Nice for the kids as far as the shag, but perhaps something more colorful than ivory (and more stain-proof...)

Yes, the stain issue does scare me away a bit, but my style lends itself more to neutral large pieces and color through accessories. It's a small space, I already feel like there is already too much visual clutter in here. I like more clean and simple!

Yes the stain might put a no on this but love these!!

Horselover22, this is precisely what I am looking at. The kids don't eat or drink in there...the reviews say it's stain resistant. I dunno.

I mean it might work! Just worried that when they get older stains would appear!

Maybe something like this might work better?

Moroccan shag would also work.

I'd say go for it, but find the least expensive version you can. But as the room is small-ish and you want to lighten it up ... I'd have more suggestions if you are up for it?

Is the shag a nylon. If so, I do not think you will have any cleaning issues. Will really brighten the space. I love the new shags.

Here is the one I am looking at. The beige color looks like it might work, too?
http://www.amazon.com/Safavieh-California-Collection-SG151-1313-Beige/dp/B0051HEDMI

Lessismore I'm happy to hear...

Envision a big ivory shag, you say? Well, yes I can.

Ok, that is awesome. I love it!

I'd like to envision the shelf gone from the spot next to the TV. Looks crowded and messy there. Do you have another place to put it? The floor lamp is all you need.

Lee Lee, I kind of agree. My husband might think I'm mad if I move something again. We are potentially planning on mounting the TV above fireplace which would get rid of that stand. Here is another angle of the room. That's the front door. I could put the bookcase there, but I can't guarantee that my 1 and 3 year olds won't try to climb it. My mantel is also looking sad these days.

Mantel and Shag rug ideas.

Thanks, everyone! I do love the moroccan shag, but I feel like I see it on every blog out there. I'll still leaning towards the shag-- the reviews I've read said it cleans up easy.

for clean up nothing beats an oriental rug in pure wool, preferably the hand-knotted rugs (not a flat weave)

Look on "arearugstyles.com". Great prices. They have all the brands. You could look up the rug you saw on Amazon. Bet it is cheaper.

Have you ever tried the couch in the corner where you have the ladder shelf and lamp? Swinging the whole couch around so that the couch sits under both windows and the tv doesn't block the window so you can have more light. What is across from the TV on the entrance side? I am wondering if that would open up . the floor space a bit. Can you talk a few more pictures from the front door looking into the entire room and also from the tv looking into the entrance.

tennisanyone, I've attached two photos of me shoved in a corner by the front door of the house. I removed the ladder shelf. I would swing the whole couch around if we mount the TV. Otherwise, I'm not sure where else we would put the TV. Also, the cable hookups are behind it as of now.

It looks like you already have wiring in place, over the FP, for a TV there. So on the other side of the room, to the right of the front door as you enter, I'm assuming there is a wall (and that the front door pretty much leads into a path to the kitchen and or hallway to the right where bedrooms are?)

lessismore, exactly. There is a wall to the right with a coat closet, and straight ahead is the eating area and to the right is hallway to bedrooms.

So TV over fireplace will solve most things here! I like the deep teal accents but I would remove the drapes entirely. I had thought to go more neutral on them, but really with the sectional ... it will just squish drapes. Do both the windows in the bamboo roll up. And I like what I see of your art btw.

This is one of my "favorite" rooms here and something about it reminds me of yours. Maybe ideas for you too? [houzz=]

So there is really no other place for the tv except over the fireplace. What I wanted to see was from the tv looking into the other side of the room into the entrance space. You said a coat closet but what else? What happened if you tried moving the couches like I said, slid the tv down, leaving the connections just to see if you like the couch set up before you actually move the tv over the fireplace.

I'll send you another pictures in a bit, but it's just a tight squeeze in there. I really though the TV can either go where it is, or above the fireplace. Yes, we'll definitely have to try out the couch reconfiguration before we mount the TV. I took down the peacock curtains and replaced with ivory curtains. Now the room looks kind of sad. I'll keep working on it.

I hate the fact that the tv blocks that window and the natural light. which you want more of. I do like the room better without the ladder shelf too. I believe in getting the arrangement right first. I personally have a hard time moving on from that and onto other things in a room and I know that is not what you asked about. In all the years I have been on here, only once recently (last month) did that get me in trouble when I told someone to move her chairs up closer to the couch !!! It wasn't her question and she took such offense. Its hard to tell the exact size of your sectional from a computer but are the couches the same size? After all this, that might be the only place for the tv if you didn't want to put it over the fireplace. It doesn't cost a thing to move the furniture. You can always move it back.

I would not have taken down the drapes. I would add another set to the other window. In a small room, it is nice that your eye goes up.

tennisanyone, totally not offended. I also don't love that the tv blocks the other window. The couches are not the same size. It's a sofa and a loveseat with a corner piece (the IKEA Karlstad). I'll put the peacock curtains back up, but do I have to get peacock curtains for the other window? I'm not sure I'm in love with those curtains, they just add a nice pop of color to the room. I will move the furniture as soon as I get a chance. But now it's dinner time and I have two hungry little kids!

Apologies to all, but don't do the drapes. Sure, a nice drape will add that pop of color, and bring height (sometimes), but I just don't see it doing it here. You can add color in other ways. More and more I'm seeing if one or two "pops" are good, 3,4 & 5 ... are not always better. Your room is smaller so more continuity in the colors makes it feel larger for me. The bamboo shades are enough for me and fit with the sofa and room for scale and function.

Never hurts to try it both ways. Lets get the arrangement right first.

Ha ha! Ahhh! Ok, I keep putting up and taking down drapes, so they are going to stay for a while. Plus, that room is FREEZING cold and the drapes help keep the cold air out. Maybe this weekend my husband will help me play around with the arrangement, but I don't think we will get around to mounting the TV anytime soon. We need to learn how! It seems complicated with the cables and what not.

Photos are deceptive ... but the more I look at it, the more I see that the window tops are so very close to the crown moldings as it ... and then, when you add in the rod element ... but, it may feel different in room vs. in photo :-) In fact, I'm now leaning more towards a lighter roman style shade.

lessismoore, and you made the tv disappear too :)

Poof, voila!

I've always wanted shag, but I can tell you, the hand-tufted wool I have is extremely hard to suck pet hair and dander out of, I cannot imagine how impossible it would be with shag. I think those people telling you light shag would be easy to keep clean with a dog around are very, very wrong.

As for the windows, you could add some pattern by having Roman shades made in a favorite fabric.

OK, I am loving the light Roman shade idea. I wish I would have turned here before I did the bamboo! That last picture that lessismore posted is so pretty, especially now that I have gotten rid of the ladder shelf. I have decided against the shag and have my eye on something different. Still light,but a lower pile and stain resistant. Now I'm really looking forward to getting that TV out of there but I'll have to be patient.

Oh the ivory rug will look great in your room. If the kids don't eat and drink in there then you shouldn't worry about stains. If you want to lighten the room up also try lighter pillows on the sofa and maybe some sheer drapes over the windows. The sun will still come through but they also help with privacy. Here are some examples of rooms with darker sofas:
http://www.nousdecor.com/inspiration/5043
http://www.nousdecor.com/inspiration/5170
http://www.nousdecor.com/inspiration/4970

I bought a shag rug. I love it, soft, pretty, white. But our jean bottoms got it durty over time, and I priced cleaning places, over $250 cdn to clean. I paid 500. Not sure its worth it, and the feel after I tried cleaning it with a carpet cleaning machine just isn't the same. But it's hot! I love it still, just sad it might be ruined. ps. I have no kids, just a bear of a man....:) xox