I love the clean, uncluttered look of your home and you've made some great furniture choices. My first thought, though, is that I would try to rework the sofa/sectional placement. It really is unwelcoming looking to me to have the back where it is facing a wall, when it could be oriented to look into the room and out the windows. It seems like if it were placed in the corner under the stairs that it would feel open and invite you to come in and sit. I'd hate to be cooking in the kitchen and have the family or guests with their backs to me. If you are having a TV in another room close by, do you need one in that room, too? If, so placing a 70" unit will probably only work as you have it. But, to me, it's not going to look like a living room but more like a movie theater, which is fine if that's what you're going for. It seems like it won't be a cozy conversation area, though. I might actually flip the rooms and put the dining room where you have the sofa now. I was looking at lights used with dining rooms and ghost chairs and saw this, maybe would work in the living room? Kind of fun. don't know if it would look as good without the colored walls though. And I thought something like these were interesting to consider for over your table:

Hey Amberleys! You have a really lovely open space, if this was my own home I would move the sofa so that it partitions the dining room and living area, facing the french doors so that you can relax while admiring your garden. You can then place an entertainment unit or large sideboard against the wall where your sofa currently is, you can get some really pretty ones which you can place your CD's into and stereo on top. An old farmhouse display would look lovely - depends all on what kind of style you like. I would then place the playpen in the corner where your stereo is at the moment when not in use and a storage unit for toys against the same wall - Ikea have some really great units for toy storage. I hope your able to find a furniture piece that suits you soon so you can have a lovely place to relax! - Jessica P.S I have added a few ideas below: [Wooden Industrial Sideboard[(https://www.houzz.com/products/delta-industrial-4-door-sideboard-with-lower-shelf-prvw-vr~119406508?lid=89713568) [Wooden Storage Bench[(https://www.houzz.com/products/natural-piper-3-drawer-3-basket-bench-cabinet-prvw-vr~119406640?lid=89713694) [Miami Beach Mirrored Sideboard[(https://www.houzz.com/products/miami-beach-mirrored-sideboard-prvw-vr~119406212?lid=89713288) [Harvey Grey Sideboard[(https://www.houzz.com/products/harvey-grey-3-drawer-sideboard-prvw-vr~119338961?lid=89645588)

@texasgal47: I am actually already thinking of a solutiion using a gateleg. I have access to an IKEA Norden table that with some slight leg tweaking (i.e. place leg in center of the table + shorten leg to close fully) it should to the trick: -> @Jillius: Yes, the entrance to the apt. goes through the hallway. The windows below are windows swinging out. The door on the bottom left (of this sentence) lead to a balcony. Here is the full view:

Sophie Wheeler, my budget is between thrift store and Target! I love to thrift and am patient enough to wait until the right piece comes along. The only problem is that I don't know what that "right" piece is just yet! I am also a shameless IKEA fan. m_gabriel, thanks so much for the info and ideas! Painting is fairly flexible - it's a small enough space that painting it back to white wouldn't be a big deal, though the landlord showed me other properties where the previous tenants painted. I don't think they're too picky. I looked up a burnt yellow and that would be perfect for at least some decor/accessory ideas, and would create flow with other yellows/warm colours I have throughout my place. I was thinking of going with copper accessories, but I actually like the idea of sticking to silver for all metals then adding a pop of deep yellow for contrast and warmth. I don't host a ton; my boyfriend cooks with me and my book club is over occasionally. But I'm now wondering if I don't have a great dining space because I don't host, or I don't host because I don't have a great dining space. In other words, it may not hurt to create that area so it's more welcoming to guests. However, I'm very used to having very little dining space so it's not a complete loss if the dining area is used in other ways.