The room looks great so far. Agree with a larger piece or artwork or pictures on either side of the fireplace.

My first though was to mimic the windows with a mirror above the fireplace. Ballard Designs has a large one for a reasonable price and it would tone down your fireplace if you feel it is preventing you from making changes. My eyes were also drawn to the ceiling fan, maybe replace for a light fixture only? With the windows directly across from the tv I'm imagining heavy glare so I think you might end up needing more room lighting and less direct sunlight so you'll need curtains. Have you considered painting the walls?

Maybe this is an excuse to get the kids portraits taken again! Haha...I will eventually be painting (wait until we get to pictures of the orange living room and blue dining room!). I think I have my heart set on a mirror above the fireplace. I'll check out Ballard - love their designs! The ceiling fan needs to stay. With the exception of a short time during the day we are lucky that a glare on the tv isn't an issue and the blinds fix that when it is. I don't want to do another cornice board and I'm hoping a valance will work? I may have to play around with a few to see what looks best.

Hi....great potential here!

With zero dollars, you can:

-remove the stuff from on top of entertainment center
-remove chaise from sectional and place it on the right side of the fireplace
-fireplace decor should be 3 red vases of different heights. Spray paint ones you have./alternate idea is art with large scale item/large dark frame
-Do you have art? Place matching-sized pieces of art on either side of fp.

Need more photos of room to comment more.
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thank you CDR design. I love the idea of the chaise on the other side of the fireplace, but I run into a couple of big issues: we wouldn't have enough seats for the family facing the tv and the sofa remaining after removing the chaise would just...end...not sure how to explain that. I am definitely in agreement that some art, etc needs to flank the fireplace and I am set on a mirror for above the fireplace. I realized that I do have some neutral, light gold-ish/beige, valances. They have small crystals hanging from them. Tried to find a similar picture to see how it would look. I'll maybe faux-hang what I have a post a picture for a second opinion. What I have is similar to this picture, but they aren't sheer and there's no design in them: Traditional Bedroom by Rockville Centre Interior Designers & Decorators Diana Bier Interiors, LLC

I don't know if that picture came across

Also: you recommend completely removing the stuff on top of the entertainment center so there's nothing there? Seems so empty, no?

What's on the end opposite the FP? What size is the TV? My first inclination would be to sell the entertainment center and place TV to the left of the FP above or on a credenza. Then the sofa could go on the current TV wall.

There may be more options. We would need to see more photos of the room.

For example, need to see photo of the right corner of the fireplace. Could tv go in the corner there with sectional turned to face fp and tv?

What is on the other end of the room?

Or, could the sofa stay where it is and the chaise end of the sectional be placed on the right side of the sectional?

Would need to see photos of the sectional end. Are there clips there? We might be able to come up with a solution.

Right now, you want the fireplace to shine. It cannot, because the chaise is blocking it and the entertainment center is so large, dark and looming. All the things on top of it are adding to that.

Less is more.

The opposite end of the fireplace (I think you mean from where the pictures were taken) is the opening to the breakfast area and kitchen.

I do think panel drapes are your best option.

Need to see a photo of corner between entertainment center and fp/photo looking into breakfast area.

I can definitely take more pictures. Unfortunately the sectional can only be set up the way it is (chaise can't move to the other side). This is why we are definitely considering another sofa in the future, but it's not in the budget right now. It might not be seen, but there is a decent amount of space between the chaise and the fireplace. I'll get a closer picture. My thought was being able to sit on the chaise to warm up by the fire...or at least that's what I told myself because I only have this sofa to work with for now haha

I like the clean, simple look of panel drapes.

How about a round oversized mirror over the fireplace, (layer a wreath over it with a 3m hanger for Christmas) then for a cheap picture have the kids portraits enlarged at staples or Walmart photo department, go big and hang two on the tall side of the fireplace, one on the short wall. You can always test size and placement with newspaper or paper bags cut to size. I like your sofa and love the rug so I am sure your drapes look better then you think. Maybe with more of the fireplace hidden the draped wouldn't be as clashing. I really do like the room!

It doesn't really matter that the sectional is far from the fp.......visually, it is blocking it and the only way a person can sit it in is with his back to fp or with the cushion-backs blocking the fp.

Understood that we are to plan with the vision of a future without a large red sectional. Wise decision to buy something different when the budget allows.

I would challenge you to consider taking it apart for now. The ends can be disguised. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

While your room is plenty big enough for a sectional, I'm a member of the "just say no to sectionals" club. It just makes life so much easier to decorate around :-) Only the most modular will do.

Yes, also a member of the JSNTSS. Don't feel bad. I just had a client who was so happy to finally sell her semi-circular red sectional she was trying to make work in a small room. Can you imagine working with that?

Lessimore, .love the red vases on the fp. It makes the sectional feel like it belongs (for as long as it is there).

Also, love the idea of the sepia prints to highlight the stone in the fireplace, as well as the panel drapes.

:-)

A bit off topic but: My sister had a lovely soft sage sofa. She then had triplets and replaced it with a brown suede cloth sectional (thinking this was the family friendly choice) several years later and a move ... It now looks like a herd of buffaloes died in her living room. No happy ending until that thing goes in the dumpster!

Lessimore, that story sounds like so many!

I've not seen much durable microsuede - usually stained, ripped out at the seems and really tacky after a few years. I don't advise it at all. Maybe there is a higher priced type that is better, but the stuff the big box stores put on their furniture is terrible.

lessismoore - wow! LOVING it! I guess the drapes that were there before were so heavy that I was worried drapes would do the same thing, but these are simple and clean and look SO MUCH better! I never gave thought to the round mirror (although the wreath/Christmas suggestion would never work because were Jewish LOL). But that round mirror looks fantastic! The sectional has been a pain to work with, but I do love the comfort of it. I don't know what we'll go with in the future, but I don't think it will be another sectional. And I wouldn't have thought of red vases for fear it'd be too match-poo with the sofa. Nope...looks great. Guess that's why I am on here! Thank you!

With the sepia prints (another fab suggestion)...would you recommend two on each side or two horizontal on the left and one vertical to the right?

With mirror, be careful to get one that has a lot of frame/maybe even convex. It is fairly high and I don't think you want a big reflection of the kitchen ceiling.

I'd rather see a single piece of art on the right side (vertical).

Oh I'm so excited! I am searching for family pictures now! haha

Agreed. I pulled some images, but am getting lazy (as you can see) - added chaise for context only

I see what you're saying about the chaise and I do hate that there is this empty space to the left of the entertainments center (I did have a black chair there before, but moved it). What would do to the end of the sectional if the chaise was gone to hide that it should be a sectional?

Hi, barcis! Don't have any suggestions, but love the fact that you are so enthusiastic about the commenters' simple and creative ideas. It's refreshing to share your excitement.

Thank you! I think I've starred at this space for so long now that I am at a loss for what to do. These ideas keep what I have, are budget - friendly and make a great impact!

stared haha...see, I'm so excited that I can't spell!

If your fireplace is working you could look for a wooden red wagon for your wood. Placed at the side of the fireplace it would add a little whimsy to the space and it is great for bringing in wood. Sounds crazy but it is a useful addition to my family room and it makes a tidy trip to the wood pile.

I ran to home goods to see what deals I could find. Only round mirrors I could find were silver and that won't work because of the gold in the fireplace tile. They had a lot of red vases, but nothing that seemed to look good together. I bought panels, but I couldn't bring myself to buy sage or green. I know my husband will hate it against the red sofa, so I went with a beige/linen color. We'll see how it looks. I'll save the receipt!

Walmart has various sizes of bamboo red vases.

Keep in mind, to blow up photos this large, they need to be high quality.

What mirrors or vases do you have at home now.....keeping in mind you can spray paint the vases and mirror frames. What is on top of the entertainment center, for example.

You can also reframe the existing photos in large frames, using oversized matts and place them on the fireplace. Use red frames or maybe just one of the frames red.

Then, use large vases on either side of the fireplace with bamboo or something similar ( as in photo I showed above).

This is a bathroom, but see how they used photos of all different sizes, all different matts, but pulled together with the sepia tones.

You could add family initials or letters significant to you.....a classy way to add another personal taste without out being too cute and obnoxious.
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Hi CDR and lessismoore! Nice ideas and fantastic rendering lessismoore!

Paint the wall behind the sofa a darker color. The size and color of the sofa almost balances the weight of the dark entertainment center, but needs a little more help.

As far as lighting, you have ambient (overhead cans), but the room needs task lighting: a floor lamp and a couple of table lamps.

Lastly, because the window is lower than the back of the sofa, scoot the sofa out about 12 inches. That little adjustment often helps rooms feel less like everything is pushed against the walls. In order to keep the sofa in place, get a 2x12 board the length of the sofa and paint it so it disappears against the floor boards. Lay it behind the sofa so when people sit down -- or flop onto the sofa -- it doesn't scoot back toward the window.

Thanks for the advice! What a great idea for keeping the sofa in place!

If you decide to remove the chaise, you could disguise the end of the sofa section with a low end table

Split the sectional and find some nice throws to warm it up... a simple, large sepia print over the fireplace would work.. Face the main piece of the sectional to the fireplace. What is the large piece on the wall? It "eats" the room up.

Thanks. That print is not staying up there. I should have mentioned that. I really can't split up the sofa. This is our family room and movie night just isn't the same when we can't all face the tv. Lol. I get it from a decor standpoint, but it has to be functional too.

I get it... the TV is in the large cabinet.. Hang your drapes from ceiling to floor.

boy, I don't mind your red sectional.. I think adding more red as was shown is great.

Update! I have ordered large art for the left and right of the fireplace. For now, I've painted an accent wall to balance the wall unit - a million thanks to whoever suggested that! I love the new drapes and mirror over the fireplace! It's not done, but it already feels SO much larger. I wish I had a picture of the enormous cornice board and drapes that ate up the room before....this is so much nicer already. Thanks!

Wow! Does this look great! It sure does! Accent wall works here. Wonderful.

Thank you much! I am very excited to get artwork hung and figure out something for corner to the right of wall unit (might need some nice toy storage). And then move on to my dining room! Wait 'til you see that dungeon! Lol

My first thought is that the elephant in the room needs to be front and center. You can't move the fireplace, so indeed, you have to design around it.

Go to a website called: livelovediy.com

She has your family room and shows pics with the good, bad, and ugly, admits to the many mistakes, her design is great! I really think it will work in your room. Good luck