If you already have carpet around the space there is no need to have an area rug. It will make to room feel smaller and compact.

I like the set-up of your informal chair moved to new place,
and the yellow curtains bring the yellow to the other side of the room -----
but somehow it's less cohesive with the yellow in the corner [basically].
A rug with gold etc. would be the foundation in the middle I'm guessing.

If you keep the yellow curtains, I'd select a different rug since the pattern is the same.

Are you feeling better about the buffet? I really think your room is coming together! Walmart.com has a huge selection of curtains at many price points. Don't you love the look of the higher/longer curtains?

Mmm....the buffet I like there, but is it centered? Take the branches away and move it towards the corner a few more inches. Don't want it to crowd the doorway.

Like the chair in the new corner, but pull it out just a couple of inches.

Like the yellow drapes, but they need to touch the floor. Cornice box above them would add a little more height.

Getting there! Try the trunk as a coffee table and post us a photo. Thanks!

I know you've got it, and this isn't to vote against what you're doing, but if you liked a bit of elegant feeling seeing the buffet against fabric, and lights, I did....

I love the buffet. I would buy draperies with grommets to hang from ceiling to the floor. Ikea has many styles & long lengths, inexpensive. Keep the trunk it maintains the eclectic look in the room. Love your picture wall. Avoid getting a 2nd item with the same geometric print in your pillows. Move one pillow to the chair & add a plain pillow with colors from your room to the other side of sofa. I agree that an area rug will pull your room together. I particularly like the rug posted above on the lower left. If you get an area rug, be sure to place the two front sofa feet on it with a couple of feet on each side of sofa & pull some of your other furniture on to it. That brings everything together. You do need some type of coffee table, whether it is the trunk or maybe a small cube ottoman. If you use the trunk you could place a soft fluffy throw over it in yellow.

you've had a lot of comments so I don't want to make it any more confusing :) I like your buffet, I find it very interesting and it has a lot of character. If you love it you should keep it and work around it. Our rooms change over time and so this could be the first piece to a new room. You can re-decorate over time so that you get all the things you love. The fun part is finding things and even better if they're on sale! I like the slipper chair too. It would add a pop of colour to the room and give you that modern look. I agree about the blinds. I have stopped using drapes for many reasons. I am very fussy and they are either not hanging right or it's too hard to find the right look and they are expensive. They also collect dust and they obstruct the view of the outside. I like the look of blinds, very simple and clean lines. You can close them for complete privacy, buy the sunshade for UVA/UVB protection and they are really easy to keep clean. They always look nice and they will give you that contemporary look. A good investment. If you want to add the area rug then you will need to chose something that would not compete with a slipper chair. I agree with you about the chrome lamp. This looks modern and chic with the buffet. The mirror is also a nice touch and reflects light in the room. In time you can remove the broadloom carpet and change the flooring to some type of hardwood or laminate which is great for kids. I like the pillows so find some that match up with your area rug, buffet and hang up a nice crisp ivory blind that will provide privacy but also shade you from the sun. You can easily let in as much light as you want. Good luck!

I really like the buffet on the wall you moved it to. And I love the yellow curtains! I would go for a softer rig though with yellows, blues and cream or gray.

I love it!

now the sconces don't repeat the presence of lamps... :)

Ok so now that my back is ready to break after moving furniture all day.... I believe I've come to this final arrangement with buffet in front of window. It's the only way I've rearranged that just "feels right". I do agree that the chair should be cozied up to the couch but there's just no way with the size of my room. Also, that corner would be awfully bare. The leather furniture is pretty old so I don't see it lasting too much longer. I would love to brighten things up eventually. As for the trunk.... I would LoVe to add as a coffee table but the couch sits ways too low. The trunk ends up higher than the couch. BOO. Now that the buffet is in front of window, not sure about the yellow curtains. I was thinking something with gray/white. Or gray/white/yellow. I need to just decide if I do bold pattern on curtains or bold pattern in rug. Can't do both probably. I actually like the suggestion of blinds in ivory as I hadn't considered that. This room is very dark to begin with because I have a covered porch out that big picture window which blocks a ton of light. So my quest for curtains and rug continue. I like a lot of the suggestions you all posted. I'd like to get away from golds/browns as my old room was gold walls/burnt orange curtains/brown everything. I want a more crisp modern look with grays/yellows/blues. I know the carpet is ruining things. I would love to put hard wood. I have hardwood in entry and in dining room off of this room. I love the idea of a slipper chair but could it go in the corner to the right of the buffet? The dead space? I know it wouldn't be ideal for conversation but again.... Unless buffet is on that other wall, that can't happen. I agree about sconces not working anymore and I intend to replace them with something that does. Ok so take a look.... Still going to hang a mirror on wall where tall lamp is(where buffet was). Thanks!

I know your back hurts, but gosh, I loved this room with the buffet on the wall where the chair is and the chair over in the corner. The lamp should go on the other side so it is not in front of the window.

I see your little one.....little ones love to look out windows and having the buffet moved would mean the window is open for that. Toys can go in the buffet for some nice storage.

And the trunk is just perfect as your coffee table. Love that!

Hi,kop10 - congratulations on your find.I have looked at your ideabook, and think you can get closer to the look of those spaces with a few considerations.:
-Your window treatment should compliment your buffet. More curves will compete, so I found you this from JC penney clearance. The many neutrals will include your current rug, and allow you to add a number of greys to the room without fear. I suggest a black rod.
-Let more blues in to the mix than just turquoise.
-Save the cinquefoil for the pillows, and consider the richer look of a solid plush for your area rug. Your coffee table is likely to hide most of any pattern you put down, and if the furniture is changing soon, a thick shag/ viscose plush will mean no regrets at the furniture store.
-If you buy a chair w print, make sure the scale is different from that of your pillows.
Good luck w your project.

Well, none of us knows what the room really feels like when you're in it. I'm with Abbyjean, one of the great Houzz commenters. I'm sorry to see the big sideboard hogging all the light and openness of the window and being placed so close to another massive piece of furniture, the couch. It could be the photos, too, with the curtains closed, that give me the feeling of a funeral parlor. Sorry, but that was my first reaction when I looked at your first photos, and now again. The sideboard there in front of the curtain reminds me of a coffin!

Here's the thing about posting. It helps everybody if we know right off the bat what your conditions are. If we knew that you were eventually going to get rid of your brown furniture, that you don't like brown/gold, etc. that you have to have the vintage piece in front of the window, we would've advised differently or not at all. It takes a long time to research photos that will work with what posters show us. As the Houzz nag about honking brown leather furniture in smallish spaces, I definitely would've said, "Get rid of the couch sooner rather than later" if you don't like it. I probably wouldn't have commented at all if putting a big piece of quirky furniture in front of a window worked better for you. But thanks for being willing to move all your big furniture around the room for us. Some of us liked the changes before you moved it all back to the way it was.

You are getting way too much advice, is so much easier to work with one or two professionals.

Housegal200, let me first say that I appreciate your comment although seemed rather harsh. I didn't know already that the coffin needed to be in front of the window as that is why I was asking for advice. Yes I agree I could have been more informative with what I didn't want such as browns/golds however I wanted to consider all options. I don't hate the brown furniture and when I say it will be replaced soon, that could mean 5 years from now. So I need to work with what I have. Thank you.

In my opinion the buffet in front of the window looks very wrong. Was there a reason for not having it on the wall opposite of the sofa?
I did not notice it before but ( although harsh) housegal200 observation was right . Now when i look at it that's all i can see .Sorry

I had the buffet both ways.....when you're in the room,
It just seemed out of place when it
Was on the other wall. Once I put the mirror up, I may change my
mind and the buffet may seem better with a complete look. Again, without curtains it's just so hard to tell. Ugh, this is stressful.

I'm sorry I was harsh, kop104. I should've said the sideboard in front of the window was "funereal" and left it at that. The wide doorway, closed curtains, the sconces, and lighting give that impression.

I do stand by my observation that having two such massive pieces so close together--sideboard and large couch--doesn't work. A "sideboard" belongs on the "side" not center stage, IMO, especially blocking a window and cutting of the only source of natural light even if the window does face a covered porch.

None of us had any idea you didn't like your brown furniture and brown gold palette. Even in your most current post, you say you want to work with what you have. Yet what you're showing are possible new elements in gray, blue, various patterns, in a different palette.

In any case, the room you showed us at the get-go that you wanted advice about is pretty much the same one you wound up with. This is okay if it feels right to you. You were a good sport about moving your large pieces around. You're the one who experiences the feel of the room that photographs don't convey to the rest of us. Enjoy your living room whatever way feels best for you. Over and out.

I think the buffet is a fab piece of furniture - it just seems to be placed wrong - how about under the pictures - swapping sofa with buffet - or even putting the sofa across the room facing the window. The chair & ottoman by the window looks right, the rug is a great pop of colour with the cushion & Darzy's lamp would look great. The trunk makes a great coffee table

well if replacing ugly carpet is out of the ? then think white walls white buffet. then the area rug would fit in better but i think the room can handle 2 of same area rugs. also a same color valance as area rugs over the window would tie in more. hugs

Hi, I just came across this feed and was intrigued by the questions you asked, and some of the answers. We all have our own 'comfort' zone in a room, go with your gut. From a design standpoint, I have a few observations. Again, this is from just what I see in photos and you know what works for you. First lets talk about the rug. I rug is used to 'pull' everything together in a room. With the placement of the furniture it appears that you would need to pull the the furniture closer together to make that work. I really loved the photo showing the blue rug. You would brighten the room up quite a bit with one. All the colors appear to be neutral so live it up and pick something YOU like! The buffet style from what I can tell is French Provincial, and the rest of the room is what I would call shabby chic, I personally love mixing styles and colors. Again, the rug will bring it all together. I think it's a shame to block a window with a piece of furniture. I once had a long and narrow living room and the way that I placed the furniture was around a focal point- no furniture in corners, and pulled closer together toward the center of the room. I see you have a security gate up at the entrance, is it possible to move the sofa to face the wall it is against now? (back to gate) put a small sofa table or a trunk behind it, something to add interest? Pull the other pieces on either side of it, and put the buffet where the sofa is located now? Bring it all together with a rug. That is a very quick suggestion after seeing the photos. I do like the eclectic look because it showcases a persons personality so well. What I saw from the photos are that your family is very important to you, first impression. Try to relax and enjoy this project- pull in colors that YOU like, and go from there. Good Luck!

I remember having this dilemma myself and so I went to my local paint store and talked to the interior decorator. She comes to my house and gives me really good advice for free as long as I'm buying my paint from her store. If I don't need paint and just some advice, it's 25.00 for the visit. How great is that? I have stopped second guessing myself and when I can't make a decision I go to the professional decorator. I have loved every decision we've made together and had a lot of fun doing it. No stress on me.

Kop104,

I think blues really would help out a lot in carpeted room to balance it a bit. Personally I think that seeing how there are already things to look at on the walls, you need to keep the texture on the rug instead of on the curtains. Having one will then distract people from the open carpet space until you decided to get wood floors.

We produce in our PANTONE UNIVERSE Matrix collection quite a few rugs and both of these come in Pantone 16-4427 Horizon Blue, that we think will make a very elegant contrast Contemporary Rugs

You may want to try one more thing and see how it feels: Swap the position of the buffet and sofa. Since the sofa is lower it won't block so much light. And if you have nice sized window, take down all window covering and let us see how that looks.

The trunk won't work as your coffee table here, the pieces compete too much. But think trunk would work if it is placed over on the long wall, next to the floor lamp by the chair. It will fill up the wall there.

You will need a lighter feeling piece for your coffee table. Glass or bleached wood?

And, since the sofa and chair will be so far apart, just think of the chair as its own separate reading corner. For more seating next to sofa, maybe a slipper chair or two.

Not quite the style, but shows the sofa in front of window, buffet on the wall, and a coffee table that might work for you:

Don't know if there is room...pulling the sofa off window and closer to reading chair. That bare window is wonderful. Alas, I must have window panels to fix my window's proportions....

The buffet looks very heavy under the window with the curtains, sconces, lamps, etc. Can you keep the curtains open?

I agree that the buffet looks out of place in the window, but it is a beautiful piece. Know it felt.. out of place...on your side wall, but maybe just leave it there for a while and tweak some other things around. Change is hard to get used to, and maybe if you let it be for awhile, the solution will come?

I loved it at the wall way entry.

Try couch at window,it may work there. Put buffet at where couch was. Trunk as coffee table.

Okay so I got the hint that the buffet looks terrible in front of the window.... ;) Here are a few more arrangements that were suggested that I had not considered. Please keep in mind, the mirror needs to be painted....possibly black to tie in with picture frames and that brown dining room chair is just a placeholder for a possible slipper chair. Thanks!

More options...

This is with the mirror hung on the wall...

I love this, but don't like the lamp in mirror background. Try floor lamp there by couch.

You have done a nice job... I had no idea you were going to make such changes.
As to your gallery wall - there are many such arrangements in hallways etc. without furniture beneath.... so I liked your couch pulled away from wall and window, and trunk in view with frames.... and new set-up with buffet, hey!!

Watch your likes grow & view it on computer, it feels good!

As to your present arrangement I also liked how the sconces 'formed a balanced triangle' with the table lamp....I skimmed and found out a couple new things but I won't bother repeating, and how we all have something to contribute - just hard how it does take a while and patience is necessary! I suppose many houzzers wonder how best to participate. Sometimes things gel as hours/days pass and as people gather around making posts of all different kinds, it just happens...

WOW so much nicer to see lots of natural light and the window exposed ! Either of the new arrangements looks better than original .

LOVE that first new arrangment you posted, with the sofa facing the window. I think it all should just be nudged a few inches over, so that the floating arrangement is centered in the room (sofa and trunk centered on window, chairs centered on outside edges of window), and then I think you've got it! The sideboard looks GREAT on that side wall!

Sorry if my earlier remark seemed harsh. If you are comfortable with all of the advice that you are receiving that is what counts. Best of luck with your room make over.

I like the arrangement with the couch facing the wall as it does create a cozy area, but I am also wondering if you feel like you have wasted space behind the couch that could be put to better use????

I also just noticed how pretty the frames around your windows are!

I think this arrangement works, but rather than having the chair squared up and blocking the window, take it to the right corner at an angle, facing the sofa for better conversation. You may have to pull it out a bit if you want to squeeze the table in with it. Or you can use the table and lamp with the other slim chair, adding a floor lamp beside the big chair. I think the coffee needs to be closer to the sofa to be useful, 18" is the max distance to reach it.

Why not use the trunk holding the lamp as your coffee table.. It seems a bit large where you have it.

Love the changes you are making!

Absolutely love your window uncovered! Beautiful trim around it.

For covering at night and insulation, I would stick with the cellular honeycomb shades. They compress down to only an inch or so when not in use.

If you want them down during the day, they also let most of the light in. You can get cordless, top down or bottom up.

The sofa facing window is great, except for it seems to leave barely enough room to walk between the sofa and buffet.

Most functional for now, I think, is the sofa on original wall and the leather chair at angle in the corner by the window. You can add a smaller lighter chair opposite the window for more seating. That just gives you lots of room to pass thru the space.

But, hey, I change around my living room furniture by season, winter face FP, summer by window! Do what feels best.

As you see, your likes are growing. Give it time.

I hope your enjoying your room now? Are you done yet?