Inexpensive changes?... Place the piano on the far wall with clock and above it. Yes, replace "boxy" chairs with something smaller and taller, and printed fabric. If you can't put sofa at an angle, place to view out the window with larger artwork behind sofa. Change out drapery. Needs matching lamps. Needs a definite pop of color.

Hi Sarabley. I've done a rough reshuffle of your layout below (the drawing on the right -- click on the pic if you can't see it properly). The only reason that I have included the photograph is to suggest that, if you keep the mirror in the room, you paint the frame blue, matching the curtains -- it looks softer and more cheerful.. But if you do keep it I suggest it goes above the two chairs I've placed on the right, to reflect window light and view. I think it would be good to look at a fair-sized piece of art over the piano as you enter the room. I'd like to see the sofa turned the other way around, possibly with a small console table behind it if the back looks boring to you. Also, I think a coffee table, possibly glass-topped, would be attractive and practical in front of the sofa. Leather chair angled in the corner with the lamp.

(Oh dear, the pic isn't attaching. I'll try again on a separate comment.)

All of your furniture pieces are large, with wide arms, and the same height.
Can you move the recliner to another room and move the two chairs so they are facing the sofa? Try not to choose such dark, heavy pieces.

Yes, switch the piano and the sofa. This will give you something with open legs to look at when entering the room and minimize the bulkiness of the brown sofa. (Hope that's not an exterior wall, though, since pianos should always be placed on interior walls.) Find a couple end tables to flank the sofa. Nesting end tbles could be pulled out and used as coffee tables.

The mirror placed over the sofa on the right wall will reflect all the light from the window. Put the big clock over the piano and arrange the family photos on the wall where the clock is now. I think your two lighter chairs are fine, but can you re-home" the bulky leather chair?

It is difficult to get a read on the colors in your room. The walls look beige, the sofa looks gray and curtains look blue, yes?? Well your furniture is good so what I think you need is a focal point. My suggestions would be to move the bookcase/hutch to the wall where sofa is now. Put sofa on wall to face windows. Raise the curtain rod so that the curtains just "kiss' the floor. A mirror would look good over the sofa on the new wall but the one you is too wide, it should be about 75% of the sofa width. Move piano where bookcase is now and put clock over it. Make it is hung lower than height it is now. Recliner will have to move a little towards where bookcase is now. Use floor lamp with recliner. Get another end table so you can put one on each end of sofa and get more substantial lamps for them. Get some art for over sofa and pick a color from it for your accents. Then use it 2 more places in room: such as pillows on chairs and throw on sofa. Good start just a few tweaks and you'll have nailed it.

PS, I love your curtains. I wouldn't change them for the world. They provide a very specific character and prettiness to the room. I've been contemplating the possibility of a rug, but I think rug-on-rug might give a bit of a stuffy feeling to an otherwise airy space. Anyway, I'd play with furniture positions first -- lots of good ideas on that here -- before investing in a rug that might not be needed. Certainly, introducing art and (please consider?) painting the mirror frame would do a lot to bring the interest of colour into the room, so I don't think you would need a rug for that.

ok, thank you so much for all the good suggestions! When I get some time I'll definitely try the different arrangements!

jck910 - the walls are spiced gold - BM paint (I have contemplated changing that, too...I am not good at this stuff at all). The sofa is a gray/taupe - called mushroom and the chairs are a good mix b/w the sofa and walls.

I like the idea of art in the room. I feel like maybe that's what's needed...add some color. Thinking...should I do a more neutral curtain and then add color with pillows and art?

Here is a link to a room that I really like. I'm thinking that maybe painting the walls a softer/light color might make the room feel more airy. Right now we have a ton of oak trim - the whole house is oak - kitchen, doors, banister, which is fine with us, but I think that the spiced gold paint with all the oak trim is over powering and so blah. Any thoughts on that? Would that make a huge difference? And what should be my first step in figuring out what to do? Thank you again for taking time to give me your thoughts!!

I would go with a light gray paint color and add warmer colors in accents - a yellow or red might be a good choice with gray for accents. Agree with others about switching places between the piano and couch to give you more of a seating area across from each other. With the sloped walls, the art should be larger and higher than what you have now, given the height of the walls there.

I remember this dilemma from a while back. I think you said that your husband loves his recliner and it has to stay :) You may definitely be onto something re: paint color. I'd lose the mirror and focus on some colorful art.

ok, I tried what Rina suggested. Something still just doesn't seem right. Let me know thoughts!

SandyC - any suggestions on smaller scaled, "lighter" pieces? I just do not like the box-y-ness of the chairs I have and maybe the recliner/chair is too big and bulky?!

I think if I could find something comparable - comfy, and looks nice - for the recliner he would be just fine...he just wants to have a chair that he can put his feet up:)

This is a room that I found while searching around this site - [https://www.houzz.com/photos/jenkins-baer-associates-traditional-family-room-baltimore-phvw-vp~693498[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/jenkins-baer-associates-traditional-family-room-baltimore-phvw-vp~693498) - love the look and the "feel" of this. Not sure if I could do something like this in my room, but what do you think? I am open to buying new furniture/pieces. Probably not sofa b/c I do like that, but the chairs I have never really liked since I bought them:(

HI -- No , sorry I don't like the piano as the focal point . can the piano go out of the conversation grouping and in a less obvious place ? The chairs that are giving you concern are the pieces I like the best for the room . Not a fan of the huge recliner, but it's not the end of the world for it to stay . One thing I would like to see for this room is .... have the walls and the ceiling all one color and then add some dark beams on the slope of the ceiling . This will give the room a style and texture . Put the biggest Art on the biggest wall and have the sofa or the two chairs on the biggest wall . Or go back to the first picture furniture arrangement but have a console cabinet /buffet where the piano is/was ,then a big painting over and table lamps etc.

Here is a picture that I took a few months ago when trying to get this all figured out. The cabinet is now painted...and really, I liked it this way the best, but then a few family members said they liked the piano on the wall where the cabinet is (in this pic). If we go with this one...can anyone give me recommendations for artwork, tables, lamps? Should I put anything on top of the cabinet? Looking at this pic, I think I really like the room this way:) Thoughts?!

HI -- If you like this then that's what you should keep . What color did you paint the cabinet ?? Go for a big square painting off set and not centered over sofa or a long low painting . Only about 6 inches between sofa back and bottom of the Art .

oops,I posted my comments after you posted yr pic with the preferred arrangement ! :-)

Agree with anne dee like I stated earlier sofa needs to be facing windows. The curtains are good also just need to be hung properly. Just checked BM no spiced gold came up. I just did a room BM Nantucket Gray, I think it would be good for your room lightened 50%.

ok, I did some rearranging this afternoon. Let me know what you think. And also suggestions on tables (wood/painted a color, shape, etc.) and where I should put tables, lamps, coffee table or an ottoman, artwork for above sofa. Thanks so much! jck910 the color I have now is more of a goldy tan, so I am thinking that a lighter gray/taupe would be really pretty. Hmmm..got me thinking... OK, so thanks again everyone!

Yes, please put cabinet on far end wall and couch facing window to make for a conversation area. Then do end tables similar to color of cabinet . Use nice big picture behind couch. No mirrow. Not enough room for a coffee table. See how this arrangement works.

Have you looked at greatbigcanvas for art? You can narrow by color, subject, size, etc. Do you lean more toward abstract or realism? And favorite colors?

I tend to lean towards abstract and I like cream, blues, greens :) Thanks Indomom! WW Foskey, I will attach a pic of something similar, but couch in front of window (this was from quite a while ago)..the way this room is laid out is it is a narrow and long room with the window on the center of the outside wall. (If I put the sofa on the right wall the chair in that corner looks really goofy...maybe b/c of the deepness of the chair?!)so it's just hard to get the chairs to look right b/c they are boxier and that's why I question the chairs - if I should get different ones ...more rounded, not so deep, etc. And also in this picture you might notice a little how the chair on the left looks a bit awkward...if I put the sofa on the other wall it for some reason looks even more awkward! I'll see if I can find another picture! I've tried about every possible way to re-arrange this furniture:) Thanks again!

Your furniture needs to be pulled out from all the walls. It would look much better and create a cozier conversation area.

It may not be the furniture; it may be the room itself that doesn't seem quite right.

You could try redefining the ceiling. While the half vaulted space has a more open feel than the standard flat ceiling, the absence of symmetry can also be disconcerting to some -- it can also bring to mind half of a mobile home being pulled behind a truck on the highway and, therefore, create an unfinished look/feel.

You could try visually re-defining the room as having a uniform ceiling height -- the same height as above the windows -- but still leaving the actual ceiling of the room unchanged.

The least expensive way to do this would be to buy rolls of wall paper trim tape --some is actually peel and stick like tape or contact paper -- and attach it horizontally to the top of the wall at the ceiling all along the exterior wall above the windows and then continue to attach the same trim -- level -- all around the room. This trim comes in a wide variety of styles and designs to enable you to personalize the room to suit your own taste and reflect your own interest. ( geometric, striped, hobby -- hunting, fishing, gardening, etc.). I'd try this first. If you have a larger budget and/or if that trim doesn't resolve your dissatisfaction with the look/feel of the room, you could try to do something along the same lines but with wood trim boards.

You could try putting a horizontal trim board -- level -- all around the room, including above the windows, with the paint color above the trim board the same color as the ceiling (or a third color such as either lighter or darker version of the wall color).

You could also add more two more trim boards on each vaulted/angled end to redefine the shape of the end wall by creating a faux gable end:

The first board would begin at the horizontal board at the outside wall and follow the angled line of the ceiling and stopping at a point midway. The other board would abut the point of the faux gable end and then angle down to meet the top of the horizontal trim board at the interior wall. There will be a small part of the end wall (upper right corner) that will be outside the gable end to be left the same color as the ceiling and above the horizontal board on the center interior wall; however, you could paint or wallpaper or otherwise decorate and define the gable end you create with something other than the wall or ceiling paint color.

If you choose to try the trim boards, I'd mark where the horizontal boards will go before putting them up and paint the wall to be above them the ceiling color before putting the boards up. (If you create the faux gable end, you may want to paint (or otherwise finish-- such as wallpaper) the faux gable itself differently from either the ceiling or wall and it would be wise to do this before affixing the trim boards as well.

My personal choice would be to finish the trim boards in a light or medium wood finish -- match the finish of your favorite piece of wood furniture already in the room, if possible -- rather than paint them.

Good luck.

Thank you for all the suggestions...the thing is, we are most likely not going to be living here for more than 5 years, so we really don't want to put a ton of money into it! I'm thinking that suezbell has it pretty much summed up...I think it's the room and the vaulted ceilings might be throwing me off.

Any suggestions on what to do next to do the sofa, between the two chairs, lamps, art work for above sofa, Also, does anyone have any suggestions on a gray/taupe that looks nice with honey oak woodwork? Thanks!

another thought...what if I would get another sofa and set it up something like this pic? Would that help at all? So in the pictures - the other sofa would be where the chairs are. Let me know thoughts. Looking at this picture, I think that mirror is just too big?!

This one caught my eye and all of their stuff is 45% off until midnight.

http://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/morning-fjord,1059582/?s=Htv1art4anemhss3cEaKuwzCbMQ3zVQWFXlyaENN4E81zbnaKoxnjHeEfBQv

I would bring in an area rug that ties all colors together, layer things a bit. Those small frames are not the right scale for the large wall so maybe a larger piece above or instead of those would work.

Never put a sofa in front of a window.

The 2 chairs would be o.k pulled out from window and on either side. Couch on right wall across from chairs. Cabinet on back narrower wall. Try it like this. Then you can figure out exactly where recliner might go.

Okay, I see what everyone is trying to do design-wise. But pianos should never go on an outside wall. I'm not sure you all realize that.

Carry on.

Piano could probably go on outside wall of homes in more southern climates where winter temperatures are not severe, maybe around 50 degrees. Sofas can certainly go in front of windows if the layout works well that way, esp if you need an opposite wall for a TV. One issue can be fading of the fabric, but that can be remedied with options like blinds, sheers, or drapes on a traverse rod. I learned this from my mother -- an art student and was an interior design assistant. -- I think you could come up with a couple good layouts if you used either a free software program or just a little scale drawing of the room and furniture, and then just move the pieces around until they feel right to you. Easy peasy. One more thing- that long mirror in its current location seems like it might be annoying to everyone walking into the room and seeing themselves. I could be wrong, though!

The only thing is that the window is centered on that outside wall - from the banister to the "narrow" wall on the right. If I put the chairs in front of the window the sofa will not be centered with the chairs unless it is all the way to the entry way from our dining room...I tried that and it looked off to me?!

cparfc438 do you have any suggestions on a good (free) site/program to use for being able to see my room with different Furniture layouts? Thanks!! And curious...say I were to start with an empty room...start all over..what would you suggest to me? Just kind of curious if maybe my furniture is part of the problem or if I can make due with what I have.

sarabley- gosh, I wish I had solid ideas for you. And it has been over a decade since I used the La-Z-boy site to move furniture pieces around! But I actually do like your sofa in front of the window and your two matching chairs near each other at a right angle from the sofa, as you tried. But they don't have to be against the wall; they may be better a bit away from it. The large cabinet may work out on sling the slanted wall --whether centered or all the way to the right, I'm not sure. Btw, even though some will say that this or that should be "centered", sometimes it's just a matter of what feels balanced, not necessarily centered in a room. I'm not a designer and sure wish I could see the photos while typing on this iPad to remind me what I'm talking about. Lol?

I still can't handle the mirror being across from me as I walk into the room. But maybe I'm the only one who feels this way. And btw, I think all your large furniture pieces are great. No issues.

I liked the arrangement with the bookcase against the far wall (because it's the largest piece that will fill up that large wall - the wall you see 1st coming into the room) with the 2 club chairs to either side of it - then I'd get a rectangular 8' x 10' rug and a coffee table to pull it all together. I'd also inch the 2 club chairs closer to the sofa area just a tad to make it cohesive.

And I'd also think those 4 cute little framed pictures would look great with 2 set vertically on each side of the book case.

Hi Sara. I know I'm late to the game with my comment but I have a few thoughts. I really like your furniture arrangement that you posted last Wednesday. What I think you're lacking is just some color and some height on the other side of the room. I would suggest you put your round table between your two chairs in front of the window. Pull your sofa forward, if possible, and put a narrow sofa table behind it with two lamps and a nice colorful piece of artwork between them. This will bring a bit more height to that side of the room and add a little more weight to that end of the room. I think a tall plant in the corner by the windows will bring some much needed life, color, and height to that side of the room to balance out your cabinet. A few pillows on your sofa that pull the color from your art would add more life also. Your clock would look nice over your piano and, as was suggested earlier, your four pictures hung vertically, two on each side of your cabinet, would be nice as well. Square up your recliner just a bit or pull it a bit further away from the wall and place your floor lamp to the back right corner so the light comes over your shoulder as you're sitting. I think you're well on your way with your existing pieces. Just a few additions and you're there!

Katinparadise - thanks so much...which of the photos from Wednesday are you referring? I posted quite a few and am trying to figure out which one:) Thanks so much!

Hi Sara. I was referring to the photos at 2:16 on Wednesday. By the way, I like your current room color. It works well with your furniture and it has a nice warm tone to it!

WW Foskey - Here is a pic of the arrangement you suggested...I don't know, I'm feeling very frustrated...I just can't get it to look right. Do you think it would be best to call a designer and get someone here to see it and give suggestions? THANKS so much!!

Here is a diagram/drawing of the room...maybe that would be helpful!

A professional in the room with you would certainly be a good idea, but I'm beginning to wonder whether those grey chairs aren't continuing to bug you to the extent that you're just not going to be comfortable with the room until they're gone. I like them, and so do others on this thread, but they are kind of massive, particularly as you also have the big ol' leather job (or similar) to accommodate. So maybe we've been ignoring the elephants in the room, and it really would be a good idea to replace them. I found the examples below on one Overstock page. They wouldn't have to be grey, of course.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Living-Room-Chairs/Grey,/color,/2737/subcat.html

Sara, I have done a floor plan with your measurements and arranged the furniture. I put the bookcase in the corner as it is against the tall wall. The piano next to it and floated the sofa and chair. I took out the big leather chair (I think it is the elephant in the room). I put a sofa table in as it will break up the back from kitchen/dining when entering the room. I also put in coffee table but not sure you need one. See what you think. It beats breaking your back moving furniture.

The large clock over the piano and your picture collage on wall by book case or a piece of art. You need some color in the room, but decide that after you find the furniture placement.

I think you need an area rug to add color and ground the room. Plus a coffee table. I liked the arrangement with the tall bookcase on the tall wall, the couch on the far wall, and the chairs on the window wall. In any case, I would go with an area rug, because the carpeting gives the feel of an empty space.