Thank you, Poonam! I like the second one...I will check out your work!

Sure. Let me know if have question to ask :)

Perhaps just paint it the same color as wall.

Will you be moving the rug to infront of the sofa.

Thanks for all of the comments! This is the first apartment where I have ever seen a breaker box not painted the color of the wall. In the upstairs apartment in the same line, the box is on the other side of the wall - much more practical, I think. Unfortunately, I won't be able to move the box anywhere else (no utility room or garage - it's an apartment in a 66-unit building in Brooklyn, NY). I guess I'll just have to live with it as is or maybe paint it. However, there's detailed information on the box, so painting it might not be an option at all. And as for now, I'm not moving the rug in front of the futon. Maybe I'll get a smaller one for that. The rug is so fabulous, I want to be able to see it all of the time!

If you want to see the rug all the time, why not hang it on the wall - over the box - vertically.

Just paint the panel box cover the wall color.

Then work on your space so it is attractive.

If you like the rug as art, then hang on the wall as Angel mentions, but not over the panel box for a safety POV.

The thing that is the most distressing in your room is the TV precariously placed on that too small box-like cabinet. Plus all the small items scattered on that wall and the wall to the right of the futon.

If you get a long low console for the TV you have plenty of room to store the small stuff inside and the TV on top. Make sure the console is at least 25% wider, or more, than the width of the TV. That fix alone will work wonders for your room and distract you from the panel box.

PS You can pick up a console on Craigslist or Offerup or Letgo or anywhere really cheap. I see you like color so even something that you can personalize with paint would be great.

I would try to pull that curtain rod OUT of the window recess on top, if you can, OR shorten the length of the curtain. However, I think your wall would look nicer, if the panel was the same color as the wall is, or very close to it. In this case, I don't think the color panel is helping the appearance of your room. The room is light, the scale of furniture is small, as are the accents, so making the curtain 'disappear' visually would add visual continuity, and let your art shine.

I agree with the others big art on walls.

If you do several pictures on walls balance out the spacing & proportions around the art.

To everyone who commented: Thank you!! Lots of ideas and things to consider here. Rearranging the furniture is something I haven't given much thought to. I did what I did because I like my sofa to be close to the tv (well, I'm nearsighted), and coming from a studio apartment, that's how it was previously - everything close together. So it's hard to change. Yes, I should eventually get a new tv stand. The tv is actually safe on the stand, as the tv legs are less wide than the stand itself and the stand is pure wood, so its construction is quite good. It's a relic of the tube tv days, but it worked for the new tv when I bought it a couple of years ago, so I didn't bother changing it.

As to the stuff I have all around (especially in the corner) - those are things I want on display. They are model buses from England, many in their own display case. Eventually, I want to get a curio cabinet as I have a much larger collection not yet on display.

As for the curtains, I chose that color because it matched the color of the wood floor and the wood furniture. But I may have to re-evaluate that also. I agree about having the curtain rod pulled out on top. However, if you look at the photo of the left side of the window, there's no space to install a curtain rod just to the left top of the window, as the original window frame and the corner of the wall are extremely close. If there's a solution to that, please post!! And thanks for the guide to hanging pictures...I will definitely be taking this info into consideration...I also have my bedroom to work on!! Thanks again!

Yes, in this case you will need to mount just below the ceiling trim and just off the corner. Try not to get a rod with finials. Try maybe to get one with brackets that will mimic a [ shape to the walls. Than, don't get a heavy weighted fabric, and do stop just below the window frame on bottom as you do have that vent to accomodate below the window. PS I would have made the same color choice initially in my first efforts at doing this. BUT years later when I replaced with a pair nearer the wall color, there was my AHAH! moment! ;)

If it's a drywall with studs then Screw into studs. if not enough studs several Wall anchors for your screws

I think it's plaster over block (concrete on the inner cavity wall). Not too sure how to handle that!

Drilling needed. Hammering will crack & crumble. There's some videos on YouTube. Here's 1 how to if concrete behind plaster to get started. https://youtu.be/-v7FujAXg4Q.