The entry isn't a lost cause, but it's important to deal with the room as a whole, not just the entryway. A couple "holistic" ways of dealing with the entire space: :
--Get a large the mirror as celery girl shows since you have a window across the way that will reflect light at the entryway. Visit antique shops and Craigslist to see if a great mirror pops up that works with the bench.
--Add some wood cubbies below the bench in same finish for drop zone instead of dropping the backpacks by the door. And a wooden hall rack as celerygirl shows. Again, don't let stuff pile up since it's not a mud room but the font entrance to your home.
--Move the floor lamp to the other side of the room in the corner behind the chair to get a "reading chair" effect and light up that side of the room.
--Place your antique chair currently next to your TV by the front door. Add a little wall shelf above it for a bowl to hold keys.
--Move your sofa about a foot from the window to add some airiness to the room since the furnishings are so bulky.
--You desperately need a rug to anchor your living room. Make sure it's patterned and includes some of the gold of your floors, with a little bit of the gray/blue/black from upholstered furniture. This palette of grays, blue, black, and reddish gold picks up your existing furnishings and floor.
Add a long oval oak coffee table up on legs--glass top if you don't have little ones--like this but wood finish like your floors, bench, chair so you don't have to have that block-y side piece by the door, which makes things seem clutter-y. (Oops, sorry, I just noticed you have a nice chest there, which is fine.
--Since your TV is first thing you see from the front door, make the wall more interesting so the black screen is less prominent--something long and low with some art.
--Add sofa pillows that echo a new rug and art.
--Declutter below your TV table right now.
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Long shelf
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