If you’ve lost that loving feeling with your living spaces, it may be time to reevaluate and take charge. Is the awkward and unusual layout of your room the root of the problem, or are you just not accepting what’s unique and potentially interesting and different about the architecture of your home? Sure, it would be easier if you had a straightforward, symmetrical configuration that dictated a simple and standard furniture layout . . . but where’s the fun in that? Perhaps the aspects of your room that currently pose the greatest challenge could prove themselves to be an asset if you conquer the floor-plan and find a way to make all the available space work, even if it means creating distinct zones instead of one large seating area.
If an awkward floor plan is your current dilemma, my suggestion is to ignore any preconceived notions about how you “should” arrange the room and approach the challenge as if it were a puzzle. Try to ignore the standards of “normal” living room layouts, and you just might arrive at a new idea that works better than you could have imagined, without breaking down walls or reprogramming the house.
Lighting can make or break a room, so you should never underestimate its importance. If you’re rethinking your dining room configuration and breaking away from the norm, why settle for a classic chandelier? Even a simple and streamlined contemporary light fixture can up the ante in the ambiance department when it has a geometrically patterned, perforated form that casts a pattern of dappled light on the walls and ceiling.