my first thought was to pull the sofa back about a foot so that it's lined up with that wall. Not sure what it is with the fireplace, I like it, but maybe the mantel is too high. ??

I would paint the fireplace the same color as your trim - add three small pieces of art above the fireplace that compliment the art above the chair. Pull the sofa back so that it is further from the fireplace, and add two round, rattan coffee tables tables (varying heights) and remove the side table next to the sofa. If you want a tv, place it on the credenza - or else get a large, colorful picture for that spot.

To me it looks too squished together. It might be because the dark blue chair is so heavy. Can you cover it with a sheet or blanket to see it that improves things. If it does, you could consider a slipcover for the chair.

Otherwise, pull the sofa and rug back until it at least is even with the doorway.

FP seems oddly high. Not sure why the sconces are down lights, but I would change those. You could use a wider sofa, pull it so only the front third is on the rug. The end table should be the height of the sofa arm. Larger mirror over the console. There are enough small objects on the shelves so I would leave the top of the console empty.

Larger sconses to offset FP Height

The sconces seem out of place to me - both in their style and function. I’d take those away and not replace.

Yes, I agree the furniture feels squished. The couch is too close to the fireplace.

And probably the biggest issue, to me, is the lack of color and life. Too much dreary gray and black.

Edited to add: I took another look. What color are the walls? They look beigy in the picture, a color that doesn’t play well with gray.

If it were up to me, I'd move the credenza out this area, along with the sconces, and add a second armchair in that area with another end table. Add at least one table lamp. If you can't move it out, put lamps on the credenza, remove the sconces and add some art. I agree with moving the couch away from the fireplace a bit more and maybe adding a coffee table. Make this a warm, well-lit room for people to gather. BTW, is there a window in this room?

Mirror needs to have heart there or art above the fireplace and I don't think those black gooseneck lamps work there I think it needs to be a different color of lamps are scones maybe your cabinet needs some lightness to it or a different cabinet under the mirror there is too much black in the room touches a black is fine I think I would paint the bookcase the color of the wall so it Blends more because the fireplace is your focal point and that is black

 if you're going to add you could put it where the mirror is but take those lamps down and Float the couch on the rug by the bookcase so you can watch TV when you sit on the couch

well I think you need to decide on the tv first, as it impacts how to lay it out and what to keep/add to the room.

The bookcase area and fireplace should be the focal point, if it was me Id loose the entire mirror/sconce and console. have the love seat face the bookcase and flank the bookcase with two chairs.

The fireplace looks kinda like a black whole, maybe repaint that a dark gray over black, or consider adding a mantel surround to encase it.

Where is this room? Is it near the entry?

@littlebug zone 5 Missouri the walls are more of a crisp white in person, but I think you're totally right! I thought the rug and chair added plenty of color, but I'm looking at it again and it's way too white and boring!

@RL Relocation LLC The house is a split level A frame, so the upstairs has the main living room and master, while the downstairs is open. So you walk down and into the dining room area, living room, and kitchen. It's a weird layout. Love our upstairs living room. This downstairs one is just a headache.

You have way too many different colors, and the fireplace looks like a black cavern. Are the walls pale yellow? You should pull colors from the rug (soft reds and blues, grays too?) and ditch the greens, yellows, etc. the colors you have do not harmonize.

well I would treat it more like a study than a living room, give some thought to removing the console, its very distracting, having the area feel like a cozy reading room or hang out area creating an area that both addresses the cool nook book area and the FP.

The other simple pointer,

center the rug to the room

center the love seat to the wall not the FP

maybe layer the chair next to the console.

But:

try

The main problem here is I don't have enough information.

My first question is what is behind the sofa that we can't see?

My next question is why is there such a big space behind the sofa for traffic flow?

Please provide photos of the other half of the room. Thanks.

that last pic you added, showing the space between the sofa and your kitchen wall, is that with the sofa in it's original position or pulled back some?

All the pieces, including the fireplace, seem oversized for the space, especially with the walk-through needed by the kitchen.

I would play with the furniture in there. Maybe try the couch with it's back to the shelving to face the sideboard. You could then put a tv (maybe an art tv) on the sideboard. The chair could then tuck beside the fireplace to face the couch. The tv might be a bit high, but not that bad.

Thank you for the photos. You are right, this room is a headache...L shaped and traffic flow going right through. Here's my take and based on previous suggestions.

Put the TV on top of the console where it is now, and place the sofa facing it in front of the bookcase. Leave a little room behind it so it doesn't look crowded. The blue chair in the corner next to the fireplace.

Replace the dining room furniture with a counter height dining set of table and chairs in front of the windows. You can at least see out the windows while seated there and also makes for easy viewing of the TV.

Also in the dining space, place a bench and umbrella stand under the frames, and coat hooks on the wall, and make a sort of (front or back) entry hall/mud room going in and out the door right there.

Move the sconces, paint the fireplace, add t v.

IF no tv Id still try my layout, if tv flip the layout.

@always1stepbehind I added that last photo because someone wanted more photos, so I HAD moved the couch back already based on recommendations here. Good eye!

I moved the sofa back a bit off the rug and placed a larger mirror over the sideboard. The room needs s new rug and the walls are too yellow in tone.

Layer the elements on the mantel over the fireplace.

Tv will be to high above the fp.

Is the fireplace electric or gas? I would put the tv over the console and redo the facade around the fireplace to make it less of a large black box that draws so much attention. A slightly smaller rug. Put the love seat across from the tv and the chair facing the fireplace. You want the focal point to be the tv.

It is not the color of your rug, or the style of dining table you have , or the walls the wrong color. Your dilemna is that each and every one of your walls is occupied with something....a shelf, a fireplace or those two sconces. Unless you are willing to do some major reclaiming of one of the walls, you dont have any place to put a tv, except awkwardly to the side of the fireplace.

I would suggest to you to rethink your expectations of your room and rethink it's possibilites.

You said it was a second area, so assume you have a larger area that has a tv in it.

You dont have to make a smaller area just like the other larger one.

Forget the tv in there. Forget trying to stuff another tv into this little space where there really are so few options for it . So many of us spend time on our streaming devices, anyway. Maybe concentrate on making what you have as comfortable of a place to sit with your ipad as you can, or read a book, or put together a puzzle , or sit and knit, or any number of possibilities.

You might also consider putting some good sized sofa table that will entice you to actually use it to lay something out on to look at or do engage with.

It looks like a modern home, so why not assign a modern use to a room. So much of the past focused around either the fireplace or the tv. Things are different now. Out tech doesnt require a whole wall with surroud sound.

Make it comfortable and keep it casual and do you really need another tv? Maybe it will be better with the ipad and a pair of bluetooth ear buds.

You are not going to win with the battle of these walls. Dreaming of the possibilites that it could become sure seems more pleasant that scratching your head and worrying about how to work with these impossible logistics to make it into something that you dont need, and might not even really want.

And, about those sconces...they are not going to go away , gracefully. Take a second consideration of them and think about what are thier best qualities.

I think that they are very good for focusing light on what is below them, with the added advantage of not needing a wire and plug to travel over to the outlet and not having to occupy space on the desktop or the floor or the side table. The way that you have them is not using them to their best advantage. Do you really need the surface of the credneza lit up? Probably not.

I would suggest that you think about using the space under those sconces for a sofa, or a chair, or a small desk with some drawers and a comfortable chair. Put one of these right up under those sconces against that wall and then you will be getting the best use of those sconces.

Dont fight it. Find it's best and use it to your advantage.

Along with the comfort , you also need some softer lighting throughout the space. Bare bulbs are almost never a good idea and over head, even recessed, is best for utilty or public spaces.

You have a comfortable looking sofa and a nice comfy chair. You have some nice shelves.

The fireplace is of questionable value in my opinion, but that is a different subject.

You have so much already there, but just suggest that you rethink what you want from this space. It is a nice space and your home looks nice and modern and comfortable. This room could be a great casual space with a modern usage rather than another homage to the tv screen.

A fireplace or a TV is a black box and most people put their couch face in the fireplace or to one of the sides of the fireplace but you could have your chair if it's swivels or face it if that's what you sit in to watch TV face it to the TV

Is that an actual FP? The mirror and sconces belong in a bedroom not here .If that FP works then is is gas or wood buning? We need a bit mor einfo please Oh I see you said goodbye so Iguess you do not need any real help.

She said ”good eye”, not goodbye.

What is the length of the console? Length of sofa?