I don't have any suggestions (I'm trying to get help myself!), but I wanted to let you know how nice the paint looks. The color really warms up the space. Great job! I'm looking forward to seeing what others suggest.

I don't have any suggestions either, as this area is not my strong point. However, I too wanted to give you two thumbs up on the new paint color. It warmed your spaces up and they look very inviting.
I can't wait to see what the impressive people on this board suggest. I'm sure you'll get lots of great help with your room. I'll also be watching to see what other suggest. :o)

I like the lamp between the two chairs.

The first thing that jumped out at me are the drapes. I think they look too skimpy--when pulled more in the closed position, they look like a sheet hung up, just because to me there ought to be more fabric and more rings to have a more luxurious, deep flounce of fabric in between each of the clips. I think each window should have two panels, not one, to get this feel.

Next: What exactly catches your eye when you walk into the room, the one thing that makes you say, "Ugh!"? Does it just not look "warm" enough, even with the nice paint color, for you? You could try placing a patterned area rug over the carpet. Is it the lighting? Experiment with additional lamps, maybe, or different light bulbs (if you do a search on previous postings on this forum, I'm sure some light-bulb posts will pop up. The true-to-life type bulbs, esp., can make a big difference than using plain bulbs).

Also, is there a sofa in the LR, or just the upholstered chairs? Maybe the formality of the chairs doesn't really "Invite" people to come in and take a load off and chat? Just a question! Don't be offended, pls!

I only have these single panels from a previous home. But I agree they need some beefing up. I would have to buy some new ones though. I have a tall lamp and it does OK with the light. I took the one lamp off of the table between the chairs because it hid some of the picture. I was thinking of a shorter lamp to put there.

I guess I feel that this room is missing some cohesiveness; something to tie it all together. I put the computer in here because I want my family to actually use our living room, not just a room for show but now I think it needs something more to put it all together. Thanks for all your help. Please keep it coming.

In the picture with the chairs closer together I could see a large round ottoman for them to share. Place to put feet up and also an extra seat in a pinch. A coordinating fabric with a skirt since every other piece in the room is leggy. A larger round table between the chairs and two smaller ottomans (square) could also work. That would give people a place to set a drink, book, etc. Lovely room...just needs to be cozied up a bit.

The gold paint really did the trick and warmed it right up, didn't it? Looks great. I love your wingbacks. No sofa?

I just got rid of my wall-to-wall and got a wood floor put in and bought a couple of rugs -- all bargains off CL. So that's what I would suggest for your LR. I LOVE the change.

But I'm not one of the experts in telling you what to do with a room, either. I hope my boosting this up to the top will help them see it for you though.

A number of things jumped out at me when I saw your photos and I hope my suggestions don't hurt your feelings, but obviously you also feel some improvement is needed.

1. Family photos can be very tricky in living rooms and a large one on the wall is not something you'll normally see in a "decorated" room. A print or painting that really appeals to you would change the feel of this room.

2. I would do two panels for each window in a more muted color that is not too different from the wall color. Pinch pleats or some other tight top treatment will look much better and improve the look of the windows immensely.

3. I don't see much furniture in this room. Without a couch or love seat and a coffee table I don't know that this could really be called a living room.

4. The room has a "dead" feel because there is no greenery there. Even a silk tree or fern would be better to liven up this space than nothing at all. However, it seems as though you would have enough light for the real thing.

5. Children's toys don't really do anything for a living room. I would move that elsewhere.

6. How about a nice floor lamp to the right of the window closest to the piano? It will not only give light but add a decorative touch. Right now the room is sadly lacking in decorative elements and the pieces on each side of the piano are too small to make a positive impact.

7. Does anyone play the piano or is it just something to fill up space? If it's the latter I would use that wall for an upholstered furniture piece. Again, the family photos might better go elsewhere. Or, you might keep the ones on the piano and change to some type of art on the wall above it.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you or made you feel bad in any way. When I asked for changes in my master bedroom I was given lots of opinions of what was wrong with the room. I went with the ideas that appealed to me and ended up with a much nicer room. There's no reason to take advice that doesn't fit in with your ideas but usually something will stand out that will be of benefit. Good luck with your remake!

I think your paint color and chairs really are great together! I'm not an expert, but I do have small grandkids who visit nearly daily so I have toys (some large, too) that I need to discreetly put away. So I'll share one idea.

Since you're up to possibly rearranging things, you might consider moving the piano (and I'd try to work it on the wall where the computer is and put the bookcase elsewhere maybe.) That would leave the wall where the piano was for a sofa. I have a wall that has about the same amount of recessed area as your opeining into the dining room (I'm guessing) gives you---although mine's near the foyer. Anyway, bring your sofa out from the wall allowing about 3' behind it if possible. The sofa will be out in the room a bit, but with endtables, I think will look like it fits ok there. Behind the sofa makes a great storage place for toys. I have a sofa table behind mine and underneath that I have toys in baskets on shelves. Larger ones might just stand alone. You may not be able to use a sofa table, but at least you can put away a couple things when they're not in use. Here's a picture to show you that nothing is visible.

The area rug will also help if you can find one, but sometimes they take a little while to find. Oceanna's suggestion is a good one. We found one for our dining room at Costco--it's all wool and I love it. However we needed larger than an 8' X 10' for the living room so had to order that one and it was much more expensive.

I know how it is to have curtains up from previous homes since I still have that too. One of these days I'll work on my drapes, but for now they just add a little texture.

Best wishes in your efforts. You have to do what fits in your budget and tastes, too. BTW, it doesn't bother me that a little of the picture is covered by the lamp, since it doesn't block it from all angles.

{{!gwi}}

The desk is very casual and country looking. Would you consider painting or staining it?

Pictures can be deceiving about the size and distance of things in the room so this may not work. How about moving the piano to the wall to the left of the DR archway so that it is across from the chairs? Then is there room to pull the chairs forward enough so that you walk behind them when you enter the room from the front hall? This would make a nice grouping for relaxing.

Put your desk on the wall where the piano is now to make and 'office area' separate from the relaxing area. Declutter the shelves and put everything in nice cute baskets and add a couple of large decorative objects instead of a so many small bitty things.

Put a long narrow table between the windows. Put a little round table between the chairs and ditch the chess set unless you use it often for playing chess.

Are you against using a rug on top of a rug? Even if the chairs have to stay where they are, a colorful rug to anchor them would warm up the room.

Another thing to consider is placing the piano between the windows if there is room. The curtains would have to be beefed up so there are panels on both sides of each window and some sheers. Then make the area across from it the seating area with the chairs with one chair on each wall angled against each other and a table between them.

You say you want the room 'cohesive' but with a desk and a piano, I think you need to make two separate areas. Someone will probably come up with better ideas on how to do this.

Thanks for the input so far. I do want to add that toys are never in this room. I should have removed them for the picture but these particular toys are there because I am trying to sell them on Craig's List and I was trying to separate them from the other toys in the kid's playroom.

Wow, it is beautiful. You must feel like you're living in a brand new house. To go from white to this.

One thing I wanted to mention. About the white on the alcove or walk through between the dining and living rooms. You can paint that the same color as the living room wall since the dining room color is so close in color. You may not want to, but I just wanted to mention since some people aren't sure how to handle those inside areas. Great job.

It is hard to tell but I would put the piano in between the windows... I would switch the chairs to the piano wall with the wedding photo between them, as well as the oval side table. I would place that gorgeous corner thingee with the lamp on it nearest the chair on the left(close to the dining room but turn it staight).

Also, the books in the armoire should be upright with one of the heavier items sttacked up against it. I agree some greenery will make it much more lively.

It really is a great space and it is functional even if you do nothing at all. The paint is fabulous!

Love your wall color, piano, and wing back chairs. Just wanted to say that I have a similiar problem in my living room. It is set up almost identical to yours. In the beginning it felt like an underused pass through space, and I wanted it to be a space where people could have some nice conversation, away from the TV. Also, I want to be able to monitor my kids on the computer. My computer is out in the open, on an old refinished small desk. I figure, no sense in hiding the obvious. It would always be opened up anyway. What helped me like my room more was to set up 2 different areas of function in the room. The computer area is where yours is and at the other end is my conversation area. I have my piano, couch, chair and small coffee table. We really love it now. It is a place that draws you in and you want to linger. We have set up reading materials on the shelf of our coffee table and we go there every morning to read and talk with coffee. My only problem now is that I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a fireplace with book shelves beside it and I cannot figure out a way to make it happen in my space. You have a very pretty room. Play with the space a little and add a sofa and table or ottoman with pillows and a throw. Taping off the floor where furniture would go to get a visual helps me. Good Luck.

The colors in your room are warm and lovely. For the curtains, could you find 2 similar panels in a cream or light gold that would go with your colors? You could hang these next to the existing ones, and trim the edge with a ribbon to match the existing panels. I would hang the lighter panels on the "curved" side of the existing ones.

I love the color you chose too, it really warms the room. I'm not good at decorating, so I can't help there. Sorry!!

Here is an idea I have been thinking of. What if we had built in bookcases/desk that closes built on the wall where the piano currently is and put the wing backs in front of it then move the piano in between the windows. I could then put my laptop and computer stuff there and have it hidden.

What do you think? Is there anyone who could photo shop something like that for me. I had my family room project photo shopped before by Squirrel and it helped so much!

Thanks again.