Here are more pictures of the space that I’m trying to decorate

It needs some walls to delineate the space. Dumping people directly into the living room and kitchen and everything at once is extremely unappetizing. Walls with large cased opening help with this.

You need COLOR. Everywhere. It’s soulless and impersonal. Add your favorite color. Your favorite travel destination. Your favorite pet. Something that says that it isn’t a hotel housing thousands of generic strangers.

New stool. In a COLOR. New lights with fabric shades, IN A COLOR AND PATTERN. A backsplash, in s COLOR. COLORFUL rugs.

What a great start! It's gorgeous already, as you say, it just needs the finishing touches. It must have felt so cramped before you opened it up. We did the same thing and use our space so much more and more efficiently than we did before.

I'd do roman shades over both windows - you could do either solid colour or pattern. What colours are you drawn to? What have you tried for rugs that didn't work? I do think the stools are a bit heavy and dark for your light bright space. Do they have to stay?

It did feel cramped with the walls up & adding walls back is absolutely not an option!

I don’t like color. Pops of seasonal color are fine but I really like neutrals... white, beige, grey, black. I generally like blank spaces....

I selected this type of chair because we have a toddler ... (also worth mentioning for design ideas especially rugs- we also have 2 dogs)

I have tried a few different woven Jute style rugs.. by the sink and in front of the couch and they seemed to look cheap against the floors.

This is what t looked like, when we bought it.....

I like the stools! Could you tell me where you got them?

Have you tried the sofa on the long wall so it welcomes guests who come through the door? Then try a floor lamp in the corner between the window and sofa. Add an armchair angled with its back to the door with a small side table and lamp. You could put a bench under the window for some additional seating. Nice big art above the sofa will liven things up a big. Your sofa is a bit shabby chic looking, so consider something a bit more contemporary.

Narrow bench where coat hooks are now. Lamp on cabinet, drapes Tall plant in corner with up lamp or floor lamp. Coffee table with chair.

decoenthusiaste I have been thinking about moving the couch, I might try it out today. I figured it would have to go along that back wall come winter, when we add a tree to the room. I also wanted to add an arm chair but wasn't sure where to put it, if i kept the layout as is. (The sofa is from IKEA that way I didn't have to care too much if the dogs/toddler ruined it... and also because I can keep throwing the slip cover into the wash with some oxy-clean to keep it bright and white.)

Happyleg- I was thinking about a narrow bench for there.. Maybe made of wood? I have a tri-pod floor lamp that's secluded in a corner in the basement because we have a toddler who already knocked it over once and broke it.. but once I think he's old enough to not destroy the replacement.. I think it would look nice in that corner. What kind of drapes would you suggest? What color/pattern?

Thank you, Ann. I really like the chairs. They swivel 360 and are very comfortable and easy to keep clean. They come in bar height- so in order for it to fit our space my husband had to trim a few inches off the legs. I purchased them on Amazon. I’ll try to upload a picture of it now ...

What do you think if I did a table like this by the door... and maybe window treatments like this photo?

Not an expert.

I take it this is your "formal" living room. I don't see a tv so you don't have to worry about that. I've never been a huge fan of sofas in front of the window. I would move the sofa to the wall perpendicular to where it is now (so it faces the wall with the coat hooks). Then get 2 accent chairs to face the sofa, so their backs are to the coat hook wall. (Basically agreeing with what Decoenthusiatse said). This makes a conversation area and defines the space a bit better. I would get a longer runner (8ft long?) that reaches the end of the coat hooks. You can leave the small bookcare near the door and put a mirror above it.

Since your sofa is from IKEA, I just went to their site and they have a lot of accent chairs that would work. I prefer when the chairs coordinate but not completely match the sofa. Something like these might work:

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89297187/#/S29297190

In case the link doesn't work it is the Ekolsund recliner.

Hi chocolatebunny123

Thanks for hopping into the conversation! :)

I'll try swinging the sofa around today and take a picture and see how it fits into the space. I'll upload the photo when I get home.

I've wanted to add curtains in front of the bay window but felt I couldn't with the sofa there... relocating the sofa, would free up that space...

I was also thinking about maybe adding more wood details to the wall where you suggest we place the sofa.. we have been considering adding wainscotting around the whole room... or continuing the wood/white pattern you see in the photo with the hooks- only not adding hooks to the other walls..

I don't know if I would add wainscotting. You already have a lot of white wood now (not criticizing, just saying). I like the wall with the coat hooks and I don't think you need to carry it over to the other walls.

Since you like neutrals and not a lot of color, what about a nice large piece of wood art work to go behind the sofa (assuming you move it to the wall). I really like something like this:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjS-ce1oNrjAhWKPM0KHUl0A7sQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F561331541036341279%2F&psig=AOvVaw3RoQ4njF-VSk5l7O0wc7LD&ust=1564493978629434

I moved the couch... not sure if I’m this location, it’s too close to the island ..

Here’s how close it is to the island ....

"I don’t like color. Pops of seasonal color are fine but I really like neutrals... white, beige, grey, black. I generally like blank spaces....".

A black/white/gray (think birch trees in winter) wallpaper might appeal. Perhaps Celerygirl can do a photoshop for you.

couch placed near entry also, aligned w back to hooks..... and a couple of chairs opposite gives nice conversation area …... Look into end table or two, w lamps .....or floor lamp with directional sockets to aim for reading or other uses. ...... all this is about budget..... what you can spend. It is a nice space..open is good....you can do things. Area rug delineates the all important conversation area which I would establish as goal. comfortable upholstered chairs is an investment...they will last....this is important. Furniture can be had in "smaller scale" now and not compromise comfort . You can move pieces around with this characteristic. Browse through Ethan Allen or your local furniture store where you can get a sale and order things in fabrics you like. Good upholstered seating is never to be regretted. You have a great start and I like celery girls pic. Don't rule out a drop leaf table against that far wall , if you find one w small footprint …....something you can pull out and set w candles etc ...but stays back much of the time. Things will layer into space over time ….I looked for sales and at resale shops in the very beginning of "setting up" . Lots of fun. Family things will be given , certainly.....

Thank you herbflavor this afternoon I tried moving the couch to have the back to the hooks but there just isn’t enough room. The bookcase is currently strapped to the wall because of our 2 year old- maybe if that wasn’t there, it could be enough room. Not sure.
I still have the couch on the back wall. It does feel like it opens the space.

I've been heavily considering ordering rugs from #Ruggable (because we have 2 dogs and a toddler and I am sold on the idea of a washable rug). I've looked over every pattern they have on the Ruggable site and I've narrowed it down to the following rugs. What do you think? Would you get one of these?

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/nira-grey-rug?variant=14114656583735

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/maral-border-hazel?variant=12764990832695

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/maral-heriz-creme?variant=12825151471671#free-ship

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/tisa-nickle-grey?variant=12903764590647

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/maral-border-hazel?variant=12764990832695

https://ruggable.com/collections/2-5x7/products/maral-border-vintage-grey?variant=12765000368183

I like your window covering idea with the light wooden blind and white panels. For the floor i can see a lovely sisal or sea grass rug with a vintage Persian rug layered on top. Pick a muted Persian rug that will not over power the room but add some color and personality. What size rug are you thinking? Pick a coffee table that is not too heavy, glass top or thin wood top with metal legs kind of idea. Add in some greenery with a fiddle leaf fig plant or monstera in the corner beside the couch. And I feel like the couch is too close to the island when placed on that wall, better in front of the window.

Can you provide measurements of the space, that will help determine where and what furniture will fit.

muskokascp I was thinking of doing the layered rug look! Do you like any of the ruggable links I posted above for the top rug? I am at work now - can post measurements when I get home. Its a small space. I think the couch does better in front of the window.

chocolatebunny123 I just saw that you commented earlier and shared a link, but I wasn't able to open it.

herbflavor i'm stuck and unable to pick anything with a pattern.. if you have suggestions, I'm all ears! Making a commitment to a pattern on a chair shouldn't be something that a person finds difficult but for me.. its like AHHHH!!!! ((LOL- which is why I started this thread. Making these decisions for me is so challenging!!)

From the window across to the base of the island is 12 feet.
From the hooks to the blank wall, 16 feet.
The area with the hooks is a little over 5 feet long and the space set back about 9.5inches deep.
The window is 6 feet wide by 55 inches tall.
Bookcase is 33 inches wide.
Chairs at island when pushed all the way in, stick out 2 feet from base of island.

A floor plan with the measurements included are more helpful than the list you provided. I also think this post is better suited to the home decorating forum since it's not really about kitchen design. You may get more help over there.

Okay- thanks! Great feedback!

I like the couch at window; looks better & closer to door.

Navy or green, blue drapes or roman shade or bamboo.

Thanks, Happyleg! I moved the couch back to the window. Did you see the picture above with the curtains and natural fiber shades? I think I'm going to work on that, next.