Erin, have you considered adding more of a range of blues with the tans? You could stick with straight blues, like navy to sky, but navy works great with teals and blue greens which sing with sand if the sand / tan tones don't have too much red in them. I suggest you go shopping at an upholstery fabric store (calico corners is a good one) with one of your sand pillow covers in tow, and just look at fabric patterns and colors with blues to see what you like with your tan. . buy 1/2 yard of 2 or three favorites . . then go rug shopping. You can do this virtually online too - beautifulfabrics.com is a great site . . and order samples online. This will help you find a new palette. . . blue-greens are super with cherry floors . . .

Pics of your space and pillows would be helpful.

here is the color and picture of the furniture with pillows.

do i go with a pattern area rugs or straight solid?

this is what it looks like, but it now has navy blue curtains up.