For me the eye sore is the combo of the painting and sofa. Two different styles and colors. I would suggest moving that painting else where in the room. Too much for that one wall. I would suggest a throw that you can throw over the back of the sofa to soften up the sofa. Add a few more throw pillows... I would like to see a more neutral color fabric with a pattern to give it subtle interest and add one of those pillows to your side chair.

Ok, I'm down with moving the painting to a different part of the room. What kind of artwork should I put there instead? That wall continues into the dining room and is completely uninterrupted (no windows or doors) and it seems like too big of a stretch of empty wall if I leave it bare. I was considering making a collage with some photos- black frames with large white mats. Would that work? How about a series of three rectangular mirrors?

The picture is not doing well over the couch and over all you need to rethink this layout ( table, chair, lamp). Depending on the table's function you can make it work better than just having it pushed in the corner. It would look better against the window. The lamp would go better with the picture than the couch move them both a bit away from the couch. They dont go well with the chair and the table either. A darker green wall would make the place look alot better!

If you wanted to do pictures.....keep them simple.

Would you suggest not having anything on the wall?

If you can't afford to recover the sofa, check out www.surefit.com.

No. It's too big a wall to have nothing on it. Too frequently I see people putting something on every wall, which is not good. But big ones demand something and that something should go with the colors that are closeby, or as shown above, be neutral and lovely like the black and white framed photos. However, for the space above your sofa, I could see a pair of related prints with some light yellow in them .

The table is actually a desk. I thought I could create a little work area in the corner, but it's not seeming to work... if I move the couch over at all, it encroaches on the buffet and dining room table. I originally had it to the left and in front of the window. I turned it since I didn't like the line of couch and desk pushed against the wall together. I thought the little chair/lamp/side table vignette looked better in front of the window. I could move the couch back, get rid of the desk and move the chairs and lamp and place some a collage of black framed, white matted photos on the wall. Is that a better solution?

HI --- Sometimes inherited things are not worth it and it should not matter how much it cost brfore if you didn;t buy it . I would only keep the side chairs and the desk and maybe the floor lamp and then UN-inherit the rest . Sofa not worth recovering and the style is too Granny. The pieces I like look mid century and more worth keeping because of their style.Look for an exposed leg sofa more to that style in a nuetral textured fabric - no flowers . The painting might look better with the new sofa but looks too severe now.It might look better with a chrome or black frame . I like the look of the side chair (?) as it is with the light color fabric and the wood. The hexagon side table will work as long as it is painted black to go with the floor lamp.The desk would look nice between the side chairs infront of the windows.

Lefty's ideas are excellent and should be followed.

Your inherited sofa is not able to prove out the intention of your decor. Everything is good but when you throw in a large rolled arm sofa with stripes and more traditional itsy pattern, it's time to say "Uncle". Please don't spend money in an attempt to work around something that you cannot own aesthetically. No matter what you do, you will not be able to make your sofa speak your language. I am so sorry. Bummer! :)

But if it's in good shape you can feel good about donating it and taking the tax write-off. A women's shelter or someone will be very appreciative.

Honestly, I don't hate the couch. I was just trying to figure out how to decorate with it and incorporate it into a more shabby chic kind of setting. Would you agree that this sofa dictates that the room be more traditional? Is there any way to kind of marry it into a different sort of genre?

Yes, of course! Perhaps you can go French country/shabby chic here. If you're willing to paint even though the "peanut butter" paint is fresh, change the walls to a creamy dreamy yellow. Find pretty prints with pinks and yellows instead of the bold abstract art. Search estate sales to replace the contemporary lamp with something more charming.

I'm assuming you deliberately chose your desk, chair, lamp and piece of art? If so, then you need to continue in that vein. Your sofa dwarfs the chair also, so I supposed the decision comes down to a more traditional look vs mid-century modern. I really can't see a way to meld the two.

Reupholstering the inherited sofa will be as expensive as a brand new sofa of your choice. Although you say this piece is well made, the upholstery is poorly matched. The yellow stripes do not match up and it comes off looking like patchwork and absolutely clashes with your art. If you are committed to keeping this couch, a slip cover is a must.

If you're thinking of shabby chic, put a throw on the sofa. If you get a bedspread-sixed throw, you can cover everything except the arms. Tuck it in with dowels, so it doesn't fall off. That will cover most of the sofa. The arms will be visible, but the pattern will no longer leap out at you.

The great thing is that you can try it out with existing bedspreads and blankets and see if some variation of the idea will work for you. You can also buy loosely fitted sofa covers from LL Bean and Pottery Barn.

You do want to pay attention to your budget and where upgrading or replacing the sofa fits into it.

@michigammemom, The stripes do match up- the seat cushion was on backwards. I fixed it, and the stripes line up perfectly.

I like the idea of shabby chic, since it's must more cost effective, and I like shabby chic anyway. Maybe that's why I'm kind of drawn to the whimsical pattern on the couch. I will get rid of the floor lamp, and I've got an old metal floor lamp that I can spraypaint and get a new shade for.

I'm attaching a picture of the painted buffet. The rug in the room is a shade or so lighter than the blue on the buffet. What kind of throw do you recommend for the couch? Colors? Prints? I can match up or "marry" the throw to fabric for new seat covers for the chairs.

From a color stand point ~ and since you seem focused on slipcovers, you might consider slipcovering the sofa. Black would anchor the painting. Neutral could also help, but might require you to also repaint the wall. As michiganmemom says, it might be a better investment to replace the sofa with a style which matches your other pieces.

Actually, the red pillows on the sofa are a problem - they do not quite match picture - the couch would look better without them or different pillows once you decide the direction of the room/s - nor does the green pillow on cute white chair - (don't cover that - it is so cute white!) - the blue rug doesn't blend well as you stated - so you have different shades around the room and quite a bit going on - I could see the picture - lamp and buffet working together - but the detail pieces sitting on buffet are lost in room and wall -
Start fresh - rearrange the room - possibly with couch at angle - use table in corner elsewhere or near chair - you have a good start - keep us posted

All of the above advice is valid. but are you asking the right questions? Sounds like what you were given is driving your design plan.
How do you envision the room looking if you started from scratch. Then start a plan to get you there incrementally. For example, if you like earth tones, perhaps an earth toned cover for the sofa, a chocolate coat of paint for the credenza, move the art, start picking up items that YOU love, replace those things that you don't. Barter some things away for something you like better. Good design doesn't have to break the bank-but a plan for the finish is essential otherwise you're behind the eight ball from the get-go.

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions!! I think ultimately, this couch is too big for the room. Even with a slipcover, it takes up too much space for the small amount of seating that it offers. I think I will save up for a more streamlined sectional- with exposed legs and a slimmer feel, probably in a neutral color. I'll probably be back when it comes time to buying it ! Any other advice is welcome!