following

Also, remove the small plants from your end table and put a table lamp there for some additional light. Nice job on decluttering though.

I like the idea of the ottoman for a coffee table, along with a tray on top to still be able to set drinks down etc. That coffee table seems to take up so much of your area.

Thank you for the advice Grover and everyone else. I will move the rug over (it's 8x10) and find some more curtain panels. Your rendering looks great. Gives me some direction... I wasn't sure this place could look that polished lol. Also, really like that style of chair. My MIL has pretty nice taste and we lucked out when she redecorated :)

If the style of lamp serves what you need, ambient light with as directional reading all in one with a compact footprint, try a softer globe in the uplight so that it gives a softer/warmer light without too much glare. You could then try a table lamp next to the couch so you don't need to have the kitchen lit all evening.

Well, the perfect person stopped by to help you. I like the map over the sofa, as soon as you took all the stuff off the walls it looks so much better. I think choosing the few key pieces you love for the walls is the place to start! If the recliner can go........awesome.

The more stuff you've removed, the better its looking. Try hanging art 5" above furniture or centered 5' above the floor if hung alone. Adjust the TV according to this chart.

Thanks guys! RE: the lamp. Honestly, we barely use the lamp and function with only the light over the stove... we're cave dwellers sort of haha. But I do love the look of the tripod lamp.

I agree, it looks much better without all the stuff on the walls. Working on removing some of the bulkier pieces of furniture and finding something a little more colorful for over the couch.

Update photos for all of you helpful people! Still a work in progress but getting better!!! I re-acquired an old shipping crate of mine that was living at my old apartment with my friends who are now moving. Trying to figure out how to incorporate it and the best placement for the new chair.

Ooh, nice. Looks like you replaced the humongous chair with one that's a better size. Much improved!

Yes, getting better. Don’t put the small stuff back up on the walls. Too many things is overwhelming.

Use the shipping trunk as your tv stand. I would still lower the map pic a little more.

This looks really good! nice work implementing grovers plan..

I love the chair, been looking for something similar, where did you get it if I may ask?

The shipping crate looks like the perfect size for a coffee table.

Yes! Recliner is gone!!! (err, well, it's sitting in the kitchen waiting to be removed permanently lol) The chair I got is from Amazon, made by Baxton Studios ($150). I am still looking for a print for over the couch, but the map is growing on me with the new look. I will give lowering it a try. And I agree, the trunk would work well as a tv stand. Just not sure what to do with the big blank wall behind it afterwards. Here are a few of the prints I have been considering for over the couch:

Just read through your thread. You've gotten some fantastic advice and made wonderful progress. Congratulations!

Thanks for letting me know about your new chair Page F, I like the style. Your room looks very inviting. I really like the plants as well.

A piece of large contemporary art over the couch and pick up its colors in pillows for the couch. You could paint your own canvas and buy fabric and make pillow covers yourself. Keep the art simple for greatest impact and a sophisticated look!

Does the map make your heart sing when you look at it? I'm guessing not. Find something that does, then use it to inform your accessories. A bit of color wouldn't hurt.

First make the switch and then see if the wall is really that big and blank. I think you have been used to having lots of things on the walls so the less is more might take a second. You may be able to flip the map to that wall if you go with something larger over the sofa.

Yes, to either of the art works if you love them. Then replace sofa pillows in colors that echo the art.

What about using your shipping piece as your TV stand and getting rid of the other piece? Wall mount the TV or place it on the piece, move your art by the sliding door to the left of the TV, then a couple other art works on the other side.

Down the road, consider getting a patterned rug in colors that echo the art work, and you won't feel the inherited pieces and walls are too bland. This one would pair well with the painting that has red in it.

Orian Wild Weave Dusk to Dawn Shag Area Rug, Multi, 9'x13' · More Info

It is hard to tell from my poor quality photos, but these are the colors of the pillows you can see in the photos. I think they mimic the colors in the second beach scene print. I like the blues/greys... I'm a pretty neutral kind of gal. I know it's not very bright or exciting lol.

And no, the map does not make my heart sing. Mountains and trees on the other hand... :) I did fall in love with these paintings I came across which I believe are based off of the beach scene:

The other print near the slider is something I found online and loved and then serendipitously found at Goodwill the other day for a fraction of the price!

However, I should mention I do love the look of the red accents, Grover

I love the art work you're consideringk, which would add a drama and pattern to the room. I know the second woodland piece--Klimt. Consider moving it to the left of the TV where you can look at it all the time! Then just add a pillow or two in a color from that work to your other pillows.

That is excellent advice! I do like these pillows a lot and would like to incorporate them. I also really like the mismatched pillow look. What do you all think of a layered rug on top of the one I have currently?

I had a similar issue and in the end decided i had too much furniture. Your layout is kind of similar to a lot of modern condo living rooms, and less equals more for those spaces.

You can see here how having a bit less will open things up.

How would you feel about getting rid of the rug entirely and replacing the ottoman with a leggy coffee table?

You are right Thomas...your space looks great. I am considering getting rid of the black shelf that the TV is on, although it is good for storage of books/photos. I am open to seeing how things look without the rug. Just wonder if the floor will be too cold this winter. I like the table... I have a small black coffee table (bottom left corner). Think it would be possible to DIY a wooden top? I also have a butler's table in storage. That might be too antiquated for this space though.

Space is tight in here, but maybe we could squeeze it in the bedroom. And noted, I will do that. It worked well as a TV stand at my old apartment.

So I have moved the TV to the shipping crate and removed the shelf. Definitely looking better with less furniture. Thinking the TV is too low now... maybe wall mount it? Or put legs on the crate? Also, thoughts on the blank wall behind the TV?

PS! I just moved this rug in from our bedroom just to see how it would look... am I crazy or did I just make a halfway decent design decision???

The rug is nice but, too small. You could put the crate on wheels might be kinda cool. Or wall mount it. Then you can use the trunk to store stuff inside and still access it, might still be cool to add wheels tho. Now you could add another chair to the other side, the room just got huge lol.

The shipping crate is too low and too short. You ideally want a console that is twice the length of the TV, and eye level when seated. The shipping crate would make a perfect coffee table. The rest of your room is looking much better though. I would use your original shelves for the TV until you can get a different console.

RL- Too small is what I worried about... I do kind of like the layered look though. Don't know if I'm ready to go rugless with the winter coming up. Just trying to use what I have, you know. And yes, there is so much room and places for my eyes to rest now!!!

Cali- I agree, it looks weird being the same width as the TV. And I also agree it would work well as the coffee table. However, I would like to keep the ottoman as it came with the couch... is there anyway to incorporate both? Maybe make a mock sectional and use the crate as the coffee table? And thank you guys for your input as always!!

I think wall mounting the tv is the answer... adding caster to the trunk might be cool too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FGP5H1/ref=twister_B07KGQHBLQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I am considering some framing options for this piece--- One with a mat, one without.

Beautiful work of art. I love Groveraxle's mock up the most. It's just a perfect looking room with no rug and a different coffee table.

Her's is quite nice. I just worry about cold feet in the winter...there is a garage bay directly beneath our apartment so the floors get VERY cold. We have a rug similar to this in storage.

Also, found this lamp at a second hand store today

Replaced the kitchen table with our former TV stand to create some sort of entry way. We rarely used the table so this made more sense to me to have more storage and a less cumbersome piece of furniture there. Objects on top can be replaced, just wanted to get an idea of how they would look. Any recommendations/opinions are greatly appreciated!!!!

I like your new entry console/former TV stand. Have you tried the rug in the entry in front of the door? It would make more sense there, I think, if it isn't too large.

I have not tried that yet, it might just fit. If not, I have a smaller oriental in storage that would work. Thank you @groveraxle!

OMG I really was thinking to tell you that, but thought maybe they use the table ....so funny! you could maybe flank it with the two chairs.... just to have extra seating or a place to put on your shoes.

Hahaha! Nope, it was just a dumping ground for all of our stuff. And it is funny you mention that!! Because my husband was trying to get into the fridge and moved the chairs to those exact positions, and I thought it looked kind of good and would be functional in those aspects!! I will keep them there :) PS-- brown rug fits perfectly by front door, so that is where it will reside. @RL Relocation LLC @groveraxle

Its coming together pretty well! nice work.

I would wall mount the tv depending on whether you have an option for hiding the cords. The TV does look like it needs to be a bit higher one way or the other. All the same, the space looks great and much less cluttered!