Personally for me think they look beautiful either way. BUT, and it's a big but, I wouldn't want to have to worry about keeping a rug under a table clean. I may love to vacuum, but I it's just not so fun when dodging table can chairs under a dining table. It's so much easier to sweep a bare floor in this situation. But that's just me.

Honestly, I think part of the issue is the âÂÂline-em-upâ way the seating is arranged. It leaves a huge blank space in the middle of the room. Would you consider putting the loveseat in front of the window, and the couch at a right angle to it? I realize that they canâÂÂt be abutting one another, because of the reclining. But I think you can move the couch down toward the loveseat a bit. That is also why you donâÂÂt want a coffee table. I know from personal experience that it is always in the way with a couch with recliners. I would move the black cabinet to the wall space to the right of the curtains where the chair is now, if it will fit. Then rehang the two pictures centered between the drapery and the corner of the wall, not between the drapery and the light switch. A lamp on there would be nice. I would find a larger round table to sit in the corner between the two reclining seating pieces. Another lamp on there. The small chair could go to the left of the tv, with a small table beside it, near the stairs, another lamp there. If the chair goes near the tv, then I would use the floor lamp in the corner nearest the dining room, to the right of the couch, and another small table there. I think once you move things around and have the furniture out into the space a bit more, you will find you donâÂÂt need anything there, and will leave the open space for traffic and kids.

Sheilaaus, Thanks for your comment on the table. I first came across a listing for this table and bench on Craigslist about a year ago. At first I thought that it was a custom built and / or a very expensive set. However, I discovered that it is sold at the Ashley Homestore. On their website, the price on these pieces fluctuate on a regular basis. However, the table and bench are currently on sale and Ashley is running an addition 10% promo, which brought the price for both pieces down to $1135. This was the cheapest that I have seen them over the last year or so and I decided to jump on them (linked below). Both the table and bench are VERY heavy. Each piece is solid and seems well built. We also bought our bed from Ashley (stock picture below) and have been very happy with it. IMO, it seems with furniture that some of their pieces are well built and other pieces are not. If at all possible, it's definitely worth finding a showroom and checking out the pieces that you are interested in to see the build quality. https://www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com/p/ranimar-dining-room-table/d686-25/

The kitty perch needs to stay at the window to keep the pet happy so I would place items to minimize its appearance. Add drapery panels, a decent floor lamp with a high back chair and accent table. Take down the fake candles from the mantle because there is no reason to place anything there once you decide a TV is being positioned there. The rug under the table is not large enough if it's needed at all.