Yeah you have a ton of light. Don't worry I'm used to small spaces. 900sqft is bigger than mine. Can the TV be moved?

er612 the TV has to stay put. We've insulated the wall it's on and it allows one person to be watching TV while the other is in the kitchen listening to music. We've tried it on the wall across from the sofa and find that the sound from theTV interfers with the music in the kitchen.

Really like "Water Trees" Canvas Wall Art

Keep the bike print up. Raise it so it's about 6 inches from the top of the sofa back. That one speaks to you so keep it up. You can hang the poppies one over across the room with a small console table under it. I do like the ones you posted also.

Always use art that says something to you. That's what art is supposed to do. Give you a comfortable feeling.

That's fine. Have you tried the sofa on the opposite wall in front of the windows? I would then turn your rug 90 degrees. This will open up the entry tremendously. You'll just have to turn the TV slightly but you should have no trouble viewing it from the couch.

Grover's chair is perfect! Looks great with your sofa, especially with the bright pillows.

I know you were hesitant to do the chairs in a color. Maybe a pale blue would be less intimidating? Just a thought, I really love the idea of blue chairs in this room.
http://houzz.com/photos/15509655
http://houzz.com/photos/21754045
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er612 what do you think? the rug is too big to turn the other way. where should the chairs go?

groveraxle I love what you have done with the room! I was looking at the chair on overstock and I love it! thank you

Definitely keep your four-legged accessory! I love the rug too.

I'd put the chairs across from the sofa with the bicycle print centered on the wall behind them. What are the room dimensions? How do you like the sofa on the opposite wall so far? Is it functional? Do you have anything else that you haven't found a place for (books, clothes) or another function that your home currently lacks (ex. office). The key to small spaces is multifunction furniture, which you were already employing with the shoe storage/end table. I may have other ideas, depending on what you need.

hi brown64 I'm beginning to see how blue chairs would enhance the room. love the 3rd one from the right. Very pretty

bluefiddle - my little Kitty Pearl is definately NOT on the chopping block!

er612 I'm committed to leaving the sofa where it is for a week to see what we think. its actually easier to watch TV which I found surprising. The room is 15x15. my husband an I watch TV together on the sofa. I'm considering putting a chair and ottoman on the opposite wall for a little reading nook. I can pull the carpet out from underneath the sofa so that just the front legs rest on the legs and I think it would be enough so that the chair and ottoman will also touch the rug. what do you think?

would it be too much to have end tables on each side of the sofa? should I remove the curtains that are behind the sofa? does it look funny having the sofa in front of the windows?

The chair that Grover posted is awesome but I don't think it goes with the coffee table and sideboard style.

The bike looks much better than poppies

I think you can make the rug and the poppies work, but your pillows and chair have to be very carefully chosen. You will have to look and look again. You need small pattern in pillows so as to complement the larger pattern on rug.

Don't try to match the pillows to the dark rust in the picture, use the lighter colors in the rug.

think texture for pillows first. If you find a small print to use, then add it, but don't start with it. A really large print or a really small print so as to allow the print in the rug to be the middle size.

not all of these at once of course, just a few directions to go

put the blues on the couch and the peaches on the chairs unless you can find a print with blue and peach that is either small or very large.

I guess that geometric prints will work, but not more flowers. Leave the flowers and leaves in the rug.

Some suggestions....

Don't be afraid to mix patterned chairs with the rug. As long as the colors are compatible, it creates interest and impact in the room. I like chair #1 in the series as it ties in with the sofa and rug. Putting design and texture in the pillows for sofa ties it altogether. A solid brick or spice pillow for the chairs will add that 3rd pop of accent color.

How big is your rug??

Sorry. I have been at work all day. The chair was on Amazon. I was really looking for a nice mission style, to connect with your coffee table. I had a chair like this for years. What I liked about it was how easy it was to reupholster when I got tired of that fabric/color. If you go this way, you can get blue now, then change it later if you want.
Something like this link. http://www.dutchcrafters.com/Amish-Mission-Morris-Chair-with-Adjustable-Back/p/5352

I liked your room the 1st way you had it, however how grover placed the blue chair I think was opposite of what it should have been. I would go plain with the chair. It is so hard to mix prints.

Do you still have the blue console that was your TV stand? If so, can you post a picture of it?

Hi! A lot of activity already. If the room is 15x15, the rug can be turned. I would turn the rug, leaving the sofa where you had moved it to - under the opposite windows.

I would pull the rug out from under the sofa, so that the "living area" feels larger and the entryway area smaller. With more rug exposed the couch will seem smaller and will be less difficult to neutralize relative to the carpet. Use any chair or chairs you get to anchor the rug in the room, plus get some non slip padding to hold at least the corners in place.

If you still have the blue sideboard, but do not want to use it for the TV, place it either next to or in front of the window adjacent to your front door. Use it for keys, umbrellas, mail, hats and gloves, etc. "Home Central..." If you have a coat tree you could put that there as well to help define your entryway. Also a mirror to quickly check for whatever on the way out the door.

The area of exposed hardwood floor along the wall where the couch once was can be covered with the jute(?) mat you have. Place a bench or other seat there so people can easily remove and put on shoes.

If you do this, you will be able to fill that entire wall opposite the couch with art works of various kinds, bringing in LOTS of different colors - including as much blue and beige as you can. An arrangement of art on that far wall would warm the whole space while defining that wall area almost as a separate space. Don't forget to use any shawls, colored throws and small blankets you have to bring color to your sofa!

Good luck. ;- )

I think the fact that the rug is against the wall behind the couch is bothering me. I would move it so that it runs the opposite way - from the white door to the sideboard/TV. Then the couch can be half on,half off the rug. I think this would alter the room's proportions in a positive way.

I think there is an issue with the coffee table. Perhaps a little big, or high, or too matchy/competitive with the sideboard? I have a similar style rug and took ages to get the right coffee table in the right position for the (slightly-bossy) pattern on the rug. Try turning the rug the other way and removing the coffee table. Once you have a couple of new chairs, side tables might work better? Or try the coffee table under the window in the corner, with some nice pieces of pottery, plants, books on it. You can still get it out if you need it for entertaining.

Don't give up on the things you already have and love. Eventually they will play nicely together - just a matter of balance and tweaking. Someone once told me that bending over and looking at your room through your legs, gives a completely different perspective on your room (or garden), kind of like when someone else walks in and immediately gives a solution.

I used a 9x12 rug in the following layouts. It seems to fit turned 90 degrees. Let me know if the rug is a different size. Anyway, here are some layouts with chairs. You have plenty of room for one or two chairs.

Have you considered a sofa slipcover in neutral? Go with the blue and beige theme of the rug. curtains could be blue and white for color instead of the all white. also consider a grouping of pictures on the wall instead of the poppies, that wall looks so empty.

Hope this translates for wall paint possibility.

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2015-04/alexa-hampton-before-and-after-slideshow_slideshow_item0_1http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2015-04/alexa-hampton-before-and-after-slideshow_slideshow_item0_1

er612 did a nice job of drawing a quick plan of my suggestion above. Option three is closest to what I described.

The chair (closest to front door) NEEDS to be angled so it's easier to view the television - and easier to get past the chairs from the front door/entry area. This would also invite use of a round coffee table.

Don't push the rug right up against the kitchen wall either. Center it between the kitchen wall and the front door wall. NOTHING looks as bad as cramped carpet fringe.

Buy yourself an inexpensive floor mat to put over the carpet at the front door. ;- )

wow! thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions! The orientation of the carpet is clearly a problem and the first thing I'll play with when I get home this afternoon. I'll try it a couple of different ways and post pictures.
the blue sideboard is really big. 60 inches x 24. I agree that the coffee table isn't right and needs to be replaced. I'll add it to the list. Thanks again for everything I feel so much better about this room. now I'm off yo work. sigh.

er612 the carpet is just about 8x12. sorry I said it wouldn't fit. I was thinking it would be too close to the runner in front of the door but now I know that there are options. thank you.

No problem. I figured that was the concern. Plus it probably was tight on the other side of the room. If you notice in the second layout, I moved the rug towards the kitchen a bit. The sofa is still centered on the windows but I put a wider side table on the right. This way the rug is still centered with the furniture but isn't so close to the door.

fun color choice would look nice with sofa and rug.....rug in pic is has red, cream, etc.

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2015-04/alexa-hampton-new-york-city-home-article

Hi Suzanne - that's a great idea! I love that painting - but I was afraid it would clash with the rug because of the orange. Maybe I'll try it...

er612 - what do you think about the rug placement now? it's butting against the runner but I think it works! It certainly makes the living room look larger. My concern with end tables and lamps is that they will block the windows. Are there other options?

soosun2 - I love fun colors in small doses :)

I cracked. I just don't like the sofa facing the wall so I moved the sofa back to the original spot. The windows and view are my favorite parts of my home and this arrangement makes it impossible to enjoy the view. However, I do like the idea of having a less congested entry so...I moved the entryway bench to the opposite wall! I think it works. I tested the flow several times (my neighbors probably think I'm nuts going in and out of the house) I'm going to buy a small white bench (so it blends with the wall) and a longer runner. This way I can put an end table beside the sofa and it makes sense. What do you think?

The room is coming together so nicely. I think end tables and lamps will all balance and frame the sofa. The end tables can match or be mismatched. One could be wood and one could be painted an accent color in the room. Painting definitly gives you the option of choosing end tables second hand or in the classifieds and can be money saving. Plus Annie Sloane Chalk Paint seems to be all the thing now because of its bright colors and professonal looking results in the application of the paint.

Another thing I just noticed, is that your curtains seem to be short. Raise the rods all the way to the ceiliing, add a finishing panel so that the curtain just brush the floor, in a solid color or a strip in coordinating colors or just a plain color that matches the upper panels and heat tape a wide strip of grosgrain ribbon over the seam, again in a coordinating color. I also think that your panels should be double the width they are so that they show up against the windows, which are really a nice placement on the wall.

I think you are so cool to be embracing all the ideas that are coming your way and selecting what you love so that you are actually finishing the room. Great job!

color block curtain idea for added length. It cut off the blocking! aargh! You will have to click more info.

TV is in a very odd place for comfortable viewing. Try between windows. Mount it and put a trunk or storage under it. That way you can look out the windows or watch tv. Leave current stand where it is for additional lighting or place for keys and mail.

Use headphones while working in kitchen. Sometimes we have have to give up something to get something better.

Lighter pillows, patterned drapes and accents in blue. Room needs color to distract the eye from the sofa. It is a fine couch and you can work with it. Accent wall behind sofa would blend couch in more. Maybe a tan that is in rug. Maybe a light turquoise blue. Like rug pulled out from under couch. You have room to put a small chair at side of couch either straight on or angled (slipper chair). Or a couple slipper chairs in front of couch as long as the tv is mounted higher than chair backs. Ottoman would be good idea and serve as extra seating or could use as a coffee table with a nice big cb2 tray or just to put feet on when relaxing. You could also put a couple small ottomans under the current tv stand. Ottomans are so versatile and you can find good deals on them. I like the artwork colorwise. You could move it over to current tv wall also if tv gets moved. Hope this helps.

Ion,You might want to move the sofa out from the wall and put a sofa table behind it. Put the lamp on one end and use the end table between the 2 additional chairs facing the sofa. Your chairs front legs should be on the rug. You will have some space behind the chairs to the windows but it will make your seating area much better. A chest or bookcase between the 2 windows with accessories will balance the room. A couple of tall plants in the corners or a floor lamp on one side with a short potted plant at the base would look nice. Cannot see if you have a ceiling fixture, but one located over the middle of the seating area would be Fab. I like the flower picture over the sofa. It will tie into some coral or blue pillows that have been posted. I like the blue chairs, no matter which ones you love and choose, pop them with a small lumbar pillow to tie to the sofa and picture. If you are getting rid of the coffee table here are some suggestions for the piece between the windows and a coffee and/or sofa table. Check for dimensions on the wall between the windows to make sure what size table or book case will fit there. Check around for used sofa tables as it will be hidden behind the sofa.

Here are a couple of suggestions for coffee table, end table and table for between the windows:

Use taller table between windows.

One more

With this set you could match with this for between the windows however, they re hard to find and super expensive:>)

Might just want to go this route

and then hang your bicycle pint over it. Use your long low storage unit at the foot of the bed and consider one of these chandeliers for over the seating area.

BTW, I understand your issues with placement of the furniture. You live there. I just tried to make the room more appealing and work around your wants and needs. No, it will not be the perfect room for everyone, but hopefully it will accommodate you and your family and it will please you.

Hi, lonczakem... Congratulations on realizing that those windows are your INSPIRATION! (You're beginning to see the light.)

You're now learning about HOW you live in your space and what aspects of it are important to you. Such knowledge is far more important than any color scheme or throw pillow!

Real homes GROW, guided and nurtured by the needs and habits of those who live in them. A designer (or 20, lol) can help "frame" your raw space, but ultimately your lives and preferences put the brush strokes on the canvas. That takes TIME!

So for now, pat yourself on the back and forget the "decorating details" UNTIL you know HOW your space "works for you." "Layout" is "the Frame" for which you're now getting a feel. Once you have that, everything else will fall easily into place.

Keep A WRITTEN LIST of each constraint you face as they reveal themselves. These become your "parameters." But keep in mind that each "parameter" is also merely a problem looking for alternative solutions.

As I write this, someone has again suggested relocating the TV... NOT a bad idea, except for your "Sound Problem..."

Perhaps there are OTHER SOLUTIONS to your "sound problem" BEYOND what you've already done. What about a set of thick drapes hung over the doorway between the LR and DR? With the suggestions you've been offered you certainly know what colors to look for! ;- )

IF this option WORKED, it would blow everything wide open! THEN, you COULD leave the couch where it is...

OR, you could:

1) Keeping your rug's current orientation, center your rug on the LR/DR opening. Pull the sofa out at least 3 feet from both the wall it's currently against as well as that wall against which the TV is currently placed. THAT puts your entry/ pathway BESIDE and then BEHIND your SOFA... leading to all other rooms in the house (as it should.) That makes your LR a contained and cozy space - a destination, not just a pass-through. You won't have room for end tables, BUT you could put a narrow Sofa Table BEHIND the sofa to support the hard working coffee table. Put the TV in the corner or between the two windows. Plenty of room for chairs.

OR

2) Rotate the rug 90 degrees (back to its initial orientation in the room) and center it as best you can on the LR/DR opening. It should end up right against the window wall. NEXT - with its BACK to your entry door and FACING your LR/DR opening - place your sofa on the rug centered on the LR/DR opening. The sofa need only be 3.5 feet from the front wall. to leave sufficient room to comfortably open the front door entirely. The sofa will be approximately in line with the left window on the window wall. NEXT, determine whether you wish to pull the rug out from under the sofa and more toward the LR/DR opening, which will expose more rug. (I'd expose as much rug as possible.) Sofa sitters will still enjoy views through both window-wall windows. Move your TV and its table to a) the center of the window wall, b) the corner of that wall, or c) to the left side of the LR/DR opening - opposite where it is now.

Room enough for two chairs and at least one end table...! Coffee table in the usual place, (but needs lowering to work in that space, so trim the legs.) Also, (in my opinion,) coffee table could be a candidate for a partial paint job, too! Though a table runner or small table cover on there could also do wonders!

Wherever your sofa finally lands, your DR painting WILL add a lot to your LR. When it comes to art - especially art you LIKE - color doesn't matter much (UNLESS you're a hotel chain.) REAL art is as good as or better than any bicycle poster!

Look around your house for more inspiration! At your stage in life (youngER,) my FAVORITE accessories and furniture were mostly "found" items (often curbside,) family cast-offs, Good Will finds, and "my personal creations." What other reason could The Universe possibly have had for inventing soap, elbow grease, fabric, and paint!

I still have MANY of my "early" pieces! (Like a BARN full - lol!) I actually even discovered a few were "valuable." However, nearly ALL have become family treasures. So start MINING all Your resources!

Get lots of good exercise shuffling furniture, and Have LOTS of FUN doing it, too! Always remember that your "Houzz Family" is awaiting your report!

Whew!! LoL! (I must be nutsy!)

Hugs! Suzanne ;-D

I love all your suggestions....it makes working with a room Fun trying out different combinations until you get it just right for your family.

soosun2, thank you, TOO! So many folks are pitching in here, including YOU and your generously researching and posting those pics of potential furniture ideas! So much of our perception of "space" is sensory and "feeling based" that pictures and diagrams really do help. This is a perfect example of a situation in which a picture truly IS "worth a thousand words..." YOU (and others) who provided the pictures helped bring my dry words to life and probably got lonscakm excited! And that's the BEST thing we can all do for each other on a forum like "houzz!" So thank you. I'm sure lonscakm's head is now spinning with all these new possibilities... ;- D lolol

All of your furniture is beautiful, and I love the poppy picture and the rug. I like the blue in the room, and I do believe chairs in a plain blue or small blue and white chevron stripe or hounds tooth check would look nice while adding a different texture. For variety, would you consider moving the table you now have at the end of the sofa to the TV wall and putting the TV on it? Perhaps you could add a curtain valence on a suspension rod or small doors to conceal the shoes that are stored there. If you do not need the table for storing shoes, perhaps you have DVDs and other TV accessories you could store there. The new credenza is great for the TV, but for the sake of variety, perhaps you could place it between the two windows, put a lamp on it, and then have one of the proposed blue chairs on each side of the credenza. I agree with other posters that some orange and yellow accessories, such as throw pillows, would look nice. The orange and yellow would bring out the color of the poppies and also blend with the autumn leaves in the picture in the adjoining room.

If you do choose to move the tables, the coffee table could be placed with the long side between the end of the sofa and the window. Since the coffee table appears to be higher than the table you originally had by the sofa, it will give the lamp the greater height it needs to be in proportion with the sofa and the rest of the room. You have beautiful elements in this room, and I just made some suggestions for different placement and uses of the tables.

To my eye the main thing that looks wrong is the height of the sideboard with the TV on it, it's too leggy compared to the other furniture. I would put the TV on a more modern TV console that is lower in height and more of a solid unit. Don't worry, it will all come together eventually - all good things take time : )

I would add light blue pillows, (2) 18 x 18" and (2) 14 x 14" and put fringe on the smaller pillows in the light blue. Then, add two small chairs or even two ottomans covered in a solid fabric with texture and no print pattern or it will be too busy with the rug and the poppy picture.
I would also put a small table next to the front door and put a tray on it for keys, candy, whatever...

To start with the TV's in the wrong place & it needs more color & interesting things.