justgottabme: Yes! excellent plan! The Tv needs to be in that corner next to the fireplace -- either mounted on the wall or sitting on a console or cabinet. Having a cabinet in that spot would anchor that whole corner. And more excellent ideas above too! Love the idea of bookshelves in each of the corners -- perhaps just try basic Ikea Billy shelving -- or other build-it-yourself shelves (try stores like Targer or Walmart)-- just to see if that plan will work for you? Or look for vintage shelving or bookcases on your local Craigs List! Swivel chairs can be found -- check your local Craigs List! But for now -- once you move the TV -- try placing one sofa facing the fireplace -- and another one facing the window -- forming the classic L-shape.

Your second sketch looks like it has potential. How about scooting the couch a little closer to the tv so that you could put a sofa table behind it? If this is the entrance that the family will use all the time, the right sofa table could double as storage for shoes and such, and define the "hallway" to the kitchen. An area rug will also really help ground the arrangement and get rid of the floating feeling that the furniture gave you last night. The bookshelf storage unit along the stairs make sense, but another option would be to put a bench there for folks to sit on while taking their shoes on and off. It depends on what you need most. Is it imperative to have desk space in this room, or is there another spot in the house where desks could go? I find that my kids' desks collect clutter, and I appreciate them not being in my main living space. One little one of ours is using a secretary desk in our dining room, which is nice because all of her busy little projects can be quickly tucked away. There is no space in her room for a desk right now, so this has been a good work-around.

As I mentioned all this furniture is going downstairs except the sideboard if possible to keep it up here. I have to replace 1 of the doors, maybe both. Open to suggestions for window coverings, I'm partial to curtains but would consider roman blinds if they were soft and drapey. The paint is a strange color called Elephant White. I'd like to change it Also what do you think about capping the pony wall? For colors I love soft muted grey, greige...greens, blues. natural textures, black for accents. My other dream is to cover the popcorn ceiling with white tongue and groove and faux exposed wood covering over the beams.

Hey Mikeala, while you may have to make some compromises due to space restrictions, you can definitely fit a compact couch in the room. As @mindshift recommends, it would a good idea to keep all your furniture compact and as small as possible. I've made a couple of options for you here. (All dimensions are approximated from the images you have posted) For the first layout, I've eliminated the coffee table and added a slim console by the entrance, a wall mounted TV and an end table. You could also buy nested tables so you could stack them when they aren't being used. For the area by the staircase, I've added a tall bookcase and a couple of chairs for extra seating. adding a mirror would give a sense of a larger space, I've styled this room with modern furniture with a touch of hollywood glam. For the second option, the entrance is more open although the TV unit has been placed on the large wall. This allows TV viewing from both seating areas and yet separates the space. You may prefer this layout if you don't like the idea of having a living right at the entrance. I've styled this room with Scandinavian furniture. Do send us measurements and photos so we could further customize these for you. You could also add/ swap furniture and make your own layouts here.