedroom in the new house, I knew my workspace would either be in my room or in the living room, and since all the problems inherent in my current workspace will likely continue if my workspace is in my bedroom, the living room it is.
My initial and perfectly good idea for my workspace in the living room was to purchase and repurpose a wardrobe to suit my needs. I figured I could arrange all my stuff inside with shelves for my computer and printer and books and whatnot, and then, when I wasn’t working, I could close it all up and keep it save from my curious little boys.
The only problem was that I could never imagine a space for it. Wardrobes aren’t small and my living room is. Every possible location left it jutting awkwardly into other spaces. I figured I’d settle for it because it was such a good solution, but it never felt quite right.
Then one night I was measuring out my current living room to see how it compared to my future living room and discovered that my current living room/dining room combo are almost as long as my future living room. I realized that I could keep my living room the same as it is (more or less), but I could replace the dining room area with my workspace! And not only that, but if I got a desk instead of a wardrobe, I could put the desk in front of the big wide living room window and gaze outside while I worked. I could have a workspace that wasn’t just jammed into some corner, I could have a workspace that made me happy to work there! That is such a pleasing thought!
Of course, it would also mean that I’m giving up my ability to close things off to my boys, but if I keep my desk clear (something I’m generally pretty good at), it should be okay. Plus I’ll have all kinds of drawers within which to keep my stuff, which my current table top on legs doesn’t offer.
I know it probably sounds so silly that figuring out I could put my desk in front of the window was enough to sell me on the house, but really it was. Seeing a room layout come together in a way that feels perfect, that meets all the needs for the room, that is such an intensely satisfying feeling. It makes me feel extremely excited to live there and put my plans into action.
Surely you feel just as excited as I about my new living room arrangement. But oh, just wait for the photos!