Oh thank you! i understand. i have posted updated pictures with natural light.

A few more

Thank you! i really am drawn to the second one!

Here it is

Do you have any other art in the same style as the rhino? Do you mind showing us photos of your dining area and kitchen to help choose other elements (assuming you have an open floor plan)?

Oh yes, here are more updated photos. i have one more art similar to rhino. i put behind couch for now. i do not have a dining area but i am thinking of getting a console table that expands in the living room for when i have a dinner gathering. im also considering certain seats for bar area, will be in next photos. thank you!

I am considering these for counter

I am considering this for behind couch

Here is kitchen and counter

Aw, love your little buddy curled up on the sofa :). Thanks for all the photos. Gonna let this percolate for a bit and see if anyone else chimes in . . .

Thank you! i appreciate it very much!

I’m thinking you are leaning toward a more modern or sophisticated version of coastal style. And I’m thinking we’ve got to bring in more color. Do the bar chairs you like come in navy or any other colors?

Here’s a blue and gray color scheme. You could bring in small pops of one more color like pink, yellow, orange. I like the seagrass poufs, perhaps under your TV console. And maybe a navy accent chair for the window corner.

oh yes, that sounds great! i was just worried about tv console. thank you!

Thank you for pictures of your sweet pet. I like your proposed wall hanging and counter chairs but why more black and gray...ugh!

I like all these light and bright ideas proposed.

@lisedv Fabtastic!!! OMG nailed it!!!

Thank you so much! these suggestions/ images are beautiful!! yes i will incorporate all of these new colors as it seems to me to be quite a struggle to veer away from dark colors, ha. Thank you !!!

Circling back to encourage you to finalize your rug purchase before we can do much else. It’s like putting together your outfit. Sofa is the pants and rug is the blouse or jacket. After those two pieces are in place, you move on to shoes, jewelry, and other accessories (accent furniture, window treatments, art). A rug is expensive to change if you don’t get it right, so best to build the space around it :)

Yes, its true, thanks so much! I have been struggling a lot with the rug! I believe I have decided to go with the natural fiber rug that has been suggested by @lisedv. I am trying to locate one now.

This one is nice and not expensive on sale at Pottery Barn but don't know the exact size you need. It's also an indoor/outdoor one so easy to maintain:

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/joey-synthetic-rug/?pkey=cindoor-outdoor-rugs

This one natural fibre also on sale:

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/heathered-chenille-jute-rug-natural/?pkey=cnatural-fiber-rugs

You can also look on Wayfair or stores around where you are...

Thank-you! I think a 9 x 12 was suggested, but i need to measure. I will look online and around me as well. Thank-you!!

What is the size of your sectional?

Houzz also has some nice ones well priced:

https://www.houzz.com/products/area-rugs/query/natural-fibre-rug/nqrw

These are the general dimensions for sofa:
91.5" L x 90" D x 33" H

Oh those look great! Thank-you!

May I ask what impression would you like your visitors to have of your condo? Are you okay with casual and relaxed or would you prefer more modern, stylish, glam, or artsy? Can you think of a few words to describe the feel you would like to go for?

Thank you so much. I have been vacillating between relaxed and modern. i would prefer a modern, minimalist, but cozy as well. im not sure that is possible. i also would like pieces that are artsy and sophisticated mixed in.

I saw this extendable console table last weekend at our Costco, quite nice but expensive.

https://expandfurniture.com/product-category/tables/console-tables/

The sketch I sent you is modern but more of a relax feel. Everything depends on what's your style, not much info was given originally...

@Alicia Hall I remember loving the look of the white on white Scandinavian homes 30 years ago. I bought a home and painted everything white and bought all light furnishings. I owned 4 dogs, 10 cats, 2 horses and had a home based business with 8 employees coming and going.

Loving a look is one thing, matching it to your lifestyle is another. I kept my white on white for a while, but soon started covering the furniture with blankets that could be easily laundered and when I finally painted and brought in much more color I was much happier.

I love the way my sister's home looks when you walk through her home. Tudor home, Queen Anne antique furnishings, lots of busy patterns, greens and golds and copper colors with dark woods. But I couldn't live there. It actually makes me tired. I like my Mid Century Modern furnishings, with no ornamentation. I love red and purple and teal green and no tiny patterns. If something is patterned it is a big, bold pattern.

I look good in bright, clear colors and I think we should all feel like a 10 in our homes. My sister looks great in fall colors, muted greens that make me look jaundice look amazing on her.

I am going to ask you again what your favorite colors are. Not neutrals, but actual colors. Do you love bright blue or army green? Do you love saturated colors or pastels? Are you a minimalist by nature? When you entertain how many people do you have over? What do you do? Is it going to be a BBQ and football for 10 or wine and cheese with one or two couple(s) or movie night with a friend?

Make your home fit who you are, not some ideal of what you want your life to be or how someone else lives their life.

BTW - I love your Rhino.

I might get a carpet with some great big blocks of color and some brightly colored pillows and a throw that are colors from the Rhino print.

Celebrate who you are!

Thank-you @Jennifer Hogan very much for your descriptions and words. I believe this is why I am struggling with decorating as I am in conflict with what i think it should be vs what i like as I do not want it be wrong. So i have been wanting to do what someone else thinks is best as I think they would know better about what is appropriate for the space than I will. I will have to sit with this more so I can be more comfortable with my choices. I envision a dinner party for 5-10 with wine in my home more than a bbq. I also envision it being very inviting and comfortable for all who come in for a movie night and long conversation.

I do love color. Pink, green, blue, peach, burgundy. The carpet and bright colors struck me very much, thank-you! I will be reflecting for some time. Thanks so much again!

@ lisedv thank-you for the table suggestion and the sketch! I have been trying to replicate it in my seaching. I really appreciate it!!

Coffee tables

West Elm:

https://www.westelm.com/products/willow-round-coffee-table-h6863/?pkey=ccoffee-tables

https://www.westelm.com/products/stowe-coffee-table-h3723/?group=1&sku=2477471&pkey=ccoffee-tables

Crate & Barrel:

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/clairemont-round-natural-36-coffee-table-with-shelf/s406312

Wayfair:

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/mercury-row-gambino-coffee-table-w003532205.html?piid=1726027810

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/wrought-studio-lagasse-cross-legs-coffee-table-w000112457.html?piid=

Something like this can also work:

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/corrigan-studio-basil-coffee-table-w004921895.html?piid=

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/george-oliver-abacus-round-coffee-table-w000663995.html?piid=

Thanks for coming back with answers to our questions. I was getting the impression that your style might be more on the sophisticated side based on some of your previous choices like living room lamp, rhino picture, artsy towels in kitchen. I myself love colorful art and have built my rooms around my art. Take your time with the rug and finishing your living room (and no accent wall - just big art above sofa). If you need barstools right away, the black ones you showed would work but here are a few other options (not necessarily these exact ones - just giving you ideas as to colors):

Oh thanks so much! yes, i dont think i have given much thought before now and been a bit impulsive and looking for comfort. i do enjoy artsy things but would like a more sophisticated look. i have been trying to incorporate the wonderful ideas, and stay away from dark colors. ive recently got a few things and will post below. thank you!

pillows

Painting for above couch

I plan on getting the following 8x10 rug, and one of the bookcases soon.

Here's a more sophistacated concept

More earth tone accent pillows, leather ottoman/coffee table, vintage rug,side drapes, tan stools, extendable dining table & chairs,

Beautiful! thank you!!

@Alicia Hall - You have this. Just remember that this is a life long journey. Were really never done decorating our homes. We buy things, we tire of some and others stick with us year after year or decade after decade. My advice, don't buy anything you don't love.

@Jennifer Hogan Thank-you so much! It's true. I am very grateful for everyone's input and guidance as it has given me so much to think about and directions to go in, when before I was feeling a bit frozen. I have relaxed more and can focus on things I love and things that would work well here now.