Could we please see a few more views of the entire room? Hard to give helpful ideas if we have no idea what is going on with the other two sides of the space. Thanks!

I have to say that at first glance I think part of the issue is the low level of the tv and stand compared to the higher cabinet next to it. Any chance you could put the tv on the taller cabinet, and put the electronics inside that?

Feels like your drapery panels need to be spread out a bit more to the outside of the window. If you move the tv to the cabinet, consider moving the two canvases to the right side of the window once the drapery is extended.

Then perhaps slide the couch down to the right, and move the rocker/recliner into the corner to the left of the couch? A floor lamp next to the rocker, on the side closer to the window to help fill the wall space there, could work nicely.

It may just be the flash on the camera, but the curtain panels look very stark against your wall. Fuller, wider panels in a warmer shade and/or a subtle pattern may give you the feeling you want without adding more accessories or "clutter" around the window area.

If it were me?

put the TV on the buffet-type piece and nix the corner piece
move the pictures, maybe stacked to the left of the TV
add a rug
tuck the ottoman somewhere else
curtain trim corresponds too closely to wall color-- wider panels in the off-white would be nice

There, don't you love it when someone gives you a load of impractical advice? :)

I think the TV has to stay on the TV stand, but I do see your point. I think the sideboard is a useful piece of furniture but it will not be in our living room in our next home, because I would like it in a dining room.

As for the other comments, I do find them very helpful. I think the curtains' contrast is exacerbated by the flash but I do think the contrast is stark now that we have installed wood floors. Previously there was cream-colored carpet and that mitigated the contrast a bit, I think. Maybe I should investigate changing those and as you say extending the rod?

I'll try to get pictures of the other side of the room tomorrow when there's light. Any other comments in the interim?

Haha! No, I DO appreciate the advice, but you're right--it is a bit impractical in this case because I need to keep both those furniture pieces. I don't want to ignore solicited advice however I am not in a position to change the furniture this early in my homeowner career. :-) It's just too costly to throw out when you know you may have a bigger house in the next five years. We won't be in this house forever and I will eventually be moving the sideboard to a dining room, I hope. Our current DR is too small for it.

AND, we can't get a rug yet because the floors are new brazilian cherry and they change with the sun especially when new, so we have to wait a few years before we put in a rug. As for the ottoman it is just too often used to get rid of, although it is hideous. We should probably get a new one that fits better.

I do appreciate the notes about the curtains though and agree with the trim comment as well as the idea about broader window treatments. The curtains are totally doable though. I guess that's the kind of advice I'm looking for--I'm feeling like I'm being very annoying right now--but easily alterable things are what I'm hoping to change. :-) I know, kind of a hard question to which there may not be a right answer!

Actually, I would get rid of the drapes and just keep the wooden blinds. Find similar style art to what you have near the tv but in a narrow version and hang one to right of window and one to left. To left of tv, I would like a plant in a nice looking planter on the floor. And take the candles off the window sill. I would embrace simplicity although I do like the variety of wood.

Could you maybe put the tv on the buffet in THIS house and store the corner piece for your next house? Then try some of the great ideas above for rearranging?

Remember she also has all those components in the TV cabinet.

She should leave TV where it's at, don't want child trying to climb that higher cabinet(hers or visitor's) I too think a plant would look nice between TV & window, should use fake 1 if young kids (my GS was very quiet- I went in LR & he was just stuffing both fists in his mouth with moist dirt from plant nearby.)Can't even take the diaper out without them getting into trouble! Then I think you need to tie in sofa a little more with the reddish tones of pics ,bowl & floor, find a pillow at TS(thrift shop) or if you can sew just get a piece of material to cover old 1 with new look. Our TS has all kinds of fabrics, pillow covers, & really nice pillows for sofas & even kitchen chairs so if you have 1 check it out. otherwise yard sales or Craig's list or ask friend if they have some items they no longer want & then you come up with some items you no longer want & see if you can swap then it wouldn't cost anything! Drive around on trash day to just see what people put on the curb, my dad once got a beautiful jewelry box of wood full of good stuff,(gold & silver & couple of small diamonds) mostly what he had bought wife who was divorcing him! Might not see anything but some people stick stuff out with sign that says "free" or if leaving town they just can't take any more in moving van & rest gets left! If you can't sew a pillow cover ask a friend to while you babysit her kids for an hour or 2. I remember what it was like back then, you are doing just fine!

What great advice from everyone. I'm hearing: Put a plant to the left of the TV, do something with the drapes (maybe change them out) and tie in the sofa a bit more.

I also noted the comment about a floor lamp. Someone above suggested that I take a photo of the other side of the room, and if I do that you'll see that I have a hanging crepe lamp there (sounds weirder than it is--see the IKEA link below). So that may be sufficient or maybe I should add a floor lamp.

THANK YOU all so much for your help. I appreciate it! So....no sconce on the walls then?

Here is a link that might be useful: hanging lamp

I really like the different woods, but would like to see the two pieces of art between the TV and buffet rearranged. One over the buffet and one in between is jarring to my eyes. You might play around with having them both over the buffet. They are beautiful! I also like what I can see of the pieces on the buffet but can't get a sense of their balance from the perspective of the picture. Wall color is great; not a great fan of the dark blinds, though. I think that's what makes the curtains appear stark as some noted. Of course, it may be less expensive to replace the curtain panels than the blinds??? All in all, I think you have some great pieces to work with!

Very nice room. I am curious why you can't use an area rug? I've installed hardwood in our entire home through the years, and have used area rugs immediately. Any wood floor with an area rug is going to wear differently under the carpet (it will look newer than the uncovered sections). It won't really matter that much when you start to include area rugs However, an area rug would go a long way to anchor your furniture, and give the space a warmer feel. Also, the area rug would provide another texture and more color.

I had a similar dilemma when we first bought our first home. I had to decide whether I wanted a "LR", or did I want a family room? I chose a LR, and decorated it that way. I had to do away with the existing entertainment center. I did find a different piece that was more in keeping with the look of my LR. If you don't want to use your buffet, would it be possible to find a piece that would accent the other pieces of furniture in the room?

Rather than adding a piece, I would just try to put the tv on the buffet piece and components therein. Looks to me that the TV would certainly fit on the top and components easily contained in one of the side storage areas behind the glass doors. You would have alot more wall space and the problem (I had the same issue) of all of the furniture lining the walls in the room, will be less apparent. While I totally understand you're wanting to use the piece in a future DR, for now, it would really streamline your room, by taking out that corner piece. You can put it into a storage situation and bring it out again if/when you move and have a family room.

What color have you used on your walls? I know my monitor is off, but to my eye, the right side of the window, reminds me of our LR wall color (SW Blonde). I have used two differing types of window treatment with that color. One matched almost exactly, which I liked as I wanted the window treatment to almost disappear. The other is a new burgandy/gold which I am using only to frame my windows. So, either try to match the paint color, or make it a stark contrast. Either way, extend the rod if you can, if you can't, you can pick up a longer decorative rod and beef up the curtains. We don't have a privacy issue, and I am not sure if you do. So, if you don't, I would remove the blinds for a more open/airy look.

I would also pick up some decorative pillows in jewel tones similar to the colors in your artwork. The current sofa pillows seem to disappear being monochromatic. I would love to see some more color on the sofa. JHMO and $.02.

Great room, can't wait to see pics of changes if you make any!

I'd like to see more graphic drapes with the colors of the two paintings in them. They need to be wider than what you have there now too. I also think you need a throw and some pillows in the colors of the two pics on the wall on the sofa.

(by the way, as for the furniture not all matching and the many shades of wood--admittedly this is true but we're in our 20s and assume we will get matching furniture over time :-D )

Your furniture blends together nicely. Sets of matching furniture should NOT be a goal.

While you are changing the drapes, they are a tad too short right now. Place the rod so that the drapes almost touch the floor, about one-half inch from the floor, which is approximately the height of your index finger when it is on its side.

You seem to have very little floor space, so I would not add a floor plant. And I don't see wall sconces adding anything. I would be looking at adding color and softness, neither of which sconces would bring.

I would change the placement of the two pictures. Seeing more of the room would help, but one option would be stacking them on the wall above the left arm of the sofa. Or side by side centered above the sideboard.

Rearranging the room might allow you to have the TV cabinet and the sideboard in the room but not next to each other.

For the nick-nacks on the server, think about removing all of them and then putting back only the items that really work there, either because they are meaningful to you or they fit well in the space. Too often, nick-nacks end up in places by default.

Its a lovely room. The tv would look nice on the wall above the buffet. Not sure about the size of the small console but it could be used as a unique side table to the chair or sofa if it is finished on the back sides. The curtains might work better if you could redo them to hang upside down. It already seems a little crowded towards the floor with the low furnishings.The detail of the curtain if it were on top would balance it.

You've received some very good suggestions so far and I hear you about the $ factor so for me this would be the easiest solution.
When I view the room I see heavy and dark on one side and the light sofa on the other. You need to cross pollinate the room (lol) Purchase a dark brown throw for the couch and sprawl it over the sofa arm and add two dark toned pillows, find a dark toned print for the left side of the window and purchase some drapes in a deeper tone and extend the rods. Place the two colorful prints, one on the left wall side of the tv and one on the right. If possible, find some art for the far left wall that would balance and that's it. The room will feel better. Oh and maybe remove the small items from the top of the lovely cabinet and place the dark vase on the end near the tv. and just your floral at the other. Hope this helps.

I would love to see the artworks (very strong visually) more centered over the buffet.

Additional artworks would help to balance the strong colors -- perhaps two or four similar ones (smaller and maybe in a vertical row) on each wall above the TV area.

The look for stronger colored cushions for the white sofa -- nice for the cooler weather. Maybe add a matching throw for the brown chair.

Add some deep red apples in the ornage bowl on the coffee table.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

My first thought was to tell you to change the paint color, but after looking at the room some more I realize that the leather chair, neutral sofa, beige walls, wood furniture and hardword floors work very well together; it's the bright primary-colored art that is jarring to my eye. I think the art and the wall color are fighting each other. Otherwise I see a very nice earth-toned and comfortable-looking living room. I think you'd see a world of difference if you found artwork in fall colors or sepia tones and moved these very modern and colorful prints to another area of the house.

Also, I don't know if it suits your decorating taste but your space would lend itself well to ethnic fabrics such as kuba cloth pillows, or even a touch of brown/cream zebra stripe.

Here is a link that might be useful: