That stand that your tv is on looks like a coffee table. The tv is quite small. Are you going to get a larger one? What is that to the left of the tv? another room?

Take advantage of your vertical space. The mirror - leave it there only if it reflects something interesting. A large piece of art would work well over your tv. Shelves may be too cluttered and probably won't be very useful. The ladder shelves - Switch out the white pieces for something highly colorful and patterned. https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-4339177/barefoot-bungalow-embry-throw.jsp?skuid=62015377&CID=shopping15&utm_campaign=QUILTS%20%26%20BEDSPREADS&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=google&utm_product=62015377&utm_campaignid=9733267330&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnKeCBhDPARIsAFDTLTJurXCEJIaMi3EQEqJr3zMXwlNngAHeYobJo70mr_3hp1545iU56uQaAn4oEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds That's for a conversation starter and also for visual interest. Same for the curtains. https://www.potterybarn.com/products/emina-print-curtain-blue-multi/?catalogId=84&sku=9664221&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Windows%20%3E%20All%20Curtains&region_id=669950&cm_ite=9664221&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnKeCBhDPARIsAFDTLTJfUhV7S-TxAWcACEKfAi2hKfjVUg--TDar33dSoPoMlDDeQSdaV98aAmU4EALw_wcB At your desk - Is there any way you could put baskets or boxes in the cubbies? It would be more visually pleasing if you could do that. Lighting - best lighting would be a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner at chest height. Lighting have a great effect for atmosphere. Oftentimes lighting is seen as an after thought, but it is actually very important. I like a well lit room, but that's me. I have a good friend who lives three hours from me and she likes a dimly lit room. Whenever she comes to my place she says: can you please turn that light off! All depends on what your preferences are. In the passthrough between the kitchen and the dining area, switch out those items with something of more substance - perhaps leave it empty except for the flowers if you use the passthrough often. In general in the apartment - be aware of clutter - get in the habit of putting it away each evening. Look for storage solutions, such as tall skinny closed units. The art is too high on the wall. Art above the desk would also be nice. https://www.art.com/products/p15838298772-sa-i6962148/lantern-press-blue-mountains-scene-oregon.htm?PODConfigID=14939267&upi=Q1GP81R0 Don't be afraid to go large with the wall decor. That gives interest to the space. On a long wall like your tv wall, it's important to vary heights of items (for visual interest).

I would be helpful to see the space in every direction.
I agree, the table the TV is on looks like a perfect coffee table for the sofa. The basket of blankets should be by the sofa. No one needs a blanket on that side of the room. Is the sofa the only place to sit in the room? it seems squished there. Can you put the sofa on the TV wall and put the TV under the stairs?
The desk area needs some tidying. I love the basket idea mentioned earlier.
Can you add some floating shelves in the tall niche area? That's what that is, right? That seems like a better wine storage area to me.

A good exercise to start with is to remove everything you can carry in two hands (ie all the decor items) and then selectively add things back one at a time. Distributed throughout the room to avoid that too cluttered/too bare feeling.

Have you played around with the furniture arrangement? I think I'd feel a bit claustrophobic sitting on the couch under the stairs like that, could you swap it so that the TV is underneath in that little nook? Basket to the left and tree to the right, following the upward line of the stairs. I would not replace the basket with a chair, I think adding more furniture would get cramped. Placing the tree there would also serve as a visual divide between the TV and dining area.

The mirror over the radiator doesn't seem to be reflecting light or anything interesting, so I'd swap it out with a print instead. Then a shelf over where the couch would be (where the tv currently is) with some potted plants etc.

If you can get a different desk or door to cover the shelves of your current one, it would go a long way to create a less cluttered feel in the room. Cable management is a very small thing that makes a very big difference in a workspace's appearance!

I can't tell if this would work-- plug in hanging lamp and clip it along the meeting edge of staircase wall, and hang it from a hook in empty spot to left of small art.

Can you provide room measurements, length and width, which will help give you some ideas for furniture arrangment?

Random questions and ideas:

Biggest issue is the furniture is lined up against the walls.

Artwork and mirrors should be at eye level.

Your pillows look a little tired. If you still love them, beef them up with new pillow foam. If you're picking out new ones, I would suggest some fun colors.

The plant gives your space some life! Have you thought about getting a few more? What is the white item below the mirror--a heater of some type? Was wondering if desk could be moved over there?

What is the area adjacent to the kitchen? I see an arch but cannot tell what is back there.

Thank you everyone for your response! It’s all been very helpful information and I’m definitely going to give the place a good de-clutter and re-think furniture placement.

Here are some more images of the room + a blueprint :)

First, do you own or are you renting this residence? If you own, then you should consider relocating TV/Computer connections. I would put all the electronics under the stairs. Think about wall mounting TV on an articulated arm. Then replace the desk with something long enough to span a greater portion of the space under the stairs. Purchased 2-drawer file cabinets to support a long span of desktop material of your choice could work well. I would put the dining table out in front of the doorway to the kitchen and add a pair of stools at the bar, which you should keep clear of all but a vase of flowers. Use the coffee table 12-15" in front of the sofa, on the wall just about where the ladder rack is now. Put the ladder between the sofa and the corner and hang all your throws there. When you replace the curtains, get some that will just kiss the floor. They should be 2.5 times wider than the opening so they'll hang nicely when closed. Once all this is arranged, let's take a look at decorating your walls with art, which should hang centered 5' above the floor or hung about 5" above furniture or items sitting on furniture.

erinsean seems to think your stairs are open... I see no issue with them; they are closed.

Always start arranging a room with the largest piece. Looks like that’s the sofa. Flip it, with rug, Use the little kitchen table for the t v table, under the stairs and the little pine table for the coffee table.

Move the mirror over the sofa. Use

Next purchase, buy a desk with a closed back. Position the chair and flat part against the wall, as you have it now. that leaves the rest of it perpendicular to the wall and becomes an end table for the sofa,

Blanket ladder (pick up some colorful ones), floor plant, basket to the left. Here is a good spot to add in a floor lamp.

Great comments and suggestions JudyG! I always love your ideas!

The problem I have, is that behind the sofa currently is probably one of the most ugliest storage heaters in existence. It’s similar to the one you can see in the pictures already, but longer :/

Table arrived today! So going to de-clutter everything tomorrow, and start re-arranging things to see how they’d look :)

I think it would be a very good idea to move the leather sofa away from the heat source. Please read this article for ideas
https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/hide-ugly-radiators-with-these-12-clever-cover-ideas

Oh we don’t turn the heater on, it’s switched off by the side :)

The problem I have, is that behind the sofa currently is probably one of the most ugliest storage heaters in existence. It’s similar to the one you can see in the pictures already, but longer :/

The tv and its console would mostly block it tho.

You’d think, but having done it, it covers maybe.. 40% of it? It’s just an eye sore behind the tv instead.

My partner and I are going to look into getting a longer/taller tv console and then we’d be able to :)

Can you please take a pic of it so we can give some advice.

Do the stairs lead to your sleeping area and bathroom?

Do I see a door inside the kitchenette? Would it make your life easier to take it off its hinges?
Have you had a chance to look at this article: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/hide-ugly-radiators-with-these-12-clever-cover-ideas

I agree with some others suggestions, bigger stand for tv and tuck it under the stairs. Move sofa to the other wall and anyone sitting at that end of sofa under stairs looks like they would have to slant their head. This way you have bit more space for your new dining table. The blanket ladder would be next to the sofa, etc. Agree also with baskets in the cubbyholes of your desk plant could maybe go in the little corner niche next to the kitchen pass through. I know you might want the mirror to make space seem bigger so maybe move it to the wall over the dining table (next to but offset from tv) and hang nice artwork where the mirror is but centred over the sofa. Reuse the current table under the tv as coffee table if you have the width. And I see nothing wrong with colour of your drapes...they match the colours of your rug. Maybe add some more of those colours in cushions and blankets & artwork?

Oh, and please for safety, plug your smoke detector back on.

Here is the pic of the radiator behind the sofa :)

And this is the new dining table (painted and waxed by myself ^_^ )

Picking up some lovely new dining chairs tomorrow for it (the current one's are falling apart)

@misecretary - Yes, the stairs lead to the bathroom and bedroom area (but those are challenges for future me). There is a door, but unfortunately, because we rent the place, we can't alter fixtures :/

Okay, so my new tasks are:

a) Bigger sideboard/console table to hide the radiator.

b) Flip sofa to the other side, and TV under the stairs.

c) Baskets in cuppy holes.

d) Will move the mirror over to the other side of the wall.

e) A larger picture over the sofa.

f) Buy plumper cushions and a more colorful throw :D

I think that's everything?

@lydcrafts my partner takes it out when cooking, as it's right next to the hole in the wall, there's no actual way to stop the smoke and the alarm is the most sensitive thing we have. Don't worry though, we always put it back after :)

#1 So I don't think that's a big radiator. I've seen bigger and more obnoxious. it should be easy to find a console to put in front of it.
#2 I finally found your second radiator. 🙌 Took me a while, but I did it! I think that's a laundry drying rack and hopefully part of decluttering. I'm assuming it's a weekly temporary item.
#3 Your table looks so squished pushed up to that breakfast bar. Would you be willing to move the table over in front of the second radiator? Unless moving the tv to under the stairs gives you more room to move the table away from the breakfast bar.

Putting TV on sofa side will give you more space for your dining table.

You can easily make a radiator cover or the one from Wayfair below for 76.00 seems okay. It can be painted and your TV can be placed above it.

https://www.shelterness.com/8-diy-radiator-covers-that-you-can-easily-make/