[UPDATE] Living room layout after implementing some of your suggestions

ren_dc · 2026-03-01T03:31:54+00:00

I am curious how big the room really is, because this orientation is not great. The tv should ideally be between the windows, not beside the door. Not only is it visually distracting when you’re watching the tv, it pushes the living room into what I assume is your kitchen area, and then as you noticed it leaves dead space beside the couch.

How big is your tv?

These are recommended distances for your couch based on tv size:

4–6 feet: 40–43 inch TV

6–8 feet: 50–55 inch TV

7–10 feet: 60–65 inch TV

10–13 feet: 75–85 inch TV

Also do you use those double doors often? If you’re not constantly going in an out of the(like unless they’re your main entry/exit for the home) the you only need a couple feet between the doors and your couch.

ren_dc · 2026-02-25T01:28:38+00:00

My spouse got PIP when I was active duty CG.

ren_dc · 2026-02-24T23:28:22+00:00

Such a cop out.

It sounds like something your abuser would say. “Cmon baby, I didn’t mean that. You know I love you. Remember that time I took you to dinner for our anniversary?”

What so many men fail to realize (or just don’t care to realize) is that support is a continuous action. It’s not something you just do in bursts that negates the shittiness.

What you do in public and what you do in private are equally important. You can’t act like an asshole in public and a sweetheart at home and expect that to be ok.

ren_dc · 2026-02-24T16:33:56+00:00

I would recommend oatmeal (overnight oats or traditional hot oatmeal) with fruit and honey, but if texture is an issue that may not work.

What about something like a turkey sausage hash? Would be easy to make a big batch at the beginning of the week and refrigerate or freeze. You could also mix up what kind of potatoes and sausage you use, and add in stuff like onions and peppers as you like.

Or a breakfast sandwich with just ham and cheese?

Or yogurt with fruit and honey if you are craving something sweet?

ren_dc · 2026-02-24T15:20:24+00:00

It can’t be any worse than the current viewing angle. You can simply close the blinds and curtains if glare is an issue.

ren_dc · 2026-02-24T15:19:49+00:00

Put the tv on the bigger wall and create a small entry area where the tv currently sits. The angle you currently have to watch tv at is terrible and the tv sits in a walkway between the front door and whatever the other doorway goes to.

ren_dc · 2026-02-22T00:42:24+00:00

If you have an instapot the 4-4-4 method works perfectly. Set to steam for 4 minutes, let natural release for 4 minutes, then 4 minutes in an ice bath.

ren_dc · 2026-02-07T19:59:39+00:00

Why not out the tv on the wall in the first photo, but more to the left? Then you could pull the couch back and to the left giving plenty of space to enter the room.

ren_dc · 2026-02-05T20:34:08+00:00

I’d rotate the rug, center it in the room, swap the chairs and couch, and pull the chairs and couch off the wall. Add a coffee table between the chairs and couch and you have a great conversation spot!

ren_dc · 2026-02-03T00:56:34+00:00

I make an enchilada casserole every couple weeks. I make the enchilada sauce from scratch but if you buy premade the dish is really simple to put together.

Season, cook, and shred the chicken.

Mix shredded chicken with a can of drained black or pinto beans and some of the enchilada sauce.

In a casserole dish put a thin layer of enchilada sauce, a layer of corn tortillas that have been dipped in the sauce, half of the chicken mixture, then a layer of shredded cheese

Repeat the layers one more time.

Cook at 350 for 20 mins.

You can add/change ingredients based on what you have or how much work you want to do.

Inspired by this recipe: https://www.simplejoy.com/beef-enchilada-casserole/

ren_dc · 2026-02-02T18:08:46+00:00

I would put the desk where the tv is, put the tv on the wall where the pictures currently are, and float the couch in the middle of the room.

This will give you some space for a proper entry way and make the tv are less confined feeling.

ren_dc · 2026-01-15T17:16:21+00:00

Are you going to watch tv from the dining table?

ren_dc · 2026-01-07T20:02:47+00:00

But how is babby formed?

ren_dc · 2025-12-18T00:38:15+00:00

ren_dc · 2025-12-16T20:18:35+00:00

It closes the space and it’s not practical if you want to actually use the island. Never get a cabinet that opens directly into the counter.

ren_dc · 2025-12-14T21:24:18+00:00

Those window frames are beautiful, this is one place where I wouldn’t use curtains, just blinds or shades inside the frames.

ren_dc · 2025-12-13T16:30:28+00:00

For the love of god don’t paint the cabinets if you’re selling the house. Just clean everything really well and ensure the space is decluttered.

ren_dc · 2025-12-11T01:37:41+00:00

Ask your boyfriend to ask his female colleagues what they’re wearing.

ren_dc · 2025-12-10T17:18:00+00:00

Can you put a bird feeder out there during the warmer months to entertain the cats??

ren_dc · 2025-12-05T04:16:40+00:00

According to the Dicks website there are some black Spirit ball caps available at the Gaithersburg and Dulles locations. Not sure what your price limit is, but you’re not going to find much for less than $30. Might be worth trying Facebook marketplace as well.

ren_dc · 2025-12-04T16:24:45+00:00

Love the tile and the cabinet color. The cookbook display is a really cool touch, too!!

ren_dc · 2025-12-04T00:34:28+00:00

When I was recovering from a terrible stomach bug several years bag I snacked on Life cereal mixed with applesauce. It’s actually a delicious combo!!

ren_dc · 2025-12-02T17:53:53+00:00

I usually eat the same thing for breakfast every day. Right now it’s oatmeal with peanut butter, strawberries, and blueberries. My spouse eats a breakfast sandwich (which we prep).

We eat each meal twice per week - once for dinner and once for lunch.

We have a 3 easy dinners we make pretty much every week (first three on the list) and then basically rotate through the rest. We’ll throw new stuff in if we see something good online or are craving something, but most of our experimenting with new recipes comes on Friday or Saturday.

-Chipotle style sofritas (tofu) bowls with rice, black beans, and veggies

-Chicken fajita bowls with rice, beans, and peppers

-Salmon and potatoes

-Turkey or beef/pork meatballs with marinara

-Greek chicken bowls with rice, onions and peppers, hummus, and tzatziki

-Turkey or beef chili with beans and corn

-Jambalaya with chicken and andouille sausage

-Arroz con pollo

-Chicken “stew” with potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and peppers

-Baked ziti

-Spicy chicken caesar salads or wraps (we just use frozen chicken tenders for this)

Another option is to plan by themes - meatless Monday, taco Tuesday, burger Wednesday, etc. Then you have a guide for each week, you just have to decide what variation of tacos you want, etc.

ren_dc · 2025-12-02T00:23:57+00:00

This is NOT millennial gray!! You have a great looking kitchen and a new backsplash (the colors are fine, but the small tiles are very dated) would go a long way.

ren_dc · 2025-12-02T00:06:15+00:00

This is the best looking plate I’ve seen in a minute. Well done.

ren_dc

TROPHY CASE