Living Rooms

I've decided that a big and welcoming living room is very important to me. Our living room right now is beyond tiny. Let me help you picture how small it is. Take a regular sofa that seats 3-4  people and stick it in the space. Then put your tv stand (big enough to put your 42 inch flat screen on) in there too. And that my folks is about all the space you have. Oh I guess we have our rug. It's 5 x 8 I believe. * I lied, it's 4x6. That's all the "leg room" we have. I thought I could deal with that for now because we actually have a separate dining area, but turns out it drives me nuts! And since Janen is really into twirling like a ballerina these days, the poor girl is always running into the tv. A couple of days she lost her balance and hit the corner of her eye on the tv stand and it left a nasty gash. Luckily she doesn't need stitches. Just hugs and kisses and a popsicle.

Here's a sample of a small living room from apartmenttherapy.com

 Even this is more acceptable to me (but not preferred) because it opens up into the next room. Ours is blocked by the kitchen counter/bar. As if there was any room to sit at the bar?!

I think I might be slightly claustrophobic. Cause I feel anxious and trapped when I sit in my living room and even more if anyone else is in it other than Janen and myself. Sometimes I can handle James there if we are all sitting quietly watching a movie. So this makes me not want to invite people over. Crazy how life experiences really help me to decide what I want and what I don't. I need open space! At least where lots of people are gathering is concerned. Oh and lots and lots of windows and sunlight. And I also don't think I could ever buy a townhome. Because I need a yard. Not just want, I need it for my sanity. For those of you who have children, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

Here's some lovelies I found on pinterest that just tickle my fancy!

I don't care for the yellow-gold walls, but I love how many windows and doors there are. It just makes me happy looking at them!

I feel like I would need to wear my sunday best with stockings to sit here, but I really love it!

I just love how classically timeless this looks. 

Love the windows and that I can see my family gathering here for FHE.

I really like the size of this one and the spacing. I can't stand when furniture is too close to each other. Probably from the anxiety.

I wanted to add these to my pinterest, but when I tried to add the link it just goes to the beginning of the list and I don't like everything on the list. (there were over a thousand pictures!) So here it is for future reference.

What is a must have for you in your home?