I have ordered an ikat slipcover for the ottoman to add some pattern.

I think you have a very nice room. It looks like the chair is positioned perfectly for watching TV - it also looks really comfortable - but I wonder if it's not a bit large for the room.

If you're open to it, try taking it out of there, slide the sectional towards the fireplace and see if you have a smaller occasional chair to put to the left of the fireplace. If you don't like it, you can always put it back.

Once you have your new slipcover, think about putting a tray on top of the ottoman. They're useful and keep things orderly. Also, another throw pillow or two that pulls from the colors in your slipcover would up the comfort level.

I'd love to see the ikat slip cover you bought. I love ikat!

I agree with Manon, the room is quite nice; the chair seems a little large, but just barely. My question to you would be what do you see are the issues that need attention?

I will repost when the slipcover arrives! :) I think my issue with the room is that it just seem pretty boring. I don't think I'll be happy with it until we can afford a new sofa. Ha! New throw pillows should help in the meantime. I also have always had a problem styling the manel area. I will repost a close-up of that dilemma later!

and thank you both for replying!

If you want a total new look, consider adding some trim. A boxed-beam, coffered, or beadboard celling could play into the nautical theme (without being theme-y) of the blue couch. Embrace it! I would do the walls in an off white and the new trim/ceiling in a white white. The trim will really complement the beautiful fireplace surround the the built-ins and can really elevate a room's style.
Is that a sisal/natural fiber rug? Another great element that lends itself to the coastal feel. Here are some examples of rooms that we've done that greatly benefitted from some additional trim work.

I agree with Chadcagle. The tv over the fireplace if it fits, but don't split the sectional. Just move it up in front. I don't know what the otherside of the room looks like, but could you possible fit in two cozy chairs and a lamp for a little reading nook. The room would then be split into two rooms.

Thanks you all great ideas. I'll see what I can do!

OK one more question!! Would a round mirror look better above the fireplace? If so any idea where to find a good quality round wood mirror? THANKS!!

paiting the inside of the shelving blue would be great. Re your mantle the crate and barrell catalog has a cool driftwood mirror for $199; i just saw it today.

I would recommend a piece of art that would bring the blue of the couch out - like this one.

Without replacing the sofa, you can pop it up and take it to the next level wit accessories. Get a theme for your room. Consider one or more of the following options

1) Throws and accent pillows are way to go. But while buying them try to bring a theme into your room.

2)Since you already have deep blue and neutral furniture,
a) make your living room beach themed by adding some decorative corals, big shells and other accessories to your book shelfs. I think you can use some picture frames or other decor to the walls to go with the theme. You dont have to buy art just lookup some DIY projects.


b) to match the blues you can also go for an asian theme


3) Spice up your drapes, by adding a pattern from your throws or ottoman covers to the bottom of the drapes


4)I dont know what is there on the other walls but if you have a plain wall try a gallery wall

I love that print. that is a great idea. What about a slipcover for the couch?

It may be helpful to think of the denim blue as a texture rather than a color. Personally, I would focus on adding lots of light-toned neutrals: metals, baskets, faux fur, wood with lots of character, etc. Perhaps the couch would be more bearable if it had a number of pillows in the same neutral range but featuring different textures. You could put a similar pillow on the chair to tie them together. You could go the opposite way and add fun colors to take attention off the sofa. I'd consider coral, bright greens or orange for starters. I'd move the chair to the left of the fireplace, if that would work, because it seems rather crowded next to the sofa. Nestingplace.com has a great tutorial for sewing a slipcover for a sectional very similar to yours. Centsationalgirl.com has a light blue couch that she styles gorgeously. Finally, try to like your couch because the more you hate it, the more that reflects in the rest of the room. The chair looks like it's trying to mask the sofa, but the sofa can stand alone just fine. You have a fabulous room with lots of potential!

I agree with Michael Robert that Art- instead of a mirror or the tv- would be the easiest way to embrace the blue and will add other colors and textures. One large piece would work but so would 3 layered prints...add some colorful pottery and accessories to the bookcases and hearth and a different color throw on the chair. I have found great, fun and best of all, inexpensive and unique pieces at Marshalls and Ross over the years. Good luck...I actually like your blue sofa, it looks durable and the blue goes with a lot of colors.

I think working the tv into the build in or over the fireplace to make that wall the rooms main vocal point is a good start
I like the blue sofa. Consider painting the back of the shelving unit a shade of blue, add art with blue as suggested above and add another layer if color using graphic throw pillows. Try adding a cow hide over your sisal rug for added impact!

NO TV OVER THE FIREPLACE. Especially with that already higher fireplace box and hearth. It puts the TV up too high. It makes for a very uncomfortable viewing angle. And using a down-angled mount make sit look even uglier.

Truthfully, the shelving is too tall, it ends up creating a pinched kind of space up there that seems a bit difficult to decorate effectively. Having it on the same level as the mantel would be less problematic.

You'd be better off with some wider art up there. Perhaps a sculptured metal piece or something with a bit of depth through different materials. But not a rectangular piece, something with some mass concentrated at the middle and then edging outward. Lots of different ideas come to mind, but art is subjective so it's hard to make a specific recommendation. I would not do a mirror there because of the small size of the area and how typical mirror shapes would just add more "kids building blocks" look to the overall appearance of the wall. Now, an abstract piece of art using mirrors... that might be interesting.

Then clear out the mantel to avoid having that clutter detract from the art. And don't put anything on top of the shelves. The space ends up looking too jammed up with stuff.