https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:17:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487863 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:55:55 +0000 MrsBeluga 2487863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: Same here! We have a formal living and formal dining room that never gets used, what I would give to trade those in for a play room directly off our family room! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487851 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:50:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2487851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBeluga: Haha! The annoying thing is we do have space, but it's just not space RIGHT HERE and it's just easiest to have her play in the living room right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487847 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:50:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2487847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: oh you saved me with your visual. I just have no more brain juice left to figure out what you're saying.</p> <p>I like that idea but that space could be too narrow... I'm gonna go measure it though! B/c like you said the pro of the couch blocking the mess is attractive! But again I think it would leave almost no room to access the living room from anywhere! Right now the two couches and the side table are all touching! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487842 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:47:38 +0000 josina 2487842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: Here is what I was thinking, but sounds like might be too narrow of a space to move from the dining to the kitchen?</p> <p>Easiest thing though would me to just make the ottoman a coffee table and put the kitchen in that space. ;)</p> <p>[attach=4677/16/o3qpve.600x430.Screen-Shot-2016-03-08-at-3.46.44-PM.png] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487839 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:45:29 +0000 MrsBeluga 2487839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would for sure put the play kitchen where the ottoman is and find the ottoman a new home somewhere else in your house. Seems like the easiest fix, plus while you are sitting on the couch you can easily watch your LO play.</p> <p>Also, these posts make me happy to know I am not the only person with a living room taken over by toys :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487826 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:34:50 +0000 snowjewelz 2487826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Wait, I am so confused. What about the TV console?</p> <p>I updated the chart more.. The red line is wall/window. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487823 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:33:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2487823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Oh hmm I could possibly consider that, BUT it would have to be up against our sliding doors to the deck. It'd kinda be an eyesore for me personally</p> <p>@Littlebit7: Yeah.. We'd be crossing the playmat into the living area constantly, but it's not like we don't step around her play area now. You def think outside of the box which I appreciate! I don't think moving the couch would work tho since that would just flat out cut off access from the dining room into the living room... Right? Since the other couch will stay where it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487822 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:33:12 +0000 josina 2487822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I was going to suggest the same... moving the couch and side table off the wall to the center and bumping the other couch + tv console to the left. Put the ottoman in the center as a footrest/coffee table and then you have this giant space in the middle to contain her toys. (And bonus that the couch 'hides' everything when you're i the dining room).<br /> I love that from our kitchen/dining you can't see the mess in the living room because of the couch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487816 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:28:14 +0000 Littlebit7 2487816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: the only downside would be that the play area would be where people walk through but the play mat would help define the space<br /> Your other option could be to make the entire left side of the room a play area and move the sofa to between the living and dining room (it might work if it is a smaller love seat.) But I don't know how that would affect your traffic flow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487815 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:27:07 +0000 MamaG 2487815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about the kitchen? Sometimes it's nice to have the play kitchen really close to the kitchen so they can mimic your behaviors. We don't have space in our kitchen but I would consider it because all sorts of play kitchen items end up on my kitchen floor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487810 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:24:20 +0000 snowjewelz 2487810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: Yes, it can, so just move it back to the center of the living room and her the space between dining room and living room become her new play space? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487802 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:21:12 +0000 Littlebit7 2487802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can the ottoman become a coffee table? Maybe a tray on top to corral stuff. Playmat begins where the play kitchen ends </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487793 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:16:35 +0000 snowjewelz 2487793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: That gap really isn't that big, haha, that's what I mean by I really suck at MS Paint, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487792 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:15:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2487792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you move the ottoman to the couch near the wall?</p> <p>What about the wall you're showing? Can you put the kitchen against it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-re-planning-living-room#post-2487785 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:10:24 +0000 snowjewelz 2487785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok I did a really bad job here and the size scale isn't necessarily correct... </p> <p>Basically I'm going to be introducing a play kitchen to the area. I was going to set it up in the basement, but we really still spend the majority of our time in the living room so it makes more sense to put it upstairs. Now how should I do it? </p> <p>I planned to put the play kitchen where the ottoman is. Move the playmat to the empty space between living room &amp; dining room. Put the ottoman back into living room, but maybe pushed up against one side/corner. </p> <p>Is there something better that I'm not thinking of? I need the ottoman b/c she has more toys stored in there!</p> <p>That little empty space I really want to make it into a reading nook for DD when she's older, but that's for later.. </p> [attach=4482/16/o3qpex.600x414.LAYOUT.png]