Your problem is traffic flow. Best idea I can see is moving the long couch in front of the window on the front of the house. Then place the love seat in front of the window next to the kitchen entry. The shelving unit is way to large to sandwiched between the two doors. Put it on the wall where the long couch used to be. Obviously, remove the folding table. See what you can find to use as a coffee table. Now move the console table where the shelving unit used to be and hand that art piece on top of the shelving unit over the console table. Add a few more accessories. Consider painting or replacing the front door (a door with glass would be great). As is you can't tell which is the entry door. One more thing. A round wooden end table or a skirted round table (super cheap to buy) could fit between the two couches. Hope this helps. Please post results.

The color scheme is pleasant and light - love the ceiling color - it looks pastel aqua in the photos. If it isn't, you might consider painting it that color. Your current arrangement ignores the windows in favor of -- what? Traffic flow? where the tv is? Is that a bathroom at the end? I commend you for not jamming the sofa against the wall!

Instead of an "L" arrangement with the sofas, have you tried opposite sides of a coffee table? Float the sofas in front of that long picture window - the larger does not look too large to be positioned at right angles to the window. Get a more appropriate-style coffee table to put between them. THe idea is to sort of ignore the walls as the basis of where you put seating. You want seating to be a conversational vignette. Use floor lamps where there is no room for tables and lamps.

An area rug would pull the seating area together and separate it from the entrance. A decorative folding screen behind the loveseat and sofa table would further create an entry. Good luck!

That wall unit stands out like a sore thumb. If you can't get rid of it and get something else, then strip it and paint it cream (probably semi-gloss). Change the hardware. It can be shifted to face what appears to be the front door to accent the entry. Same thing with that sofa table and put it behind the shorter sofa that will be facing the entrance.

I have a hard time explaining what I'm thinking about in words, so I put in a picture. The way I see it, you need a place to drop your stuff & a clear path to the kitchen (with groceries) and the hallway (pee break after a long drive). You also want a conversation area. I'm hoping you don't want a TV in the room (I didn't draw one) but you might be able to fit one in a place that I put a corner bookshelf. For the bookshelf, I was thinking something that's almost like an etagere - very open - so it doesn't make that side of the room too heavy.

I didn't put a side table on the ends of the furniture that is in the traffic flow, I don't think there is enough room. But if there is room, that would be nice. I marked some potential locations for floor lamps that were close to walls & seemed logical, but there will be a need for some more light along the long, featureless wall.

About that wall - do you have any artwork you love? Or a big collection of family photos? Or a big map? That would be a good place to put something like that, especially a map because unlike mounting it behind a sofa, with that wall you can walk right up to it and see all the cool details. Vintage maps are inexpensive on eBay & seeing things like old railway lines or "missing" states/countries is interesting. I hope this helps, I actually really like the space you have and think you are right, it could be awesome.

Plant a pretty flowering tree outside your large living room window and make it your focal point. Create a conversation area focusing on the window; make it inviting from the front door so people will want to come in and sit down. Some quick, inexpensive fixes: tie back your drapes with some pretty tassels, add a rug for the conversation area, a coffee table, end table with a lamp, a floor lamp, some pillows and artwork.
Simple design tips: have 3 light sources, keep wood (tables, etc.) the same color, use a minimum of 3 fabrics (large print ~ your sofa, a medium and small print and/or a solid). Checks, stripes and florals work well together.
Your floral sofa may work with a cottage look or shabby chic feel if you like that style.
If you're looking to do a bigger makeover, paint, replace carpet with hardwood or neutral carpet color, replace customer drapes with something lighter.
Have fun decorating! Make it yours with some of your favorite things.
~ Julie

Here are some options depending on what is staying/leaving:
If carpet is going, there may be some nice hardwood floors under that carpet. Seems like your home is an older style, so that would be a real find. If so, they may need refinishing, but this can be cheaper than new carpeting. If you do go the hardwood floor option, add an area rug that is very simple and solid colored.
Remove the dated cornices and heavy drapes. Just add some simple, solid side panels that are on a decorative rod, split in the center. Since your upholstery is patterned, keep other fabrics in solids, soft stripes or tiny prints.
For floor plan, I would remove the large, dated wall unit, if possible. In it's place, put a nice console table with drawer storage. Place a mirror over this, with a small table lamp. This will work as your entry piece. Make it narrow to allow movement around it to flow well.
Place sofa in front of larger window facing the street. The loveseat would be in from of the adjacent window, with an end table with lamp between them. Put a cocktail table in from of sofa. Across from the sofa, on the long wall, place a focal point such as a long, narrow t.v.console with the t.v. over it. Another option is a new, large wall unit that can either house a t.v., or decorative items. Place framed art on either side of this for balance. If you have to keep the existing wall unit, paint it a neutral cream or linen color, and update the hardware.
Adding new doors with paneled designs would dress up the plain doors. You can also add moulding to the existing doors for a paneled look, and add fresh paint. Paint the room a warm color that would compliment your sofas.

Normally, I wouldn't advise putting your couch in front of a window, but in this case, I think it is your best alternative. Basically, flip your layout, with the loveseat at the front door end, with the console table behind it. Accessorizing this will give you a definition between the entry and the seating areas. Then put the big bookcase/storage unit on the long wall opposite the couch. I agree that it should be painted - if you are kind of sticking with a pastel palette, it could be painted a light accent color or just white/off-white (maybe the light green?). You didn't mention a TV, but I would think you could fit a small one on the shelf where the lamp is now. You could flank the bookcase with side chairs. In front of the end window, add another upholstered chair - smaller in scale - in a complementary solid color. Add an end table (I like decodreamer's idea of a skirted round table - use a plaid or other pattern for more interest) on one end of the couch w/lamp and a floor lamp and small occasional table at the other end, as well as a good size coffee table (or a large ottoman w/ tray). If you go with wood, I would keep it light.

Your drapery seems a bit heavy and formal for the space. If possible, I would take down the cornice boards and hang the drapes on a large decorative rod w/rings. If you need more privacy than open drapes afford, blinds would be nice underneath (either white 2" or a light woven bamboo style).

The ceiling does look aqua/green in the photo. I agree that if it isn't this color, it would be nice to paint it that color and then bring that color down onto the long wall (in that case, paint the bookcase a shade or two darker or go off-white) As someone else mentioned, either replace your door or paint it an accent color (darker shade of green). Add an interesting arrangement between the doors. Maybe the console table could go here instead of behind the loveset, but I think it may be too small in scale. How about a wal

Cut me off...How about a wall hung shelf with a mirror above and maybe a pair of stools below or an umbrella stand or a large basket - something interesting. Look through Houzz for interesting foyer ideas. Hope all this helps - good luck!

Ok, I don't have but a couple minutes to respond... I will come back later for a full response! But... All of your comments are awesome... some of them I have actually already done, since these pictures were taken, I just had no newer pictures.. posting them now :) The large couch is now in front of the window, loveseat on opposite wall, no coffee table at all, a large rectangular, tall side table on the inside end of the loveseat with a lamp. There is a heavy post modern desk under the end window, drapes stay pulled, and there are currently roller shades at half pull... I put the sofa table between the couch and the window so that there is some room to open and close the drapes. Bookshelf is on the same wall it was, for now... and I do have plans to paint it... just not sure what color. The carpet is coming up, there are gorgeous oak hardwoods in perfect condition under them, (honey gold/orangey red).

Ok, I don't have but a couple minutes to respond... I will come back later for a full response! But... All of your comments are awesome... some of them I have actually already done, since these pictures were taken, I just had no newer pictures.. posting them now :) The large couch is now in front of the window, loveseat on opposite wall, no coffee table at all, a large rectangular, tall side table on the inside end of the loveseat with a lamp. There is a heavy post modern desk under the end window, drapes stay pulled, and there are currently roller shades at half pull... I put the sofa table between the couch and the window so that there is some room to open and close the drapes. Bookshelf is on the same wall it was, for now... and I do have plans to paint it... just not sure what color. The carpet is coming up, there are gorgeous oak hardwoods in perfect condition under them, (honey gold/orangey red).

Oh, and the couches will have to be slip covered, they were hand me downs:) Any suggestions on colors? Walls were going to be beige, changed my mind, it blended in with the drapes... decided to follow inspiration room in houzz.... light blue walls, true green, golden yellow, and coral to orange-red accents.

your room will be beautiful! i can't compete with all the suggestions above :)
my advice though is to take your time and think about how you will be using this room and particularly if you have children or pets.

After seeing these additional photos, I felt I needed to comment again. The latest arrangement looks awkward to me, and does not flow well. I do not like the loveseat placement across from the sofa. I still think it should go in front of the other window(where you currently have the desk). You need an end table in the corner to anchor the two, and a cocktail table in front of the sofa.
The desk does not look good in front of the window, or anywhere in this room. Remember: Do not add too many pieces. It is a small space.
I would still move the large wall unit on the long wall where the loveseat is now. Another option is to remove the loveseat altogether, and put two chairs on either end of the sofa, with tables on each end of sofa. These chairs can be fully upholstered, skirted chairs in a solid, check, stripe, or small scale pattern, other than a floral. Good luck.

Hi again - I agree that the loveseat on the long wall does not look good, plus it puts your traffic pattern right through the middle of the conversation area. Did you try flipping the layout, as I suggested, with the loveseat backing to the entry? I just think it might help to have some of the furniture pulled out away from the wall. If that doesn't work for you, then I agree with Interiorsbydesign that the loveseat should go in front of the other window, making an L-shaped seating area. I do think the couch looks good in front of the window - the scale is right.

As far as color goes, I think the blue walls are fine, but I would stick with the accents in small doses - accent pillows, knick-knacks, etc. The room will look larger if you keep the big pieces fairly monochromatic. If that's the palette you are going with, I would paint the bookshelf to pretty much blend in with the wall (if you are going to move it onto the long wall). I would do the couch/loveseat in a shade of blue, also, so that they don't stick out visually from the wall. If you were to do a skirted table, again, that is where you could pick up some definite pattern. Also, if you are going to have hardwood floors, I would definitely add a rug. This would be another opportunity for color and pattern - do a search for indoor/outdoor rugs even. Those can sometimes work really nicely, especially an overscale pattern. I would be tempted to go with a big damask-type pattern in black & white/sand on the rug http://www.nilimarugs.com/servlet/the-5873/Detail , paint the legs of the furniture black, add black drapery rods/rings. Then you could still bring in your color in patterns, but the black would add some sophistication (especially since the style of the furniture - slipcovered or not - is formal). Here is a room which gives a similar feeling http://dotsub.com/media/b5ee5ada-5b37-4b0b-9916-e0896337ec4b/e/m

I actually don't mind the desk - maybe that could go on the wall where the

I obviously talk too much...;-) I actually don't mind the desk - maybe that could go on the wall where the bookcase is now, kind of as a landing spot for mail, keys, etc. It makes sense :-) Buy a fun, lightweight- looking bright chair to go with it (a la Ikea) - you could even add a couple of these as accent chairs on either side of your bookcase. How about this for a contrast with your "serious" furniture http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20203822 or these

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Parson-Estonia-Sky-Blue-Chairs-Set-of-2/5171779/product.html

If those are too modern for the look you are going for, why not try to find some old dining chairs, give them a bright coat of paint and new upholstered seats?

viviennevinyl! i love that name :) you don't talk too much :)
but if you are a knitter or crocheter? i have a home for you!
have you been on Ravelry?

@ Mousemaker: sorry, no, I am not a knitter. I am a designer and I got my name years ago because I used to specify miles of vinyl wallcovering for hospitals LOL!!!

Oh, oh - I didn't check my link to the room which has a similar feeling. Ignore the other and check this out

I don't know if it changes anything, but this is our formal living room, and we only use it for guests and holidays, since we mostly use our den (where the tv is!). Our room, IS however, used sometimes by our three children, and our cat, as a play area... but thankfully, I have a strict "no toys left in my living room" rule.

I do love what you all have made mention of about cutting the conversation area by the walkway... I had never thought of that! Engineerchic- I am going to play with the sofas to see about the layout you have described... makes a great transition from entry, and does not cut the conversation room... might be difficult only because of a slight wall indent that you cannot see in any of my pictures.... the front door area is indented 2 feet into the room, so there is a section just past it, before the window that is indented... hard to describe.

The ceiling was only reflecting the *ahem* lovely carpet color... however, seeing it in the pictures,and all of your comments are convincing me to perhaps do the ceiling a smidge lighter blue than the rest of the room (once painted).

After seeing the newer pics and engineer chic's helpful layout I'm thinging you might be better off with just the larger couch the two upholstered chairs in a solid color. You can pair the chairs together in front of either window, or split them up on either side of the couch with side tables. This way there is more flexibility. You could have the large couch face the window allowing it to be the focal point. Or put the couch in front of the window. I don't know about you but I like to be able to rearrange every once in a while to keep things fresh. Just a thought. I also agree that the drapes will be lighter and nicer without the heavy cornices. Can't wait to see the outcome.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I will have to show some progress pics, as it might take a while to get everything to fall into place. First things first... I think that the carpet is going to be out soon... I just have to get the motivation to get all those tack strips up.