Measure the piano and either put tape on the floor where it might get moved to or place newspaper there the size of the piano, and see how big it is in that spot.

Would your corner piece in the dining room fit to the left of the fireplace and hold the TV equipment? I believe you said somewhere that it's not part of your dining room set. You might want to experiment with painting it white. I have heard that chalk paint (Annie Sloan or home made) is easy to use, with no sanding required. Your sofa table might look good in the dining room under the window.

I second what mom1022 said. Your home is lovely as it is, although there is nothing wrong with switching things around and trying to get something fresh. You're tweaking a very gracious home.

At your stage in life, when my children were young, we bought a house in our dream neighborhood. Unfortunately it did not have dream decor and we lived with outdated floorings, bathrooms and kitchen for 10 years until we had the funds to do a proper reno. We were very happy during those years and preferred to live with unstylish things rather than to take on financial burdens. It was the right choice for us at the time, even though some relatives expressed amazement that we could "stand it". Now they still have a mortgage at age 65 and ours is long gone, and I think our families were equally happy.

@Tania Orenstein, I believe the primary focus is to declutter or, as I like to say, polish the room up a bit. There are many planes to place things upon which is the beginning of your dilemma. First, walking into the home, from the photos posted, we hit a short bookcase with greenery and then a second with art above it. I would suggest a shorter height table with minimal storage beneath it behind the sofa to limit the decor on and below said table to not obstruct the view of the room. Next, remove the bookcase below the art. Remove the art on that wall, leaving room for your precious family photos. Next, I would move the sofas closer to the fireplace. One of the things we tend to do is push the furniture out against the walls when we should center ourselves around the fireplace to create a cozier, more personal experience. What this will also do is open up the entry area, making it much more spacious at first arrival. You may even be able to place the piano beneath the wall the family photos will be hung on, opening up the flow from the living room to the dining room. The desk in the corner is an issue since the living furniture will now be moved closer to that wall, rendering it unusable. If you can remove it, you will also be removing the clutter it brings to that room. Instead, you could place a tall silk tree in its place to spring up the space. Once you move the furniture closer, you may find that having one sofa and two club chairs would optimize the layout and traffic flow from one room to the other. In your mud room entry space near the front door, I would install (if possible) a wall plate with coat hooks. I would also purchase a shoe storage bench with either baskets beneath it to hide the shoes or one with drawers. The purpose behind this is to polish it up and yes, you will have to collect the excess shoes and transfer them to their respective places in the bedroom closets at the end of the day to keep the area from remaining cluttered. The shelving in that space should also be emptied and re-decorated with small frames or your choice...Good luck!

I have no suggestions beyond what others have said. I just have a question. What does NB stand for? Probably very obvious, but I just can't come up with it.

Ok! We have been busy! We moved the couches closer to the fireplace and moves the rug so that the couches sit on it. I removed the photos and papers...

NB means "take notice" the short form of "nota bene" (note well) in Latin. It's used as a short form for "important".

We're going to move the desk downstairs and temporarily replace it with a little square open table. I'm trying to convince my husband to switch the piano with the bookcase but since he bumps himself on anything and everything there's a little resistance haha

I like it much better. Is it OK for TV viewing - not too close?

It's 13 feet away from the tv and the suggest distance for this size tv is 6-10 we were almost 15 ft back before so it will just take some getting used to...

I just feel like the space behind the couch is so open now it would be perfect to place the piano there. Thing is the sofa table now is 34 inches tall and the piano is 42 inches tall - won't that be too high for behind the couch?

Also, we did try switch in the couch with the love seat and it just looked odd and was very narrow to pass through which is why we moved them back to where they were...

Oh it looks great - when they say 6-10 feet I think they are talking about eye level and you may feel some neck strain this way but you will have to experiment and you could probably move it back a foot depending on what you put behind loveseat. Piano will be too tall as it is but I am wondering if you could attach a white panel on top back of piano - strange idea but maybe .....?? Will piano fit on wall beside love seat now?

Here it is- what do you think?

So many comments I admit I did not go through them but think they probably helped a ton. I will say only one thing that I find to be easy and obvious and looks like you tried ( a few comments above )

-move the larger sofa much closer to the fireplace, find another space for the love seat and incorporate two chairs on either side of the sofa and fireplace to create the needed balance.

You have been sooooo busy and I love it! Hubby gets hugs!

I am not in the room, of course, but I like the piano on that wall.....that is a piano wall! Now, to cheat just a bit more.....try centering the couch with the two windows it is in front of and then scoot the love seat down to the arm is just a bit overlapping the couch.....but you do not have to move the love seat forward, as it is ok if they do not touch when you make this L.

Picture placement on the walls once furniture is set will make this room sooooooo put together.....and all it took? Grunt labor. I know, easy for me to say!

This is it now... I'll most a pic once the desk is gone!

I would still reconsider the height of the bookcase behind the sofa. It is too high. Another issue with that one bookcase is that it seems wider than the sofa. It should be one-third the width of the sofa to avoid eating corners as you walk by. The piano is the perfect height against that wall. I would dare to move the sofa a little closer to the television since the recommended distance for viewing is not compromised. It looks much better with the the piano moved to that wall. The area behind the sofa feeling too spacious is a sign of good space planning and decluttering. You want to feel the size of the room when you walk in. That's a very good thing in design! One more thing: Is it necessary to keep the cubby shelf if you really want to declutter? Oftentimes, it can feel too open when you start the decluttering process but minimizing furnishings is the best way to do it...It just takes awhile to get used to it...

OH, I love that piece by the fireplace......fills in the wall soooo nicely AND it is a good color for there. I am getting giddy thinking about how perfect this will look with all the art in just the right place...matching colors and size and getting it the right height. Take a break and have a drink! Of water, of course! LOL

Caroline- I agree! It is too high and just a little bit less wide than the love seat. My plan is to move it to the basement and use it for it's intended purpose of a TV stand and purchase an open sofa table to place behind the couch. I'm thinking of this piece http://www.keeperhome.com/99400.html?gclid=COmBoLSyrcMCFSgQ7AodHHQAIA
But there's no room for new furniture in our budget right now but eventually yes definitely!

Re mam1022's comment: I've hung fabric on furniture (same or compatible pattern/color as is in the room already).
if I have a furniture "back" that is somewhat exposed, I measure, turn upper edge 1" under, apply double-sided tape to wood first, peel white strip, then attach fabric top and press with small roller or roll a lg. marker over fabric for a good seal. Have done this to the inside back of an antique armoire as well, and the back of a bookcase that had sizable spaces which would allow dust gathering on books.

Piano is fabulous there - I am reformed - agree with abbyjean about centring sofa on windows - sofa table may need some work since it is a bit high for loveseat. Could you take that little cabinet in corner of DR and use as an end table beside sofa closest to FP? Check height first.

If the small piece from the dining room comes to the living room, could the table behind the love seat work under the window in the dining room?

The corner piece from dining room isn't deep enough to hold the electronics I need it to. Beneath The window in the dining room is a radiator do it won't work there and I don't want to overcrowd the dining room...

I'm liking the revised arrangement...a lot. But now, you have to tackle the "clutter"! take everything off of EVERY surface. put everything into big boxes. live with the "nothingness" for a week. Then, start taking things out....but no more than 3 items get put back onto any single surface. This means that 1 plant, one photo and one "object" get to go on the sofa table....all 3 at one end, but nothing at the other. Now, live with THAT for at least a week. I'll bet that your brain will start to appreciate the openness and lack of visual sensory overload. you can now maybe add one or two items back to each surface, but once you can memory-see how calming the empty is, you may just box up the rest for storage, donation, etc. Give it a try....

The piano looks great on that wall! You've made an amazing difference.

You might get a rug for the area in front of the door. Now that it is a good-size space, a rug would define it. Also practical for catching grit before it enters the house and ruins your lovely wood floors.

What shape rug do you think I should do?

Hard to tell as I don't know the size. Similar in size to your living room rug, I would say. You could try it out and see.

I would move the sofa table to the basement now, and put nothing behind the sofa. Nothing wrong with some space near your front door!

Instead I would put a small table underneath the mirror. Your desk might be perfect for that spot, maybe without the pull-out portion if that can be removed. Then hang the mirror in the cubby. Replace it with a longer picture - one of the pictures that is now to the left of the fireplace (2 is too many in that little space).

But not today - you two have earned some rest!

Tania Orenstein ... like the new position of the piano. Maybe the piano was left in the house for a reason. If it does not keeps it"s tune , will be costly for upkeep. If it stays in that position arrangement of pictures above need to be addressed.

The plants that are on the unit behind the sofa are mainly "floor plants" that will grow tall. Would suggest grouping some together to left side of the fireplace. Fireplace tools could be placed to right side on the edge of the stone hearth. On the sofa table could uses some shorter decorative items .. (grouping of candles)

The ponytail palm would be nice sitting on the corner table in the dining room to give a bit of green there.

The bookcase is long so it needs groupings of like items. Maybe a grouping of plants on top to the right.

Nice mirror by the entry door but it would reflect better if it was taller.

Seems like tape is in quite a few answers today, but seriously, taping out on the foyer floor might help you make sure you get the right size. Too many rugs by doors are dinky and you cannot even walk in and remove shoes easily.

I'm loving the piano/bookcase switch! Modtiki must be happy too. We were both typing away on the same idea the other day. Can you talk hubby into wall mounting the TV over the bookcase now? Whatever you put behind the sofa should be even with or a tad lower than the sofa - not sticking up above it. I'm still pushing for a desk and you have the floor space for it. Lower the "arc de triomph" picture to 5" above the piano and remove the other two.

I just had this same kind of issue. Ur room closely mimics ur inspiration room. i would paint ur room a light bright nearly white color. Take all ur pix down and remove the stuff on ur desk replace w 1 or 2 sophisticated peices to ur liking. remove the rug and replace it w a lighter one. Get some throw pillows u love and wait til u find the perfect large scale art to frame the fp
i would also paint the brick inside my fireplace a fun snappy color to match ur pillows and new art.

ps....sorry i jus saw ur new changes. looks much nicer w changes. i would get a cedar chest of some kind for ez toy hiding or shoes and kiddo clutter. I'm always looking for creative hiding places for our stuff

If you have wall paint left, you could paint the back of the piece behind the love seat since it is unfinished.

I would remove then kitchen wall and make open space between kitchen dining and living area, you can relocate your office to the basement , need some recessed lights above fireplace

Yay!! I love the piano on that wall! I play, and have my family's piano, built in 1900. I think they deserve their own spotlight :) I think your room is really coming along, and you must be thrilled with all the new spaciousness. I like the idea of an entry rug and a storage ottoman/coffee table to hide toys. You've got so many people giving you great ideas now.... almost makes me want to post pictures of my living space and ask for advice. But my style is pretty "weird" by most people's standards, so I'm not sure!

If you want to keep a plant or two on top of your piano, make sure you are very careful not to get any water on the wood. Perhaps put the ponytail palm on a plant stand/tiny table to the left of the piano?

Once the desk is gone, could you put the unit behind the loveseat on the wall to the right of the windows? Or are you moving that to the basement at the same time? I would also group the accessories on the cube unit on the right hand side, to balance the picture on the left. Great job!

Could the bookcase behind the couch go in the empty space next to the front door? That would modernize and clean up the look of the living room a lot, while giving you more "right near the door" spots for things you need.

Love the look of the piano in its new spot, but am amazed that all these piano conservators think that 10 feet from the main entrance is a good location! Once you start tuning it, I think you'll move it back. :) However, meantime, it looks great and that dark piece looks fantastic to the right of the fireplace! Hope you find something sort of similar for the left side, where it will hide your cords and other stuff.

Thanks so much everyone! We've had a little snowstorm in NY, so I've been home with the kiddies, but i'm going to try and start moving stuff this weekend! I'll definitely check in when I make any changes. So far my mother, babysitter and other people have come by and are amazed what a difference moving the couches and piano made! YAY!
What kind of art do you suggest I hang above bookshelf by the fireplace. It shares a wall with the fireplace which has a huge TV mounted above it so i feel like it needs to be something not too overwhelming?

Still think TV needs to go over the bookshelf - either sitting on it or wall mounted. Anything you hang above the mantel should be within the footprint established by the firebox and no higher than window and door frames. The TV is already overstepping these bounds. If you wall mount the TV over the bookcase, use an articulated arm so it can be swing to face the living or the dining room. Measure the Arch de Triomphe piece and the gold framed one to see which works best over the FP. I can only identify the subject matter of the one at the piano, and I think that would make for a great focal at the FP, because it is very identifiable and striking, but it may be too wide.

Isn't it wonderful to get a thumbs up from family and friends after you have worked so hard?

Why don't you take some pics of art you already have in your home and need places for or do not care if it gets moved....sometimes it is fun to change up art, too. Then we can look at the frame color and the size and shape of it with the cabinet. OR place some, propped at the back, on the cabinet and post.

Oh, and happy you survived the storm...just to clean out now, huh?

One thing to avoid is the roller coaster effect (up, down, up, down). Stand back and look at your room paying attention to the window moulding, art, door frames, TV, bookcase, piano etc, you do not want things to have such drastic drops up and down. Look into Use What You Have Decorating....I believe you will find moving the TV isn't necessary and adding pictures might not be either. Decide what your focal point is, fireplace?, TV?, front window? Also, take away all the little things and group larger items together.
Wishing we had just a little snow here in eastern, WA....enjoy!!

decoenthusiast - i don't think the TV is going to get moved - I i feel like it would be too overwhelming for the dining room since its a large TV and ma pretty ok with it above the fireplace for viewing purposes.
abbyjean - I have a ton of paintings that are sitting in my basement still wrapped from our move (2 years ago!). I should take a look through them!

Yes, always shop your home first. It will be especially fun if they have not been out for a few years and will seem new and the whole room will be new with them. And you must have liked them if you moved them with you.

Of course, it is your decision, but I think it is overwhelming where it is now, and the wall to the right is much larger than the space above the mantel. Moving it would also be better for its health and yours. http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/please-dont-mount-your-tv-over-the-fireplace/

Forgot, you should use blue painter's tape and tape off the TV shape on that wall and live with it for a few days. It may not be the issue you anticipate it will be. Remember how you felt about the piano until you actually moved it!

I loved watching you transform your living room just by moving things around. How about current pics with all the changes you must have made with the advice you got from the Houzz community? Please ;-)

What kind of flooring do you have?