Yes, find a rug that contains the color of the fireplace tile and probably also the floor. Move or angle the chair so that it makes a conversation area. You could also look for pillows or a throw for the couch to also pick up the color of the tile.

Depending on your funds, I suggest adding two chairs to be placed one on each side of the fireplace, lamps, and a table behind the sofa.

Your green painting is nice, but too small for any wall. For large scale art, look at posters.

First thing I’d do is move the TV over to the adjacent wall and mount it at an appropriate viewing height.

I knew I was going to get called out for the TV haha. Unfortunately the prior owner had their TV in the same spot, which left some grand holes in the drywall. The walls are a highly textured, slap brush style, i.e. a headache to repair. Was trying to work off those same holes/studs, but I suppose art could serve the same purpose.

Art would look so much better, and your necks will thank you.

In a prior house we had the red/yellow floors and trim too I painted room in SW Relaxed Khaki and it really seemed to “tone” down the floors. I used black accents around the room too

Thanks jck910. Had a very similar rug picked out compared to the first, but the second is great and hadn't stumbled upon something like that. Neat!

S W - Thanks, I was seeing a lot of praise for that color, i will add it to my list to check out if we go the paint route

Black out shades and a rug, plus moving the TV to the perp wall are a good place to start. Hang your green art 5" above the mantel. Since all the seats recline, ditch your coffee and end table in favor of "C" tables for each seat. Get a size that can handle your device and a drink or plate if you eat in front of the TV.

Loft Lyfe Rene C-Table, Magazine Holder, USB Port & Wall Plug, Gray/Black · More Info

Those C tables are great! We do like to enjoy a meal in front of the TV when pressed for time, so these would be great to replace our ugly, dated tv

The room screams 90s because of the TV placement and the furniture. After that it's a blank slate. You need proper curtains--it was the 90s people thought shades were enough--they were wrong. The fireplace surround is an issue. We wanted that same tile back in the day and thought it was too bold of a choice, so we went more neutral. Once you see the light, and hang the TV properly can you beef up the mantel, entire surround perhaps it would cover the green a bit? Large sectionals are all the rage and would bring your room swiftly into this decade--but they didn't survive the 80s well and I rather think they won't this one either. Your room is very warm looking, as you said, isn't that what one wants a warm inviting space???? Color is back, find a jumping off point of a fabric, perhaps a pillow that really inspires you and build from there.

I think we need to know how far you want to take this. I totally agree about the TV just move it and patch the holes and get a fab piece of art for above the TV as for the rest leave the tile on the FP alone no peel and stick tile ever . You could paint it with Klenk to tie you over until you can do it right .Before you do anything else please get some decent lighting .Even a track light is better that what you have there . We also need to see pics of the spaces you have already done we are working in the dark as to your style .The rug is down the road a bit before choosing it.

Thanks Arcy, appreciate the input. I think the mantle will need some work. I do agree that the couch is ugly (gift from parents when me moved to our last apartment), and that moving the tv could open the room up more and lead to better use of the space. By warm I meant everything just seems to be yellowish and overwhelming, but maybe its just because the trends seem to be cool colors from what I'm seeing.

Thanks Patricia! I think my short term goal is to make this space livable for now. Purchase the possible items/ upgrade details that can still be used if we were to ever attempt to upgrade the fire tiles or paint. To me that would be neutral furniture. Agreed that the lighting is terrible, will be exploring floor lamps and possible recessed lighting option. There are some neat led fixtures on the market that appear to be an easy install. Good point on holding on the rug. Ill try to upload some more photos to give you a feel of the ground level when I

Here are some more photos of rooms on this level:

Kitchen. Dark granite countertops with oak cabinets. Old photo, no more cutting boards. Wife wants to paint white, but don't mind this looks for now.

Nook by kitchen. Poor lighting, walls are oyster shell like kitchen, blue curtains.

We also went with a hale navy accent wall in our bar room. We were thinking Irish bar theme in there, but being the first thing when coming in the door, decided to keep it a bit more traditional. Art and decor to come.

We repainted the dining room from a pastel yellow/gray to hale navy and dove white. It really makes the wood trim pop. The wife wants the antler chandelier gone, will replace with a modern fixture and get some chairs and other accents.

Added nook:

If you have gone as far to paint all the other rooms paint the one you spend a lot of time in, perhaps a shade or two lighter than the dining room.

No to curtains IMO, the dinng room looks great with out them and the wood blinds are nice .

MOVE THE TV, lol we cannot have "because the last people did it". hang a picture over it if you dont want to deal with the repairs right away.

https://res.cloudinary.com/castlery/image/private/w_700,f_auto,q_auto/b_rgb:F3F3F3,c_fit/v1624969425/crusader/variants/T50440911-TE4004/Ethan-Chaise-Sectional-Sofa-Right-Facing-Stone-Grey-Lifestyle-Crop.jpg

Interesting take on it RL. Crazy what a little paint does. I do like that sectional, thank

You're going to hate my suggestion, but here goes. Paint all of that builder grade oak trim and baseboard. everything looks warm and yellow because it is!

(BTW, I'm posting a bunch of pics so you get a visual of what I can picture in my head. I will touch on every element in this picture that you can do. look carefully at the pictures)

Here's a quick photoshop of the front room. I can't stress enough how painting out all of that baseboard and other trim will transform this room!!

That fan, has to go. If you do want the fan for circulation, the current one is too small (the blades). So here's a pic of a more modern one w/better lighting. I also removed the mantle and gave you a simple wood beam. move the tv and style above the mantle w/art. look at the lighter windows. makes a huge diff. the rug is a natural jute/sisal which works well w/the wood tone.

You have great light in here, so display your plants in taller planters or hang them in the corner.

Look at Article for sofas/chairs. I think it would work well with you style.

The cheaper oak molding/trim screams 1990's (which was a great decade but absolutely horrendous for decor choices)

You have a door/trim just like this. which looks better to you?

Look at the windows. (you can get to your stairs down the road)

Chair rails are out. (unless you actually push your chairs back against the wall) ! I'd remove the one in the dining and paint the room one color.

Or, do some board/batten trim work/ wainscot below it.

Here, I'll even give you a tutorial. you're a homeowner now. This will be ongoing. learn to do DIY and save tons of money!

https://athomewiththebarkers.com/my-top-5-board-and-batten-wall-tips/

so back to the horrid trim. degloss it or fine sand it, wipe w/mineral spirits, prime it and paint it w/a good hybrid paint (BM Advance is one) in a bright white. get the best trim brush for this job.

The good thing, you guys can do a room at a time. or spend an hour after work each day. put on some music and DIY together. plenty of tutorials on how to paint over 90's oak trim.

(your floors are oak. red oak. if you ever want them changed, you could probably have them refinished. ) If you ever want to upgrade you trim, bring in a higher, plainer looking molding like this

Your mantle. You see how much better your green/black surround looks once that ugly wood surround is gone.

remove it and just do a solid piece wood. you can buy a small 2X6 of any type of wood, stain it, and attach it to the wall. (that mantle just doesn't go with anything in the house or your furnishings) Use lag bolts in the back and attach them to the studs in the wall.

I like your bar. love the colors and your wood bar top. once you paint out all that trimwork molding to a bright white, that navy will look even better.

bring in some pendants over the bar top:

get the same color wood as your bar top in a reclaimed shelving, and put those up around the tv

lastly, start phasing out those wood-look blinds.

In the photoshop I did for you, the blinds were similar to thes luxafles pirouette.

or you can do a woven wood.

Look at the diff this makes to the room. paint out all of the wood trim like they did in this photo, and do a lighter woven wood type of blind.

if you dont' want a fan, try a nice light. this is a Bergamot 17" (I actually have this light w/4000K LED bulbs. it gives off a ton of light!)

see how the sills and inset portions are all white? looks good doesn't it.

Hope this helps to give you some visual aid!

Yep, sofa in front of the window with chair at a right angle to the sofa.

The good news is that if you move the TV you can get a larger screen

I think the room could use some drapery panels for texture and color.

Thanks Beth, appreciate all the time and effort you put into the suggestions. Will look carefully at those!

Easy for you to shop, all furniture is very good quality for the price from Ikea, as well as the area rug, drapery & rods, accent pillows. You can get a more modern ceiling fan, this one from Home Depot. The chaise section on the sofa should be on the fireplace side (reversed from the picture) and facing the wall unit on the wall on the right of your fireplace. The 2 armchairs with table in between facing the fireplace. Except for the shopping, not too much work for you other than painting the fireplace mantel and installing everything.

On the above, forgot to mention the artwork with black frame above the fireplace is on Wayfair and other mantel accessories are from Ikea.

Thanks lisedv!

Matthew Adams: Just so you have an idea of cost for all of this, here is something to give you an idea for your budget. In this visual, I place other furniture but prices are similar to what was shown yesterday except of course for the Besta wall unit (approx. $1020). Besta Series offers several configuration options and different colours.

Take baby steps. Simply slide your furniture into the new layout and see how you like that. I think you will find it will give you a whole new perspective on your home.

I agree with the prior comment about moving the TV to the other wall and adding a painting/poster over the mantel. I also recommend a L-shape left sectional sofa with one side having the windows behind and the other side facing the TV placed perpendicular to the wall with the fireplace. That way you have a clear division between the dining room and the living room and space to not crowd/block and comfortably view the fireplace and TV. I recommend a light warm neutral color for the sectional so that it doesn't take away from the warm floors and green fireplace.

Thanks everyone for all of the input! While there are many differing opinions and tastes, I am seeing many similar trends and preferences that my wife nor I had thought of. Greatly appreciated, and always open to hearing more!

If I was you I would take your current sofa and put it under the window, take the recliner and put it across from the fireplace closer to the sofa and maybe put a dining chair or a place holder beside it so you can get a feel for what that would look like, and also might help with sizing new sofa etc.

New modern art, rug, lighting, window shades and great looking sectional sofa that all work with the warm floors would get you off to a good start. It's not the mantel that's the problem, it's the enormous TV that needs to go on the side wall and the man cave sofa and chair. Work with your trim, floors, and cabinets but go a little out of the box with great well-designed fairly modern pieces.

Go on Craigslist and see if you can find a wide console for the TV. Search for "midcentury or MCM console, sideboard, dresser"

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Art for over fireplace in this palette of golds, touch of blues, gold/orange, green you can echo in rug and pillow. Go online to Etsy and just put in "abstract paintings" and see what comes up.

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From your art, choose a rug--something like this with golds but with green from your art.

Stroud Area Rug in Burnt Orange/Lime/Taupe/Cream/Dark Brown/Sky Blue · More Info

Sectional sofa in camel/gold leather. Not a bunch of things in this photo--low lines of sofa; window treatment; great piece of art in corner; graphic rug

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You'll want a round coffee table to tuck into the "L" if you get a sectional. Go with wood with maybe a pullout to use from both ends of sofa. Get modern nesting sides tables as well so you and guests have a place to put down a drink while you're either looking at the fireplace or the TV

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--Get a modern round white tulip table for your kitchen dining area. It's too dark in there to be inviting. Bigger tulip table than this, but keep your current chairs so you don't have to change everything. Save your money to put same window treatments--roll-up shades in your bay window. Ikea has a decent sized tulip table. This shows how great any kind of dark chairs look in contrast with the table. While you're at Ikea, get a modern white pendant to drop over the new table:

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Thanks