Can I put a sisal rug in this wood paneled room? It's a rental and we have a whole house to furnish so budget is tight. I want a neutral toned oriental, similar to the one in the picture but bigger, but boyfriend is balking at the price. I thought sisal might work but I'm having trouble envisioning it. The rest of the house is pretty basic 1984-built colonial with beige walls, hardwoods on the main level, etc.

Also, any suggestions on my proposed layout? Just moved in a few days ago so the decor elements (curtains, rug, pillows, stuff on mantle) are all temporary. Please ignore those - my taste isn't THAT bad! :) I will be doing brown/neutral pillows to tie the furniture together. We will use this room daily and TV over the fireplace is a no-go.