I've got the sofa downstairs now. I covered it with what I had on hand - a huge black blanket and a smaller white one. The red thing behind the sofa is a mattress. It's a safe place for the baby to sleep at night (I block the way out). Now I'm wondering if it makes sense to buy a table and a lamp for the armchair. This part of the living room could be the actual 'living' part, while the other side is dedicated to children and their play. How about some kind of a wall art? I'm sorry, and it probably sounds like I don't know what I want, but I would like this room to look more 'finished'. Do I expect too much? Maybe it would be best to wait for four or five more years and then redesign this space? But can I wait that long? I wish this house was arranged and I didn't have to worry about it all anymore! :( We've been living here for three years now and it upsets me that everything looks so awful. We don't even have a hardwood floor upstairs - just go with carpets on concrete floor. We are currently having a bathroom made, but imagine living all that time with temporary solutions :( There are only a few things that we actually bought for the house - the rest are hand me downs - nothing matches, everything old and not to my style. I'd like to turn this house to home at last. Maybe I should go to ikea, look at those timy flats they have there and order everything there is!!! I'm sorry I just needed to vent :(

Since the dining table + play area will likely be changing over time, I'd put the large piece of art over the sofa, where it has the best light. For the dining + play area, I'd suggest installing a picture rail at ceiling height, then hanging the pictures from it. That will let you move things around as your needs change, without filling your walls with holes. Maybe row of black and white photos, not too small, would look good across that wall. You can buy all sorts of systems and hooks. https://www.decoraid.com/blog/best-picture-rails

Here is a 3D rendition with several of the suggestions incorporated; for your consideration. Yes the furniture is not exactly like yours but it's the placement that is being presented. The seating area is just as you already have it with a slight adjustment. The world globe is not in the rendering The long bench has been replaced with a cubby with containers in it (dollar store, love it!!) A floor lamp like the one you already have was added Two baskets for toys A storage unit with more containers like one you can find at IKEA; Kallax it believe As you can see the dresser and mirror were moved to the opposite wall to make room for the storage unit.

Consider picking your top three choices of wall color and then let the children choose from them. Keep it fairly neutral. Keep the trim white. Would not put fabric window coverings over the windows -- white plantation shutters could be a better idea. You need storage. Where possible, get furnishings that serve a dual purpose. Also choose furnishings that work now and can age with your children. A storage ottoman for each child could serve as a seat with storage. With a lid that flips, it could also be a single tablet top. Paired/sized for use with a table, they could encourage the two of them to play together : table top and/or board and/or card games,putting together jig saw puzzles. Used as a seat now for small children, an ottoman could later be used for its intended purpose. A large cork bulletin board for each child could help solve some display issues. A single high shelf the same color as the wall hung all around the room over the door and window frames could provide room for small items or storage containers . Office furnishings might be worth considering -- especially if gently used and priced right -- such as a credenza (providing a wide table top) or a pair of short filing cabinets (two file drawers, perhaps with a third top shallow drawer) could provide storage and, with a plywood top, could serve as a table or desk. These could eventually end up being college bound, with their top, as a desk, or without, as bedside tables. https://www.instructables.com/Wraparound-Desk-Made-From-One-Sheet-of-Plywood%2c-2-/ A corner cabinet for each child could display larger treasures without constantly sticking stuff to the walls and not take up a lot of room -- or fit one above each corner desk. Box shelves or modern interesting wall shelving would be worth considering.