u/Accurate-Manner-9209

Since moving in last August I have always wanted to put the roller blinds on the small gap of wall between the ceiling and on top of the window and putting floor to ceiling curtains on both windows; the right window would only hold a single panel to the left.

However, doing so would cover almost all of the radiator which is already in a shitty position behind the sofa.

We rent an old property and found that the windows let in a very cold draft last year as the temperatures dropped. What can we do to keep warm?

Also, the length of our settee is too long to go on a different wall and the adjacent wall to the current position has the door into the room on it therefore it could not fit there either. It is out of our budget to get a new sofa altogether.

What can we do!?

When my partner and I first rushed into this house a year ago, on the 22nd August 2025, we were stressed and desperate. Our lease on the apartment were we living in ended with only a matter days to spare and we had little to no money between us.

I have been working 10 hour days, full time, between 2 jobs, alongside university; often working 14 days before having one day off from one of my jobs or university. While my partner is working 12 hour night shifts, plus an additional 6 hour job on a Monday morning.

It has been a grind, we’ve lived hand to mouth and have had to make do with what we’ve got.

That changed last month, as I received the best wage I’ve ever had and I thought to myself - it’s time to make this house a home. Not a dumping ground of our fleeting lifestyles, or a reflection of our relationship that summons ships that pass in the night.

I bought 3 empty billy bookcases at the end of July and have patiently waited until my pay in August to purchase the doors. By no means is our storage solution finished, or merely 1/4 full, but the peace of mind they have brought my partner and I is bountiful.

The mound of clutter without a home has been organised, housed or sent to the charity shop and I don’t plan on reimbursing a single thing that I have had to throw.

From September my partner will no longer need to work the 12 hour night shifts and I also hope that I can focus more on University than having to prioritise going to work over lectures.

I will let these units be the reminder of our love and devotion to both each other and our fucking grit over the last 2.5 years in order to one day get to the good times. We are only here because of it X

Our front room (living room) is already an awkward lay out and has never sat right with me. As you walk in, you immediately face a long wall, with a large window behind the couch; there is also a thin window to the right side of our sofa (if you were looking at it upon entering the room)- which you can briefly see on some of the photos. It is adjacent to the wall where the bookcases are. Obviously the next wall is solely the wall of bookcases.
We then have the door, again which you can see, and an abnormally large tv that fills the remaining wall space on that side. The wall on the right of the door/ tv area, then connects back to the window/ sofa wall and has 2 alcoves on both the left and right side and a chimney breast in the middle. On the chimney breast is a fire place, with no working fire, but it is placed on the right side of the protruding centre of the wall. The fire place not being central immediately makes me feel claustrophobic and like my skin is crawling. As does the fact the windows are behind me when I’m sat on the sofa. I like looking out and being able to see the the day and life and the weather etc. it’s a source of entertainment for me watching the clouds and seasons go by. Am I sounding crazy yet?

Anyway. On to the bookcases.

Tonight I have placed one of the double bookshelves to the centre of the wall between the edge of my settee and the edge of the tv stand. This has made me feel slightly happy. However, this means that a 1/4 of the double unit on the right is covered by the door being open. The fact the door and end of the bookcase don’t align is giving me heart palpitations seriously. I just want to yank it out so the end of the unit and door can meet perfectly.
Yet, there is irony in this desire as I’ve had it level like that for the last 4 weeks and was driven insane because there was no focal point in the centre between my sofa and tv stand. Instead, I felt like all I was looking at was where both bookcases met in the middle (ie a seam lol of wood) rather than imaginary decor that I could have on the open shelves.
On one of the pictures I’ve also drawn a pink square which is the area of wall that I would like to keep clear, meaning no tall unit is to be placed there. Sun and light both stream in there throughout the day and I find that keeping it clear still keeps the room feeling light, airy and not as if I’m in a cave where the walls are shrinking in around me. I’m imagining putting a beautiful canvas there with a painting of a place I love and have fond memories - I think doing that would also imitate the window and scenic views of the outdoors that I’m craving so desperately in this room. But that doesn’t fix the main problem of the bookcases.

IF I was to place the single bookcase to the right of the now central, double unit - there would be a huge gap between the unit and wall in which the door and tv are on. I would see this gap when sat on settee. It’s all I would look at. I know this because at the moment, I can see the whole double unit when sat down and only the side piece of wood is covered really by the door - not the shelves themselves. But regardless of this, the dimensions are still making me fill with adrenaline, angst, anger and almost repulse.

I’d greatly appreciate any advice on how to either sort myself out on the inside or arrange these bookshelves in a way that makes me feel comfortable HA.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, think and help. I need it !

Thanks again :)

Originally, I planned to have 3 double bookcases central from where the sofa starts up to the wall on the right side, with a single corner unit and additional single. I’ve kept a tight enough lid on the budget and planned to buy some of the bookcases each month. Here is the first months splurge.

I love having the shorter unit on the left side as plenty of light comes through the slim, tall window on the left; and I plan to put a beautiful, scenic canvas up on the wall also. Or would a mirror be better? I certainly want to keep it light, bright and airy in that area. But again, when I bought the half unit on a whim I thought I wanted to attach it to the other units - rather than have it in a separate space.
We have an (unused) gas meter on the left and a window so we have to be careful to leave room. With that, the units can’t go up to the wall completely.

My main confusion is the 3 other units. When I look central, the main focal point that I’m finding myself staring at is the adjoining 2 doubles cases. I’m looking at a seam. Whereas if I had 3 doubles, I feel like it would be more pleasing and equally balanced for my eyes and focal point fixation lol. But I’ve bought and built this single unit now!

The door to the room opens on the right wall and covers the single unit when open, so it doesn’t even matter if that unit is single or double other than for the fact they are slightly higher than the door way. I’m also planning to put another single unit besides the other, at the end of the month, just to equal it out. It’s a NEED !

But my biggest dilemma is that central seam where the bookcases meet - but I don’t feel like I’d enjoy it if I put the single unit in the middle as the shelves are really narrow and therefore “dark and shadowy and claustrophobic” ? Does that make sense? Or am I crazy ?

I’m going to put half glass half panel doors on the 2 single units sat on the right side and plan to leave the 2 double units completely open.

There’s definitely something that isn’t sitting right with me and I know for a fact that it is the seam where they meet being bang in the middle rather than something else, but there’s nothing I can do about it? Maybe putting the single unit where the first double unit starts on the left and pushing the other 2 doubles down would sort my problem. I’m not sure.

Let me know what you think haha and if you understand what I’m up against in my head 🤣 I feel crazy!

Thank you