Another view

Could we see a shot of the wall space opposite the fireplace wall, so behind the couch? Thanks!

I would definitely move the clock somewhere else and replace in that spot something much bigger. Maybe mount the tv over the mantle. Would paint the mantle and the trim around the fp. You need a focal pt in the room and I don't see one. You said you must keep the wall color, hmmm, not so great w/ the wood color that is there now and brown furniture. I wouldn't bring anything else in brown. You do need some color in there. Curtains w/ a punch and some great pillows. Coordinate w/ new fabric for the chair if it can't be replaced. I would get rid of those end tables, they are too small, as well as the lamp too small. The table and lamp beside that chair are lost. Post as you do things, would love to see it.

I would suggest full length, (to the floor) curtains in a print that has colors that go with other furniture in the room. Something like this below, or similar. Bring in those colors with pillows, too. The room lacks any pattern or texture, and needs it. Also agree with other poster that the tables and little lamp in the room are too small.

Here is a link that might be useful: print curtains

I think you need more substantial, wider and longer curtains. I'd move the clock and get something larger for over the fireplace. I'd also add an area rug (maybe 8x10) to the seating area. The mantle shelf seems a bit disconnected from the fireplace. Can it be reworked or does it have to stay as is?

Since you said you will have new cushions or coverings for the rocker, I might start with finding a colorful print or plaid fabric that you love for it. Then pull the drapery and pillow colors from that. I think if you can get some more vibrancy into the room through colors in fabric and artwork that the wall color will be fine. Looks as if you painted recently and it looks in good condition.

I don't know how it would work for tv viewing, but I might switch out the recliner for the rocker. The recliner looks kind of large for that spot and the rocker is kind of small scale for the space by the window. I'd angle it toward the tv a bit to allow it to recline.

I also might put a colorful area rug in front of the sofa and fireplace and maybe another under the dining table and chairs.

Even if you don't want to keep it, try the dining room pic above the fireplace, just to check the scale and see how large a piece you need there. It will give you a good visual for what to look for when you look for art (and maybe you'd even like it there.

What is that drape next to the entertainment center? Is that a window?

Do you need the curtain on the door for privacy? Or can that go?

I like the clock but not there. That over mantle doesn't look right. If it were my space, I'd remove it. The chair and sofa are large for the space, but you'll have to work with them. I would swap the small chair with the big one so the room is better balanced.

The drapes need to be fuller and longer. You need an inspiration piece for the rooms...it can be a plate, a fabric, a piece of art...anything that ties the wall colors together with the dark brown.

Perhaps a fabric like this will combine the colors and can inspire the room.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

Les- I'm attaching the photo of that wall. Sorry for the bad lighting/cell phone pic. I don't hate the two pictures on that wall, but I don't love them either. They are kind of there as a space filler. I'm not digging those gold frames, though. And, I smudged out the faces on my family photos...it's not some weird art thing. :)

Hellokitty- I agree! The end tables are just a temporary place to put our drinks until we find real ones. As for the TV over the fireplace, we probably won't do that since we don't want to look up. What color/type entertainment center could we go with?

Nanny2a- I like those colors, but I'm actually trying to get away from plaid. The furniture we just replaced was plaid, as were our kitchen curtains. With 10 years of plaid, we're kinda ready for a change. :) Thanks for your suggestion. Would a damask-type pattern work, or is that too formal?

porkandham- Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure what you mean about "reworking" the mantle...I don't think we can move it. We can stain it (or maybe paint it if I can get my husband to agree.)

olychick- Great ideas. We actually started with the recliner and rocker switched, and I actually prefer it that way, but it seemed like too much wood near each other with the wood rocker, wood dining furniture, and wood dining floor (and wood fireplace trim.) I was trying to break up the wood. Maybe when we add some other stuff, it will break it up enough.

Annie- Yes, that is a window next to the entertainment center. The curtain on the door is necessary (it's just a plain glass window) but can be changed. Agree about the chairs... you don't think that would put too much wood near each other, though? You're SO right...I really do need an inspiration piece, but I just haven't found it yet! I do love that fabric you suggested. Where is it from? Would that limit me in colors to green and brown, though? How could I tie in more colors? (I'm coming from green and blue plaid furniture, so all this brown is kinda freaking me out, lol.)

Thanks again, everyone for all of the suggestions! Any ideas for what type/color entertainment center and/or end tables? Also, all other color, pattern, art, and other decor suggestions are still very much welcome! :)

I might kinda like something like this plate thingy to go where the magnolia picture is. What do you think? Too formal? Too small? Too ugly? :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Grid Plates Wall Art

The fabric I posted is from calico corners...but wasn't meant to be literal....just an example of how finding a fabric that incorporates the wall and sofa colors can pull a room together. You need to find something you love. If you need more colors then go for it...there is fabric out there for you.

Every time I look at your fireplace, I cringe. That is a shelf on the wall, not a mantle, and it just looks odd. That bothers me a lot more than the sconces in the DR.

I think you need a visual break between the DR and LR. If you put the small chair there with a table and lamp so it visually closes in that space it will help some. The chair by itself won't be enough. But the chair is more in scale with the room.

Have you tried placing the couch in front of the window facing into the room, with the chair where the couch is? That arrangement might work better. You also need a coffee table or ottoman for the couch - someplace where people can put down their beverage, book, etc.

I understand your fatigue with plaids, I just rid myself of two plaid chairs! I was just looking for a print curtain that had all the colors in it that you said you liked.

You have brown furniture, tan walls, tan carpet, tan curtains and wood tables, MONOCHROMATIC. You need color, and painting the walls would be the least costly way to break the monochromatic scheme you have so far. Why is painting out of the question? Brown, tan and blue are "IN" right now. If you paint the walls blue it will be easy to pick up accessories.

I agree with the other posters about the mantel. It was hung too high, it's disconnected from the fireplace. It should be a longer shelf, placed just above the fireplace. Then you would have a better space on/above the mantel for art or family photos or whatever.

I like many of the suggestions so far. I would get rid of the mantle. The style doesn't seem to go with the fireplace. Put a really nice piece of art work above it.
I agree with Annie. I am all for monochromatic, and in some cases it looks really lovely when done intentionally. A nice window treatment in a printed fabric that you love will go a long way.
Start with the windows and then post for more advise.

How about these for the windows?
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3596641

They are colorful but tasteful and would coordinate with your sofas. I think they would brighten up the space. You could do some accents and cushions for the rocker in the blue, rusty red and yellow. I like the rust, clue and cream one on the bottom:
http://covetliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/JAYNE.jpg

I agree about the mantle, maybe a large dark framed mirror above the fireplace would help. I successfully gel stained my mantle a walnut color and did not need to strip off the old finish. You could do the rocker the same color.

Since you mentioned country/rustic, maybe something like this?

With valance

Can layer with another color sheer behind:

I could see adding wicker or cork (maybe a large round wicker ottoman), white painted furniture (maybe console for wall behind sofa or end tables), and an antique piece for storage (maybe something like these):

For artwork, I'd use personal photography with large white mats in simple frames. Maybe a couple of black iron floor lamps like:

I would definitely get rid if the mantle. It is too high above the fireplace surround. I agree that a large piece of art or your tv above the fireplace would be great.

I really like that green we can see in the background of one pic. I would bring that into the living room and dining room. More substantial draperies would help and a pattern might be nice as long as it is something you love and won't tire of in the near future. One other idea would be to add a good-sized area rug in the living area even though you would be putting it over carpet. That could bring in enough color and pattern to pull everything together (still get heavier draperies though). Add a throw over the back of the chair or couch, a tall vase with flowers or tall fern fronds on the hearth, bowl with fruit or veggies on the table and go from there.

Show us what you try! It is going to look great!

Since so many commented on the mantel, here's a rough approximation (no photoshop) of how it would look moved, along with some suggestions from post above:

I'll play! I would add this textured wall paper on the fireplace wall.

This picture would hang there.

Okay here is my photoshop attempt. I'd probably want to darken the dining set, it blends too much with the walls now, I'd paint the rocker and add a lively pattern in the curtains and colorful accents around the room. I used a rusty red and blue that I pulled from the curtains.

Here is a photo that goes in a totally different direction. I post it not for you to try to recreate, but as an inspiration photo to see how you might lighten up the room. I have recently read that if you have a brown sofa (and I do) to update the room, you need to inject lots of whites and creams.

Here is a link that might be useful: inspiration from Cote de Texas

Thanks for the plays and suggestions, everyone! I'm still trying to decide which colors to use and what direction to go, but this has been helpful. :)