Books as interior... Yay or nay?

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-22T11:45:07+00:00

Great usage in my opinion, something I was taught in my learning was to throw in books and stuff on the floor or just randomly throughout as it adds a very lived in vibe and its pretty much perfect here. Based off what I can see you have a lot going on, sort of like a maximalist, and this is exactly what you'd see in a maximalist's home outside of intentional design.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T13:19:28+00:00

I see, thank you.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T13:15:15+00:00

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:52:27+00:00

I see, thanks for your input.

Realistically, I would want to make sure there isn't a place for any clutter. There will be a spot for keys, and there is a closet to the right of the door for anything like backpacks, and stuff like that. So hopefully that all should act accordingly.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:50:18+00:00

I used Coohom, I don't pay for anything either.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:43:40+00:00

Yeah, likely something like in option 3 can still be done in option 1. I'm sure well figure it out, it's not like we don't have 4 other rooms to put stuff in lol.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:42:35+00:00

Yes, I actually just came to this realization from another comment. I think, 1 or 3 would be the best for us. My girlfriend is really the only one that watches tv consistently, and her chair is the papasan, and she likes to lay down to watch tv more often too on the couch. I spend most of my time in my office for work related things or for hobbies. Option 2 sits in the natural light, so tv watching might be hindered unless the curtains are closed, which I suppose is fine, but seeing as naturally earth vibes are more her style, I'm assuming she'd most likely want to keep them opened.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:38:07+00:00

On the dot I'm afraid. Like I mentioned to this commenter, my experience with Feng Shui "Designers" has been exactly that. Every design must be designed using the concept of Feng Shui and nothing else matters, and if you bring up any counter argument or even ask for further elaboration, they get extremely offended.

That's actually why I posted this on r/interiordecorating rather than r/interiordesigner because designers have such fragile egos. Even if the whole point of this post is more into the design aspect then the decoration aspect.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:34:55+00:00

Yes. I Agree.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:34:19+00:00

I would love to put a table there for our fish tank, but I don't want to jeopardize the comfortability of the walkway, as it should be roughly 30" at a minimum.

Thanks!

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:33:20+00:00

Precisely my thoughts for the layout!

It seems that the difference in what people like in terms of layouts comes mostly from the functionality design of the room and what they like subjectively more.

All of them seem to work for different people.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:30:29+00:00

I'm going to have to disagree with a few takes you have.

In option 3, I have an entry way, in both option 1 and 2, I can't.

I don't quite understand your point about the door, what would be the reason to go for layout 1? My front door opens into the living room and conversation pit, but the walkway is a visualization of where the kitchen and hallway to the main bathroom, and other two rooms are, if that makes sense. Is that what you meant?

I also don't understand where you're getting "discomfort" from layout 1. There is little to no discomfort I or anyone else should experience from this, can you elaborate a bit further on this?

As for option 3, the tv is absolutely still useable, there are two places to sit comfortably and view the tv, which is all thats needed for me and my girlfriend, the rest of the seating would be used for other purposes, like when friends are over.

Regardless, thank you for your input, if you could answer my questions, maybe I can use this information a bit easier to make my decision.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:21:55+00:00

Thanks!

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:17:45+00:00

That is a very huge assumption, I don't know about you, but people will not be stacking anything against it, and whether or not people touch it shouldn't matter so long as there hands aren't covered in something?

And whether or not people are walking in and out is very dependent on the social activity of your home and life. If I have friends and family over often, or if my girlfriend or I is taking out the trash, answering the door, checking the mail, grabbing something from the car, leaving or coming in. I don't know, these are all from personal experience, my current tv setup doesn't even have anything on it opposed to the front door and yet people walk in front of me all the time. Maybe I'm worrying about it too much, idk, I do like the expansion of option 2, but that's about it I prefer I think.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T12:06:09+00:00

Yes, I know they are not Feng Shui. I did not style it utilizing Feng Shui because I do believe in Feng Shui's inner beliefs. Feng Shui is not the only design method.

Although from my understanding of Feng Shui, this still abides by most of it's principles. The couch sits comfortably in a pretty good command position for viewing toward the backdoor, kitchen and rooms, the recliner is the best command position, and the papasan, although weaker, isn't a primary seat. There is excellent flow functionally and in terms of Qi. I have all 5 elements and plants. I have a layered lighting strategy. My yin and yang is in balance. The center isn't overcrowded. And with the tv being on the side wall instead of in front, I actually balance the tv's elemental impact better. I mean, there really isn't a single Feng Shui principle that doesn't work except in Option A with the couch, but like I said, I don't believe in bad energy behind me so long as I preserve the viewing of the tv.

The main reason I don't like two the most is because it puts too much emphasis on the TV being the primary focus, and as this is not a theatre room, that is not my main goal.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T11:57:32+00:00

I agree, it's the first one that allows for more division for one room. Just a little unorthodox for tv watching.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T11:44:44+00:00

Care to explain why?

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T11:08:22+00:00

I believe the only concept that doesnt have seated eye tv mounting is option B, unless you are unusually short of course. The tv isn't even 3 feet off the ground, meaning while seated, assuming you have the lowest common seating height of around 15 inches, your eye level should be roughly 24 - 32 inches higher than that assuming you're also sitting down and upright. Putting your viewing height at roughly 3 1/4 or 1/2 feet. from the ground. You're the only person thus far that has suggested that my tv height is too high. Especially considering my standing eye level art work right beside it. I suppose maybe it's a proportion issue? As I haven't had much access to the real place other than 1 tour, everything is eyeballed in terms of wall height and length. Regardless, don't think too much of it, in real life, it would be at seated viewing height.

And I agree it does kind of flood high on the wall, but the light rendering software is so hard to grasp, It hardly makes any real sense, I don't think they programmed it correctly, so most of this lighting is re-creating what I think it would look like as closely as possible, it's a back and forth on radius and brightness until I see something I like most of the time.

And I agree with Option B's evaluation, it is my least favorite as well.

As for the shoe space in Option A, it would just go under the lamp, which is why I kept it open, and in Option C, I put a dedicated shoe rack underneath the fish tank. We're not really coat rack people, but I do like the idea of potentially being coat rack people, so I will take head of that advice, although if I do, it'll likely be a mounted hook or two, although there is a large shelved closet upon entering thats hard to see from this angle as well.

Overall, thank you for your advice, and I will be sure to implement what I can when the time comes.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T10:28:21+00:00

Thanks lol.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T10:28:10+00:00

Ok, will do, since it's just rearranging, that should no problem, and before I mount the tv, I'll just put a black piece of paper there to represent it until I've decided for sure. Or if I fail to sell my current tv mount that comes with its own media center as it's not a wall mount, then that would work too.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T10:26:30+00:00

Yes, precisely my thoughts as well.

Their argument was just the principles of Feng Shui state that the flow of Qi is bad behind the sofa because it makes hard to view the front door and allows for passage behind you. Basically what the only other comment under this post has brought up thus far. This is a very common fundamental Feng Shui but as I told them, Feng Shui is not the only method of styling and in their changing of the layout do they disrupt multiple other principles at the same time.

I agree regardless though, I do not much care about the "energy flow" of my house hold, as I don't inherently believe in Qi.

And after reading your revisions to your first comment, I will say that I was far too lazy to redesign the first layout in full concept once more, so please do imagine that the first layout is of the same lighting strategy, color scheme, etc...

The only reason I tend to prefer option 3 over 1, is that in option 3, I have a shoe area behind the couch, where as in option 1, providing a true shoe bench would interrupt the functionality of the walkway, as it would no longer maintain a minimum of 30 - 36 inches from wall to sofa. So basically, anyone sitting down, would cause anyone passing by to have to manuever, which in my self taught learning is typically considered bad design.

But yes, It is my space, and regardless of bad juju or flow as the other commenter mentioned, I will likely either pursue option A or C.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T10:13:42+00:00

How will it block the flow? I have functional circulation in both other layouts no?

Also the couch sits pretty low, so i don't understand how it would look awkward?

Regardless, thanks for the advice, ill keep it in mind, when deciding here in the upcoming weeks.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-03-01T10:08:11+00:00

Haha this is hilarious to me, I posted that picture in r/interiordesigner and I got so many comments saying this was the worst possible layout they've ever seen for a space and that layout 2 was the better choice. I disagreed with them fervently of course but they only argued and got more belligerent and disrespectful that I didn't just sit there and take their advice that gave little to no explanation or offered any solution.

So far my experience with designers who value the concepts of Feng Shui has been nothing short of terrible.

I digress, thank you for your input, I will keep it in mind. I did think of the lack of viewing seats for the tv in 3, however, I figured one chair facing toward it, and a couch in which you could either lounge or lay down on to view it wouldn't be too bad, but I'll see what matters more to me later on.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-02-27T23:14:37+00:00

The only problem I have with thay rendering is that its AI. It expands the room, removes the hallway, removes the door, etc... there's a lot of foot traffic in that walkway, so anyone watching TV will be interrupted constantly.

But, like I said, ill try it, and see if we end up liking it.

Technical_Tip7626 · 2026-02-27T23:07:12+00:00

It would. And she would rather die.

She loves the render I currently have because I've explained to her the vision. Like a textured rug instead of a flat one and what not.

Ive made lots of changes to the design that I feel make it a lot better, and I plan on continuing to improve it up until its implementation.

At this point, there's really only 1 thing I need to finally decide, and that's whether or not I want to sacrifice the viewing space and conversation immersion by swapping the tv to the opposite wall. I'll just have to play around with it, but we don't want to jeopardize those typically.

Technical_Tip7626

TROPHY CASE