My eye goes to all the knick-knacky stuff all around the walls and fireplace and buffet. I would take it down and build back from there. It just looks cluttered to me. Any better placement for the tv? If not, I don't think I'd put stuff around it to bring attention to it's odd placement.

Would you do anything with the 3 shelves on the fire place? They are so awkward I don’t know what to do with them. The tv has to stay there unfortunately (open to suggestions though if you have any!!) We have a wall of windows to the left of the fireplace. Then the couch is across from the fireplace.

I agree on the clutter. And knick knacks.
I’d removing everything and start over. You have a lot of great pieces to work with.
I would start with refacing the FP.
I would remove the stone completely and replace the material only in the corner section. ( that small piece of FP wall isn’t necessary) yes remove the three shelves. And put the tv over the FP.
I would get new rugs. One for the living room and one for the DR, under the table.
Maybe a new dining light.
For the furniture layout in the living room. Take more pictures so we can get a better feel of the space.
....

I know, it’s a long list, but start with what you can to bring this space together. It has a lot of potential. Just needs some time.

Can you sketch out a floor plan for us? I can't tell from the photos if there are other options for the TV or not; I just don't understand how the spaces connect. If you do that, please include an indicator of what's in adjacent spaces (where doorways go).

I'd start with taking everything off the little fireplace shelves. I think it could look quite nice just featuring the stone. I like the previous poster's suggestion to remove the stone that wraps around the corner onto the TV wall; the TV wall will be easier to decorate if it isn't chopped up into stone and drywall sections.

I agree with removing all the 'decor" and putting back (just what you need for starters, chairs, table, etc.

Those Fireplace ledged can be knocked off, gently.

Once you clean out the space, get a masons chisel and mallet.

Getting rid of the extras will make it look larger and fresh.

Hang the dining table light fisture lower. Enjoy the kids,

you can decorate how you want when they grow up, it'll be sooner than you think.

My parents' home had 3 shelves somewhat similar to yours. It was recently staged for sale and the stager simply put 3 identical small pots with artificial plants on them. The black pot colour tied into the black of the fire screen. In this photo they look a bit small but in person it looked great.

In each room she started with one good sized piece of art with a dominant colour on the largest wall. She then added solid colour pillows/throws etc. in that same colour. The smaller walls were left completely bare. The white sofas you see are slipcovers in a velour fabric. Inexpensive and so comfortable that my son got some for his house.

I'd hang the TV on the angled wall, centred, ignoring the stone on that wall. Here's an idea of where to start with when you simplify your decor items.

I like your stone and would keep at least the fireplace portion. You could drywall over that whole right side wall. Or just paint the stone on the right side the same as the wall.

I like your decor, it looks homey and welcoming, not cluttered. I agree with just chiseling those shelves off of the fireplace and get rid of the piece above the TV. The stone is nice.

You have fallen victim to JoAnna Gaines type decor. One piece is all you need. What is your favorite? You can have the vibe without one of EVERYTHING. My thoughts on the TV partim but no reason to do all that expensive wall work just hang it centered between the firebox and the right wall edge. It's at a great height now. Remove the cupboard it sits on and if you have use for it elsewhere think of giving it a solid paint job. I think I would ignore the "shelves". No reason to draw attention to them.

Then maybe something simple over the fireplace.

I see an amazing amount of stuff that very small kids could pull down and topple onto themselves. I would get rid of everything that is just propped up against a wall.

I think your room could be really fun if you put a rug with lots of circles on the floor, to double down on your chair and your mandalas on the wall.

Weave & Wander Carini Rug, Dusk, 10'2"x13'9" · More Info

Safavieh Soho soh724a Rug, Turquoise/Yellow, 8'0"x8'0" Square · More Info

Capel - Vintage 1700 - 5ft 0in x 8ft 0in Red · More Info

New media cabiinet

Farmhouse Gray Wood Cabinet 22670 · More Info

New floor lamp

Floor Lamp · More Info

;)

New mirror for the dining room sideboard

Galaxy Round Contemporary Venetian Style Round Twist Mirror · More Info

New light fixture dining room

Golden Atom 6-LT Chandelier 7936-6 BS-BS-AB, Brushed Steel · More Info

and these

Jerome French Country Dining Chairs, Set of 4, Light Gray/Gloss White, Velvet, Rubberwood · More Info

Thank you everyone!!! I really appreciate everyone’s input. (Also LOLd at the Joanna Gaines comment…yes I totally have fallen victim!) I guess trying to make the house feel homey only made it look cluttered. I have removed almost all the decor and am starting over! Any paint color suggestions? This paint was chosen to go with the original oak trim that we replaced, so I now feel like I have more options.
Again - thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. I’m going to take some additional pictures once I declutter some more!

Find a talented sculptor or stone mason to come chisel the shelves back to the same depth as the other stones Glad to hear you've removed the big box store decor items. You've shown us 3 walls (1 of the fireplace in two pix, and 2 in the dining room. That's not enough information to be very helpful. Let's have a look at the front window and at the sofa wall.

Remove the 3 ledges. Put your TV above the fireplace. Remove everything else in photo 3, especially the poorly painted small cabinet.

You say you want to keep your living room furniture so that, plus deciding about a rug, should come ahead of picking a paint color. On my screen your big chair looks to be gray and yellow. And it looks like you have a brown sofa? Gold ottoman?

Your stone fireplace and floors appear to have a touch of pink to them. Is that how they ”read” in your room?

Would a color scheme like the one in this house interest you?

Parkwood Road Residence Living Room 2 · More Info

Parkwood Road Residence Kitchen · More Info

Ital mover - I didn’t even think about the undertones of the floor and fireplace but I think you’re right about the pink. Here are some additional pictures of the space. I’ve started filling in holes and rearranging so don’t mind the mess!

Pics

A few simple changes will make a big difference.

I’d start by Removing the shelf over the sofa. Hang the picture (lower then it is now).

I think the wall color in the picture I posted would work for you, as well as the tones in the rug. You’ve already got the yellows and grays, so I would introduce more stark whites in the throw pillows for the sofa, maybe recover the ottoman pillow in white fake fur. Bring in some brighter yellows, not just the golds. In particular I would get a few bright yellow dishes and ceramics to mix into your all-white collection.

I’d go for all white chairs in the dining room, even if that means painting the black ones. A big white framed mirror. I’d invest in a new more modern floor lamp.

If I were using my own ”inspiration” photos for your room, I would look for a place to introduce one big splash of red amid the yellow, the gray and the white. It might be two red chairs amid the white chairs and table for the dining room. It might be adding an ottoman. Or a wall decoration. A table cloth? A really fun red chandelier? I don’t know. But I think the yellow-gray-white + blush rug scheme of the room I showed gets a boost from the big red chair.

Milan Faux Leather Blue Dining Chairs, Set of 2, Red · More Info

Juniper 1 Light Red Floor Lamp · More Info

Midas Round Accent Storage Ottoman, Siren Red Performance Velvet · More Info

Elan Vallo 10-Light Round Red Shade Chandelier, Chrome · More Info

Pick the best shade of red for the room and the rest of your yellows and grays

Removing the shelves on the fireplace is a lot of trouble and would have little impact on the look of the room. You could always just leave them empty if you want to de-emphasize them.

Have you played around with facing the sofa to the fireplace wall?

One of the wonderful things about house is that you will get a wide variety of comments and opinions. However, you need to consider what your own needs, time, budget, will be. I can see that you have little ones still at home and so that must be taken into account as far as disruption goes

Do you have a vision for this space? Is it your only living room area? Could the tv go elsewhere? I do not have a television in my living area but in my rec room downstairs.

I really like the dark walls. I would spray paint the plant pots a dark colour too, to tie them into the walls and the dark fireplace screen.

The contrast of black? and the tan of the stone is striking and very classic. The white pots do not bother me, but maybe the tv cabinet could also be painted off white.

Fun transformation!

Think one of these might work for you as a new storage cabinet under the TV?

Cormier Mid-Century Modern Walnut Brown 2-Door Entryway Shoe Storage Cabinet · More Info

Noelene Mid-Century Walnut Brown and Gold 2-Door Shoe Storage Cabinet · More Info

Baxton Studio Valina 2-Door Wood Shoe Storage Cabinet with Drawer in Oak-Black · More Info

And I realize these are for shoes, but with little kids taking over the room, I might use one or two of these temporarily instead of a standard cabinet as part of the shared play space

Montauk Wooden 16 Pair Revolving Shoe Storage Rack Carousel, Chocolate · More Info

Also, not everybody likes tablecoths as much as I do, and with kids people shy away from them, but here are some that might pull together a ”look” for your dining space

DII Teal French Stripe Tablecloth 60"x84" · More Info

Warm Stripe Tablecloth 60"x104", Seats 8-10 · More Info

Ornamental Embroidered Square Tablecloth, Mystic Black, 44x87" · More Info

I like the changes you’ve made thus far! I think putting plants in white pots on the fireplace shelves looks great, and as the plants grow it will look even better. I’m glad you removed the curtains that were at the side of the fireplace. Keep sending updates as you make changes.

Thanks everyone!! Ital mover I love the idea of using those shoe cabinets for toys!! I was just looking at the toys today and trying to brainstorm how to organize them (or at least semi-organize lol!)

Yes the tv cabinet will either be painted or moved! I actually have stashed the kids books in that cabinet otherwise I would use it for toys.

Any ideas for the dining area would be appreciated - I like the idea of a table cloth but have a feeling it would quickly be pulled off :-)

Would also love dining room ceiling light suggestions!!