Thanks, kitch! You’ve been a big help! I think I like that look best as well. I have just been admiring that big light blue pottery barn vase for a long time now and was excited to try it out. Maybe down the road I could try it on the floor in front of the mantle (at this point my toddler would have a field day with it!). Debating if I should keep it or return it and possibly rebuy later. Got it for about $100 during the friends and family sale. Hmm... What do you think about these looks for my mantle refresh? I appreciate your input! :) Option 1: current look + new throw basket (I’ll probablt put a burnt orange throw in the basket) Option 2: new vase with eucalyptus leaves + new plants on each side Option 3: swapped out the leaves for berry stems Option 4: removes small plants from left Option 5: Swapped out small plant for a slightly different plant Option 6: swapped out plant for one in a tin vase Option 7: swapped out the small plant for a small white vase Option 8: basically same setup i have now, with the addition of the vase! I really wanted to try to incorporate the mercury glass candles since I have mercury glass in other areas of the house. Any of these groupings can use the eucalyptus leaves instead of the berry stems; I just didn’t feel like taking two photos of each look! :)

For staining, you need high performance fabric, no matter what color. Very dark fabric can show lint and dust. If you want gray, go for mid range color. What are the other colors in your home? I like greens. This furniture is over 20 years old. It's a finished basement, used constantly by my two daughters while growing up. Snacks always allowed. I held Girl Scout meetings down there! The color is lighter in person, a mid range sage.

my sofa would be to the left of the couch . want something with color thats not too dark and dreary . second pic is room unfurnished

What about something like a sofa with thin black and white stripes? Then you could add colorful cushions. So many possibilities. I couldn't find a picture that was quite what I was imagining, but I thought this might be easier to live with long-term than a bright pink sofa, as pretty as that is.