Easy fix to Chantel and Wyatt’s $1 million blunder – but they don’t want to hear it
Updated . First published at
Everyone who walked into Chantel and Wyatt’s living room agreed they’d made a grave error orientating their furniture away from their million-dollar water views.
Thankfully The Block’s Redo Room week was the time to fix it – that’s only if Chantel and Wyatt were willing to take the advice on board.
With just a simple flip, Chantel and Wyatt could have full view of the ocean from their living room! Nine
By pointing all their furniture directly at the television on the back wall, anyone sitting in House 2 was forced to turn their back on the room's best feature: the stunning ocean view.
The roadblock? The couple had already built a custom TV mount, and fireplace into that back wall, making a full redesign feel daunting.
Freedom styling consultant Kristi arrived on-site with practical layout ideas to rescue the space, backing up what the judges had noted all along: flipping the orientation would instantly unlock the room’s potential.
Despite the couple remaining defiant and sticking to their original setup, the scenario highlights a common design dilemma that many home designers face: How do you arrange a living room beyond just the television?
While TVs are central to everyday living, letting them dictate your entire floor plan can compromise the room’s flow.
Here is how to create a balanced living room layout that works around all your focal points – views, fireplaces, and screens alike.
How to Position Living Room Furniture Beyond the TV
1. Master the Dual-Focal Point Layout
When a room has two competing focal points – such as a scenic view and a media wall – avoid pointing all seating exclusively at one.
Instead, position an L-shape couch perpendicular to both the view and the TV screen, so guests can enjoy both without awkwardly turning around.
Would you want to turn your back on this view? Nine
... Chantel and Wyatt don’t seem to mind! Nine
Swivel chairs are the ultimate secret weapon for multi-functional rooms. They allow effortless movement between watching a movie and turning toward a view or conversational setting.
2. Balance Built-In Features
If you have fixed architectural elements like a built-in fireplace or custom cabinetry, design around them rather than fighting them.
Pull sofas and armchairs away from the walls toward the centre of the room. This creates an inviting conversational zone and leaves clear pathways.
Choose low-back sofas near windows or entryways so sight lines across the room remain unobstructed.
There’s always a direction other than the TV that you can point the furniture to. Nine
3. Zone spaces with large floor rugs
A large floor rug anchors your seating group, making the layout feel deliberate – even if it’s offset from the walls.
Ensure at least the front legs of all key seating pieces rest on the rug.
Brought to you by Freedom.
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