Andie, the reframing of your painting really brings out the colors and demonstrates that your brightening up doesn't require all beachy pales--this might increase your husband's confidence with the changes. A larger rug would be nice. I'd start looking at tribal styles that include some blue and green simply because your painting looks so good. Maybe the media cabinet can become lighter but not white. I've tried to include a photo but it hasn't shown up yet.

I would replace the black upholstered pieces for a lighter color as the space seems dark. Also, look for a larger area rug that is able to fit under the legs of all upholstered pieces. For the area rug, you could do light/neutral, or a bright color of your choice. Good Luck!

Randall Allan Parnell Sofa · More Info

Why does your husband not want to change the mantel? Maybe it could have an accident, a fatal accident, one day when he's out of the house.

I would either get a larger rug or eliminate the rug altogether. That little thing does nothing for the space.

I like the new curtains a lot, but they need to hang wide on the window. And if that's the only place for the TV, I would move the media cabinet flat against the wall and hang the TV on an articulating mount so you can adjust it when you watch it.

You have one of those living rooms where the TV has to go above the mantle, it's the only place for it. And then you need a larger area rug and you need to pull that trunk in closer to the couch if that's what you're using as a coffee table.

The pic looks perfect with the new matting! And here's a way to hang it up without drilling or damaging the brick:

Now about that fatal mantle accident Grover mentioned...

I spread your curtains a bit, moved the TV console against the wall, and added a bigger rug. If you don't use the coffee table, get rid of it. Mostly I removed the mantel. See if Hubby doesn't think this looks better.

Larger lighter rug , white or grey tv stand, white or metallic vases on fireplace, glass or metal end tables

Mantel definitely has to go. Can you find a way not to have to angle the TV in the small corner? May we see the other walls?

groveraxle- you are funny. I do love how all of that works- but there are two big holes where the mantle supports go in the brick- how does one correct that?

Also, the furniture will be staying- I can't go out and purchase all new furniture at this point... but a new rug and maybe an update to the media/tv situation could be arranged at some point.

Let's start by picking out a rug.!!!

a

c

d

e

f

B and d are my favorites!

g

i

j

k

L

m

n

o

I like the Persian influenced ones best. But honestly, I'd get a real one that wasn't over-dyed or faux-worn. And I'd probably pick one that had some warm colours in it. Horizontal colour is much less emphatic/noticeable than vertical colour. So a bit of coral or brick red could be a nice accent.

Safavieh Heritage Collection HG812 Rug, Blue/Brown, 7'6" X 9'6" · More Info

Kaleen Hand-Tufted Middleton Turquoise Wool Rug, 8'x10' · More Info

Surya Nicea 7'10"x10'3" Area Rug, Teal, Metallic Gold · More Info

More living room pictures to help!!

View from TV area looking toward the stairs, etc.

View from the stairs/kitchen, looking into the den

Also, that current rug is 5x7- so would a 6x9 probably be big enough? I don't want something too big that takes up all of the space either....

Patching holes in brick

Your rug needs to be longer, but not necessarily wider. It should not butt up to the hearth. Try pulling your current rug under the sofa a good 8" and see how that looks.

There's not much space between sofa and fireplace. If the sofa cannot move back, then I'd either eliminate the coffee table or get one that's more open.

Your photo wall going up the stairs is a bit of a mess. It looks like you just randomly hammered nails in open spots and hung them. I would take everything down, make paper templates of each frame, then tape those up on the wall, rearranging till you have a pleasing arrangement. Distances between frames should be the same throughout and every frame should line up with another on at least one axis.

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DUMICAN MOSEY Architects - Fillmore Street · More Info

I like the vases. They work!

Mantel looks great with the vases! I would not add more.

I suggest a more open or "leggier" coffee table, maybe even with a glass top, so it takes up less visual weight.

Maybe this one or this one.

Mantle has exactly the right amount. Nothing more required.

I do think that a rug that picks up some of the warmer tones from the painting would add more layers of interest than a strictly cool tone like blue. With the dark furniture there should be a color, such as terra cotta, that bridges the dark furniture with the lighter floor. You can then pick up some of the colors in your new pillows. I'd also find a larger lamp (by which I mean with greater height and larger shade) since the one you have looks too small for a living room and lacks impact. The fireplace is much improved with the lighter wash and changes in decor.

What about some shades like this?

https://www.selectblinds.com/bamboo-blinds.html

Photo: The Turquoise Home

Wow! That looks great!

Ooh, Andie, LOVE the rug. Looks great. I'm gonna make two tiny suggestions. Pull the rug under the sofa just a bit so there's more floor showing in front of the fireplace. Then move the chair toward the sofa so it almost touches at the corners of the arms. It will look more balanced, the chair will be able to share the end table with the couch, and your walk space will then be between the chair and the fireplace instead of between chair and sofa.

Looks so much better. A couple of minor suggestions. Center the rug and sofa on the fireplace. Right now it looks a bit off with it skewed towards the stairs. Make the chair changes Grover suggested as well. And pull the rug under the sofa a bit more so a little bit more of floor shows between the rug and hearth.

The room is really coming together. Kudos!

so this is the issue with the rug centered by the fireplace... there is a hallway right there that leads into the den... so it looked kinda weird if the rug was sticking out into the hallway from the den.... does that make sense? I actually had the rug further back under the sofa but the husband insisted on moving it closer to the hearth.. have to compromise here & there ya know... haha

but yeah, I had it centered more on the fireplace, but like i said, the only issue was that then the rug was jutting into the hall... soooo... i lined it up with the edge of the half wall that the sofa is butted up against because that's where the hall starts... I'll share some more pictures later on this evening!

was thinking of getting a different lamp as someone suggested, and maybe refinishing that table by the sofa in gray or white or something... thoughts?

I get why you can't move the rug, but at least move the chair as shown below. It will make the room more balanced and open it up by eliminating the second end table by the fireplace. You could also use a taller lamp on the table by the sofa.

Nice job on the gallery wall, BTW.

And a taller lamp:

i wish I could move the chair like that, but it would totally block the walkway into the kitchen/dining space, KWIM? while it looks balanced in the photo, it would be cumbersome to get around, etc. like it looks great, but doesn't work, unfortunately... I can totally see us running into the hearth, etc. We used to have a loveseat in that space where the chair is but we found a chair more useful for our household. ;)

I am now looking at that trestle shelf and I don't like it anymore. haha.... may have to reconsider later on and try to replace it with something else more designed for a corner and maybe lighter colored..... that's usually where our christmas tree goes, though... hmmmmm

I was actually considering a taller lamp, probably something like a ginger jar maybe? or something maybe gold with a white shade... not sure yet! :)

In my opinion the mantle on the fireplace is way too high and too short in length. You could have been able to bring the tv above it.

I agree that the trestle shelf doesn’t look great there. Too busy. Try leaving that space bare. It might look too empty initially (until you adjust), but I think the room will look better with a bit of breathing space.

Youve done a nice job with it !

that's the mantle, etc. that came with the house! that's a source of contention at my house at the moment, but hopefully we can remedy that in due time. :)