What do you use the room for. The way my SO is, we'd have some kind of music stuff or books for me to have set up in the room, so that is what we'd put in the corner, some kind of storage/display for that. So basically, what do you use the room for and what do you need?

It unfortunate, but understandable, that you needed to include that qualifier. I’d suggest you find new throw cushions, or slip covers for yours, to tie your colours (blue, teal, soft white and beige) together. If you are open to it, you might also paint the coffee table base the same colour as your chair trim or a creamy white. The dried arrangement seems to tall to me so you could place it on the floor or try shorter stems. I love your console. It’s hard to tell what colour the walls are but you might try a lighter colour, to combat the lack of natural light.

Honestly, we don't use it for anything. If we had built the house, it probably wouldn't even exist. If we ever had a large party, it would be extra seating space for guests to mix and mingle but we don't even really entertain. It mostly just serves as a pass through to get to the rest of our VERY open concept house. It's the only room in the house with no windows although it does open onto a sunroom on one end which keeps it from being totally dark. See attached pic.

You have lovely taste, and I can see why you feel you probably don't need another seating area, as you have a few already. I would perhaps try switching the two pieces of art work and bring in some yellow to your pillows. Agree, jug with twigs is too high. Put on floor next to cabinet. Remove small rabbit lamp and put larger pieces on the cabinet. Do you have any yellow accessories around the house.

Those are great ideas! Not sure if I have yellow accessories but I'll dig around. I love yellow and the walls are a pale yellow (although I know that's difficult to see in the pic.) I can definitely add to what I have, I just can't totally throw something out and start all over.

For your purposes, you've done a good job. Maybe angle the chairs slightly towards the sofa so they look more conversational. A piece of art on the right wall of the sunroom opening. A yellow pillow to pull from the art in the room.

Consider doing some furniture flipping. This room looks like it was put together with the leftover items you didn't use in the other rooms. May we see pix of the other two sitting spaces to help you re-utilize what you have with some simple furniture moving? I really think the two blue floral chairs and end tables look more appropriate to the sunroom. Try painting the end tables in the same dark blue from the chair fabric. The coffee table is a misfit here; would it do better in the other sitting room we see through the door? \ow about some larger and whiter shades on the two lamps? They look bottom heavy, but might look good on the console moved to the sunroom. I think you need to arrange the seating to invite people to sit down. Right now you have a straight traffic path to the other space, so people rush through to the light which draws them. If the rug were centered with the opening to the sunroom, you could move the armchairs and chest from the sunroom to the current console wall. Then float the couch away from the wall with the front 1/3 of it on the rug. Force the path through the seating and you may find people stop and sit down. Lighting needs much improvement, and don't forget to bring plants here too.

If your house is one story, you can bring natural light to the room with tubular skylights (Solatube, for example). If it turns this into a room you would use and enjoy being in, it seems like a worthwhile investment. The skylights themselves aren't terribly expensive, but installation costs will vary. A few years ago, I needed to price them for an energy efficiency study, and based on anecdotes came up with a $900 installed cost. That was at least 5 years ago though, and was based on the reported costs of just a few people.

I like the idea of a library

I like the room and furniture, and love the idea of turning it into a library and place to play games. It's kinda nice to have a room that is off to it's own for a quiet glass of wine at night with a good book, or just for private conversations. I have a room like that. If anyone plays instruments, it would be a good place to display those. For the corner, I would put a ficus tree or fern on a plant stand. I don't think ferns need much light. Love the idea of bright yellow pillows, and I think it needs a throw.

The house is 1.5 stories so skylights aren't an option in the living room. I wish they were! I'd love to have plants in the room but with no natural light, can anyone suggest something that would grow?

We honestly spend all of our time in our sunroom or den which have lots of natural light so I don't really think we'll ever really use the living room except for when we entertain (once every 20 years) for overflow guests. I just need it to look a little cozier and attractive as we walk through it. LOL I attached pics of sunroom and family room so if you want to suggest furniture flipping, feel free. In all likelihood, we'll be replacing the chairs in the sunroom as soon as we find something we really like and my husband definitely wants an ottoman to go with one of those replacement chairs.

Also, I know this isn't our decorating style at all but I like the idea of shelves to cozy up the room a bit. Do you think something like this would be too much?

Since you might use the room for entertaining, why not set up a coffee bar, tea cart or alcohol bar in that corner? Done deal. I have all three areas in my home, set up around a piece of furniture in two instances, and even when I don't entertain, I use the stuff from those areas and it gives me a place to store the stuff and to display the fancy accoutrements I have for serving all three. You can turn any old thing into a "bar" of sorts.

I have a "pass through" room in my house, and it is a "library" of sorts, with shelves that house my mom's Japanese collectable porcelain and dolls, and books plus art on the walls. Do you have any collections you'd like to display, or something you'd like to collect. Here's a shot of a small corner shelving unit I found at a garage sale. It looks to be hand made, but maybe not.

I love the idea of floor to ceiling all wall bookshelves. It gives the room a purpose.

I really like what you've done! This is exactly the space plan I would use; you have a nice conversation area with a focal point that doesn't impede traffic flow. I also love your chairs; I've had several versions of them pinned for years.

I think the only thing lacking here is inviting atmosphere.

More light!:

1) Move the table lamps flanking the sofa to the cabinet, flanking the sunflower art.

2) Place two larger scale, simple floor lamps on either side of the sofa.

3) Put these four lamps on timers. Seriously. This is a trick home stagers use to sell houses. This room would be inviting if it was lit.

4) Add a pharmacy light type of reading lamp to the armchair one is most likely to sit and read in. The chair facing the sunroom, maybe?

Cozy it up:

1) Spread out the sofa and armchairs so they're about 18" from the coffee table. It looks like it's not easy to walk around those pieces.

2) Personally, throw pillows drive me a bit crazy. Throw blankets are more inviting to me. I'd toss one on the sofa and put a few more in a basket.

3) Make it easy to have a cozy drink in there by adding two, easily moveable, different and interesting occasional tables to the walkway side of the chairs.

4) Add a pouf/hassock/short foot rest under the coffee table for the chair you add the reading light to.

5) Add a Jambox or your portable speaker of choice to introduce your favorite music to the space.

6) With the table lamps off the side tables (because you now have floor lamps) accessorize with battery operated candles. In lanterns, maybe?

7) Stack photography books on the coffee table in subjects that your family is passionate about. Cars? National Parks? Architecture? I have found a lot of photography books at estate sales. Stack 'em up!

Long term:

1) I don't think your wall color and your sofa color are playing very nice with each other. I might be tempted to play up the dark moodiness of the room--as long as you have at least 5 lamps in there--by painting the room a dark color. Peacock? Slate blue?

2) The location of the cabinet would be a nice spot for one of the nicer electric fireplaces. It would be another cozy invitation to hang in this space.

Again, I REALLY like your start in this room. Good job!

Wow! Thanks for your very detailed and well thought out response. The room definitely needs more light. It has can lights in the ceiling but they're not enough. Lots of things to consider here. I love dramatic color on the walls but was afraid of going too dark. But with more light... I love throws. Any suggestion as to color?

If you saw the stacks of paint sample pots in my basement you'd see I'm not really qualified to suggest paint colors :-) However... in my minds eye something like this would be stunning. The photo is labeled galapagos turquoise 2057-20

I think you've done a great job with a sort of awkward space. I have a room that is mostly a "passthrough" too and they're hard to do much with because you have to keep that walkway clear.

But if you have the space, a builtin bookcase in the back would be awesome. It would make it look more full as well as give the room a purpose.

You'd have to start calling it "the library", though.

I love the yellow and it looks good with your other stuff, just not as great with the couch. But if you do the library wall, the couch won't have to be up against the yellow any more so it might still be okay. Of course, a library is also a good place to do deep colors...or wallpaper!

I like your room....I would get some blue pillows for your couch to match your chairs and also a throw in blue for over your couch. and I would paint the legs of your coffee table, the same color as your chair legs. I am not fond of unframed art work....could you frame the two that you have? I don't think you need more furniture...l like it as is.

I would switch couch and console and make this room inviting hallway/formal living room. I would add round small table in the middle.

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Before you spend money, have you tried the sofa looking into the sunroom with both chairs opposite? Centre the coffee table under the fan with the thought of replacing the ceiling fan with a stunning chandelier. Move your sideboard to the sofa wall or behind the sofa if it's not too tall. Your walkway will be where the sideboard is now. Your lamps can probably handle a wider and taller drum shade. Throw pillows are too dark. Add a low light plant to the coffee table. I like your tall twigs/white jug, I think the problem is the bunny lamp is dwarfed by it, try some big books under the lamp to raise it up. Try adding a wide low bowl instead of the small frames.

I already like what you have, but I can understand that with the sun room so close, you won't use this room for just hanging out. So, I'd try to figure out what you might actually use the room for, other than overflow. Books, a bar cart? Art work?

Since it's dark already, I would go with dark blue on the walls, actually picking the blue from the chair fabric.

Personally, I love BM Newburyport Blue, Gentleman's Gray, van Duesen Blue, or New York Stat eof Mind.

Love this idea! I have kind of gotten excited about putting bookshelves along that wall. I was thinking of painting the wall and using white bookshelves but I like the idea of painting all of it blue! Thank you so much!

That room with the orange ottomans makes my heart flutter. I have a bunch of "sofa surrounded by bookcases" photos pinned, but looking at my hidden bookshelves mess I know we just couldn't pull it off and keep this mommy sane. If you keep pretty bookcases you totally should go for it.

Here’s a question for everyone… If I went with the blue book shelf wall, would you paint the wall across from it blue also or would you just have one blue accent wall?

You could start with just the bookshelf. I just ran across this living room that might provide more inspiration.

https://hisugarplum.com/one-room-challenge-living-room-reveal/

I think with a little tweaking and paint, you'll have exactly what you want. you already have a very nice space. as for plants, looks like you have quite a few. what about a philodendron or a hanging pothos (or potted on a small table) for that corner?

I like the book case idea. I'd pull colors from those navy/white chairs.

imagine if you did the whole back wall in the navy bookcase, and placed your sofa in front of it, like so:

or

you could do all white and accent w/your blues.

half wall, bookcase, all the way across. doesn't have to be white.

or, more traditional? do this on either side of the couch.

I'm less traditional and more eclectic. I like to call our house "farmhouse chic" but it might be more eclectic farmhouse vs. chic. LOL. These are great suggestions. I'm definitely saving them to my idea book! THANKS!

I just absolutely love those dark blue built-in bookcases with the white sofa!

If you go dark blue, I'd do it on all walls to make the room more cohesive, like an envelope.

It looks like there's not that much addtl wall space, plus you have enough white.

You're right about not a lot of other wall space to paint so that's what I was thinking too. I love the drama of the all blue too!

Hi kwwd-

I love, love your spool chairs with the blue and white cushions!

I cannot tell what color the walls are. If they are yellow and you plan to keep them that color, I would reinforce that in your accessories such as the throw pillows that go on your chairs. Maybe something like this,

or you might want something with more of the colors in your paintings.

I like the idea of making that space a library, with a shelving system that you can either have built in for $$$$ or that you can do less expensively by doing yourself if you are handy..

What you might want to do is have the shelving system white and paint the backs of the shelves blue.

Or, if you're the kind of gal that likes to retain the prerogative to change her mind, you can paint the shelves white cut a piece of foam core and paint that blue and put it on the back of the shelf, and then when you decide you want to change the color, you can.

(Take a look at the thread of C Renee how she painted the back of her shelves blue. https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5131257/need-throw-pillows

Her thread also has some great throw pillows suggestions too.

Your primitive paintings are lovely and you can incorporate them into your bookshelves as well.

Here are some examples. Please note that some also show picture lights and wall mounted lights, something you might want to consider, so you don't have to worry about table lamps that take up a lot of space and limit the positioning of the tables near outlets.

Sliding library ladders are marvelous. Fractured hips from a fall, not so much, so do think about that.

Maybe those two spool chairs could go at a library table, (if one would fit in the room) and you could bring in the club chair from your sunroom that you reupholster in a sturdy white material and you might want to add a comfy upholstered footstool.

If a library table would not fit, your side tables which look like spool tables too (love, love that idiom!) would be perfect, and you might want to think about painting them to match your chairs.

It won't be too much white when you have grounded your room with the colors in your paintings, the back of the bookshelves, added art and collectibles to your bookshelves and a live green plant to the room.

I always think it is a good idea to go to a store that sells upholstery and drapery weight fabric and see what catches your fancy, (take a snapshot of your painting and furniture and wall in good daylight on your phone when you go shopping) and sometimes you can have something made up for less than what you can buy it.

(Besides, to see and feel all those luxurious fabrics in so many patterns and colors and textures just makes me happy, it's a day well spent!)

Loobab! You always have fabulous suggestions!! I LOVE all of these ideas! Definitely saving all of these to my idea book!!

Also my husband can build these shelves and make them gorgeous!!

kwwd,,,this is one of my favorite looks. I like how they have the sofa in the middle. and this blue is so pretty.

look into Farrow and Ball Hague Blue. it's gorgeous.

Or, Fine Paints of Europe paint. they have their own colors but also work w/BM.

this is their Hollandlac line.

kwwd-

A handy husband! Aren't you a lucky gal! In that case, why not go for broke, and think about moldings for the top and bottom, and maybe some closed storage for the bottom (coasters, napkins, etc). You might want adjustable shelves, and there are many types, and then, he can build in outlets and such for picture lights and wall lamps/sconces, even a charging station, too!.

Another thing I forgot to mention, although you will have color to ground your white, texture and earthiness is very important too. There is earthiness in the primitive art, of course, and a live green plant brings both texture and earthiness. If you can bring in things that enhance your decor that incorporate texture and earthiness, perhaps with some neutral colors, (e.g. pine cones, baskets, sea shells, a wooden tray,) that will reinforce your vision of an upscale rustic/eclectic/farmhouse/chic.

The neutrals with white are very peaceful, and timeless, too. You don't need a whole lot of neutral colors, depending on how much blue you have in the room.

Why not have a look at this blog, she talks a lot about this. (And I like the rest of the blog, I think you will too!)

http://www.stonegableblog.com/how-to-warm-up-white-decor/

Beth H: That first one is kind of exactly what I want. Love the blue, love the wall sconce lamps, love the sofa tucked in with the art on top. I already showed it to my husband. He's finishing up a project on our barn right now so he's not exactly excited that I've already found him a new project but he also really, really likes it.

No advice - there's enough of it here already! lol We lived in a 1300 sq ft ranch with a room like this. We could have used that space anyplace else in the house! We never called it anything other than the 'Wasted Space Room'.

mrmitchell347: Exactly! LOL. There is absolutely nothing I will do to this room that will make me spend time in it when I could be in our other rooms with tons of natural light but it's sitting smack dab in the middle of the house so I can't totally ignore it either. Fortunately, this is not exactly an earth shattering problem. Hahaha.

Here's my "reading room" book wall done on the cheap with some stuff I already had from Ikea plus an add-on middle shelf. I'm waiting to find the right "tea cart" for it. Don't use the room all that much but it is peaceful to go in there sometimes and it makes me happy to pass by it every day. Books are my security blanket!

I love that!! It looks so cozy. I don’t think it looks cheap at all.

That's a very nice space. :-). If you travel you could make it a room where you hang a large map as the center focal point. Then put pins in it wherever you've traveled and on the shelving you could put art and memorabilia and books about your travels.

Or if you have any other interests you could do the same thing. Make a picture of it a focal point and add books and memorabilia around it

Just a little bit of fun. In feng shui they like energy to linger for a while and having beautiful things there and having good memories coming up makes any space a lucky place to have.