The rug is making the room look old and stuffy. Find a rug you love and then work around it. Everything else you have right now is neutral.

i agree lose the rug, the curtains. Simplify the shelves, at least lose some of the stuff. All the stuff compettes with the French doors. overall it looks crowded to me.

I would remove the chair near the dresser completely, and perhaps switch the placement of the two other armchairs. Slide the sofa down a bit from the window end so the sofa and chair are not so close. I am guessing the large artwork against the shelves is just there temporarily.

You have the right idea. Brightining the uphostered pieces with slip cover will lift the eye up. Also, if the doors are a bit darker it draws your eyes into the room giving them a place to land. I would lighten up the wall with something in the blueish/gray family and color the fireplace the same as the doors.

Please take a look at the second pic too. Thank you all for the tips so far. Looking forward to more ideas. Keep them coming!! Thank you:-)

They are right. The rug and curtains are dragging you down a road you have grown tired of. I love the idea of the shades. I think you could start by looking for a rug that is either navy and white stripes or watermelon and white stripes. Paint the walls a sunny yellow to make your taupe-ish upholstered pieces look richer by contrast. They are nice and versatile. I cannot tell if your bookcases are ultra white, but I think they and the woodwork should be. You could pare down some of the accessories in the bookcase that are small and go for less, but larger ones mixed in with the books. Go for beachy accessories and art since you live near the beach. That is always a youthful, happy look. I think your coffee table will look nice in this setting dark. Nice contrast. Keep the stuff on top minimal and medium sized, nothing little.

I think there is too much art. A big picture over the couch would be nice. If you put a framed mirror over the fireplace, would it reflect the outside doors? That would be pretty.

the second picture is definitely headed in the right direction, like the black table and door, lose the curtains, different rug and pair down your accessories and art, maybe add a little glitz like a mirror over the fireplace. if you didn't want to change the furniture color, then I would go darker on the wall color, maybe even a plum color.

As so many have said, the rug is absolutely "defining" the room. If it goes, you can go whatever direction you want with your neutral furniture.

Your furniture has great curves to it--quite lovely! Also, you actually have a lot of great elements that gives that "Elle Decor" look (the artwork, sculpture, the area rug) I think the best way to to add freshness to a room is by adding new paint and/or fresh accessories--and maybe a little wall organization (between the artwork and the bookshelving) might help spruce it up for you - all quite affordable. If you reside near the ocean and love water, why not try a lovely shade of blue on your walls? There are tons of sophisticated blue/grays that would look great in this space (without darkening the space).

You can certainly go with a relaxed 'feel' by adding slipcovers, but as it appears, the furniture is quite neutral already. To keep it classic, I'd add some textural, yet colourful throw pillows in place of the ones that come standard. You have great wall art in the space already - have you considered creating an 'art gallery' wall? I definitely envision something like that here.

Is that a functional door in the room? Are the curtains necessary for blocking light and/or privacy? I'd remove the curtains. They seem to take a way from the bookshelves that flank them - is there a view in that direction? The black door (option) would add a refined look and pairs nicely with your neutral wall colour. In this scenario (black door/neutral wall colour), you can still pick up a dominant colour found in the artwork or area rug for accessories, etc. Example (pick up the red from the area rug and add (varied) deep red throw pillows on the chair (or sofa). Swap out the smaller tabletop items on the chest located and add a large red vase or metallic version. If you wanted to jazz it up--consider replacing your coffee table with an oversized ottoman (as pictured - woven texture or perhaps a chic animal print).

I could go on and on....but I'd run out of space here. ;0 I hope this helps get started! I'm sure it will look fabulous!
Happy to help!
~SoChic

I cannot make out what is going on with the lower half of the bookcase on the right. Is that a niche? If so, would the dark wood chest fit in there, also, can you remove a shelf or two on both sides. It would be so much more open. You could have larger things, like an impressive vase or lean a picture on a shelf against the wall. If you do get a new rug, I think you should go smaller, that rug is BIG. Your floor looks pretty. Smaller would open the room up.

here are some color schemes I thought would work with your room if you're going to,lose the rug. Like so chic I was thinking you might be able to utilize your art if you arranged it in a more contemporary gallery wall. I definitely like the idea of a darker wall with the sofa.

and here is a totally different idea if you wanted to keep the rug and just rearrange in a more updated fashion.

LOL! Like handymam, I am old, too. Your room, as is, is way too old for me.

I would remove everything except the white furniture and the rug and I would paint the walls black. Then pick the very best piece of art you have an hang that wherever it fits.

Get rid of the curtains over the doors! Perhaps change the door and allow the windows to go to the floor. Have you tried the furniture on the diagonal? And a lighter rug would be a good idea. you may have a wonderful rug, but it pulls the room and its feeling down. Focus on being near the OCEAN. Use Mother Nature as your guide - she has some wonderful colors.

First, ignore those who say you have too much art. Not possible.

I second everyone who says replace the rug. I started on your space with a new and smaller rug so more of the beautiful floor would show, a bit of simplification, a new chair, and a funky pulley lamp and drum side table from Pottery Barn.

And yes, those curtains have to go.

You have a fabulous collection of art. Show it off!

Grover's rendering is great to see. It's a whole different room with a different rug. I might not go quite that modern with a new rug, but see how very much you'll be able to easily change the room if you choose to?

I'm old and I like your rug....but I really like the furniture layout the groveraxel showed. I am also a fan of using the artwork that you like. If you keep the rug the wall color needs to be darker.

What have you done? We lost track of you. I thought your black door looked great! How about painting the shelving on each side to match it. Then fill it with collected items in the same accent color - maybe yellow if you went with grover's rug, All pottery, or all glass; your choice You might remove some of the shelves to make room for a gigantic piece or two.

Beginning with the rug, there really isn't anything in this room that makes one think of the beach, with the exception of the light oak floors, which I'd reveal.

All of the various large framed art pieces, which we cannot see, are any of those a jumping off place for your fresh, young, beach local theme? Are any of them in the colors that make you think Elle Decor?

I think the sand-colored sofa and matching chair could work, and perhaps even the Victorian style one in the foreground, because it has a light colored fabric, but there's really too much furniture in this room, and with everything up against the walls you've created a traffic pattern right through the middle of your living area!

If you can empty the room, except for the sofa & matching chair, and move the sofa into the room so that the traffic is behind it, you could purchase a long narrow table for the wall where the back of the sofa is now for lighting, and a few accessories. Create a conversation pit with one or both of the two other white chairs.

Empty the book shelf of everything dark, and accessorize the shelves with the colors that make you feel fresh, young, and beach resident. Pick up a bunch of paint chips that make you feel this way and settle on 3 main colors, and keep 1 or 2 more accent colors for pops of finishing decor.

This looks like a fun project. Make it easiest for yourself by emptying the room and starting fresh, like the ocean breeze on a summer day! Good Luck! Please share some in-the-works photos!

Thank you ALL for your wonderful fresh ideas. I will take into consideration ALL ideas and post some pics as I proceed forward with this project.

If you're wanting a beach vibe, paint the doors and cabinets a pretty blue to match the ocean near you.

The coffee table is in the middle of the room, up reachable by anyone seated and just taking up a bunch of space.

*unreachable

I'd spring for full French doors. The room is dark and full French doors would be less stuffy and let in more light. I think the chair and dresser near the fireplace should go, too. I'd change the rug.