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My living room is 14.5 feet wide and 20 long with a beautiful huge window and window seat the entire length of the short end of the room. I'm having trouble positioning my grand piano in the space. The piano is 5 feet 8 inches wide at most and seven feet long (including the bench). Where do I position it? Is the piano the focal point or is the window the focal point? Please help!

I'm sure your question is probably more concerned with making a wise decorating decision, but the window placement is probably not a good decision for the instrument, as it will be more subject to humidity and temperature changes which 1) can make it difficult to maintain good, stable tuning, and 2) could cause the soundboard to crack. Once the soundboard is cracked, you have ruined your instrument. I have been told that it is best not to position a piano on an outside wall, also. A 7 ft grand piano is an investment you want to protect. You can discuss it with a good piano technician for his/her opinion.

~Lady50

Welcome. Along w/ the practical concerns already mentioned, please keep in mind that a room can feature more than one focal point. With creative furniture placement and pieces that are open or swivel, you can take advantage of both focal points seamlessly. Do not hesitate to bring an open bench or oversized ottoman out into the room. Optionally, swivel chairs can be brought out into the room and afford the view of either focal point.

Traditionally the piano should be positioned where someone looking into the room can see the person playing.

I also agree with a piano not being put on an outside wall (for an upright, console or spinet), where the sun cannot shine on it AND protecting the investment. Last year my niece paid $27,000 for an UGLY 46 year old Steinway.

Our ebony Steinway Grand is the focal point of our family room. However, there was only one place for it and that was next to a large picture window. Fortunately, the sun does not beat down on that side of the room, and we are compulsive about having it tuned and maintained twice a year (my DH studied at Curtis Institute with a top pianist and we were not going to mess around with this beautiful instrument).