I would brighten it up by painting the paneling; remove the rug by the hearth and replace it with something that has a pattern, either a floral or a geometric, something interesting that speaks to you. Remove the flowers (?) over the TV. Start there and see what you think!

yep, we need to see your furnishings and know what must stay and what can go. I do know of some other hacks you can do with the walls, because i really hate to take something that does not require paint and turn it into something that does.

Clear out the entire room, except for the fireplace - of course. Remove the rug and add hardwood or a good laminate flooring. Replace the entry door with something more modern. Then...add something over the fireplace, add a larger tv stand, and replace the ceiling fan, then post more pictures. Are any of the suggestions from any of us, are what you were looking for?

relax shirl, go read a little on the palace of clowns thread. breathe in, breathe out.

I suspect you need a furniture rearrangement, but there aren't enough pictures to tell.

Here's a rule: don't try to fill a great big wall with little tiny stuff. Clear everything off the shelves and walls, add real art over the fireplace, real sculpture or pottery on the right, put books on the shelves. I'd probably move the keyboard somewhere else, but I don't know where because I can't see the rest of the room.

Gooveraxle,

That was a TRULY decent little transformation you just did : ) Now go back and take out the fan okay? RIGHT ON THE MONEY regarding tiny things on the wall. Mount the flat screen while you're at it. You're hired.

Using your family photos (which now are hung too high):

Jan Moooooooooyer, thanks for the compliment, but we don't know that the OP wants the fan gone. If she lives anywhere near me, she's gonna need it. I'd be amenable to replacing it, but I think I'll wait and see what the OP says, OK?

Okie dokie, make a white one, no light kit !!

To do it cheaply, can fan blades be painted and lights removed? (I might need to do that, too.)

i think i heard that when you do that it rarely works, the blades become out of kilter. I have to say that I have not regretted it one day since i went over to regular fans. More actual air movement, less expense. Plus real solid lighting.

Not sure if the palace of clowns thread is that "need opinions houzzers", but I was not trying to be mean, just giving my opinion as I see the room.

Grover my dear, I have seen you move TV's over fireplaces without the OP's input. I hope this isn't an early sign?

*SNAP*.... everyone, let us stay focused here...

shrilpp- I do not think you know you made a funny, lol. Comparing the "need opinions houzzers" with "Palace of the clowns"... ahhahaha

Change bookcase with tv. Do what grover shows or paint.

Oh no, Margo, you've seen me move TVs OFF of fireplaces. If I've ever put one over a fireplace, please, just shoot me now.

Jan, what I'm really saying is that I'll replace the fan if the OP returns. I don't like to go wild in a room and then the OP never reappears to see the redesign.

Yes, that is what I meant. You can see that the TV is wired in the wall and you move it off the fireplace.

too stressful, catch you at the palace later, bye!

Thanks for all the advice ceiling fan has to stay only lighting I have and mountain the TV gas fireplace worried about pipe behind wall and door is to the garage

Dianna, thanks for the extra photos. Now, can we get some shots of the other direction so we can see how the seating is laid out?

As for lighting, they make these things called lamps. Some sit on tables, others stand on the floor, and they're really useful. Maybe we could get you some. ;-)

As others have said, painting the paneling, will lift up the room immediately. You do not have to discard the ceiling fan, but can you replace it. I agree with groveraxle, you need lamps and maybe end tables. Not sure about that trunk near the fireplace, but it might work as a coffee table.

Have you considered white washing the paneling? It takes some work but if your pictures show the only walls that have paneling it wouldn't be that much of a chore and can really add character to a room. ( think rustic antique look) That being said, i assume the greenish wall color around the sliding glass doors was an attempt to lighten up the room ( as your wanting with paneling). I think that wall should be the what the color of the opposite wall is painted. The window is not what you want as a fical point, you want the fireplace to be the center of attention. If you white wash your paneling, then you can paint the brick of fireplace and really make it stand out against the paneling, and the carpet. I'd remove the burgandy rug, or if you have to have a rug there get a more neutral color, maybe one with a simple design. Either large enough that it would be pulled away from hearth, or smaller so it surrounds the front of FP within a suitable area for room size. ( bigger room, bigger rug) if possible I would take out the shelving on the right of FP, do what you decide to do with paneling and put your desk w chair there; Or..install some prefab cabinetry that will fill in area same height as the Lower cabinets on opposite side. Hang a nice art piece, something that reflects what the room incorporates for you. You can replace the light globes on ceiling fan,or flip the blades if there is a lighter color on other side.( some come that way) or you can always paint the blades so they blend more with the ceiling. If you can, move your (workout equipment? ) away from the window. I'd at least switch it out with where the desk is now. If you don't install cabinetry to the right of FP, then put your desk I front of shelving, it won't hurt a thing.

First, I would suggest switching your ceiling light/fan for one with a bowl instead of individual lights. It helps to soften the light and disperse it evenly throughout the room, and prevents glaring light in your eyes while sitting on the couch.

Hang your TV on the wall with some shelving/framed pictures to around it to evenly use up that wall instead of just the lower half.

Maybe a nice potted indoor plant with a brightly color vase in the corner to add some height. You need color for sure (maybe switch out the red rug for a blue, it's too close to the tones in the wood wall). I like the bookshelf changes posted above.

It's hard when it's your own space!

a white stain, then wiped it off to give a whitewash patina... Sort of like this:

Create a Coastal Accent Wall with wood paneling! Make it white washed, weathered, driftwoody, paint the wood in shades of blue, or leave natural, ...

This finish is called pickeling ( you'll have to google it)

I will be odd woman out here; I don't think she should paint the paneling. It looks like it could be walnut, and it adds lots of character to the room.

If this were my room, my priorities would be a long closed cabinet under the TV, getting rid of the vertical blinds, replacing the fan, and if budget were not a consideration, adding hardwood floors. And art, of course.

Grover nice pic looks good I can't afford hard wood floors and I would like to brighten up the room if possible the slider door is really only sun I get in livingroom this is kinda what I would like to do with shelves

I would like a more contemporary look

I'm not sure what you want to do with the shelves from the photo you posted.

Your window wall looked green so I painted it white, added natural linen curtains, chose a piece of abstract art and painted the desk a color from that. I removed the red rug--you really don't need one here--and the fan.

If you're real energetic, you could scrape the popcorn off the ceiling and change the hardware on the cabinets. The space will be more contemporary the more you simplify it.

I can see the need for the fan. It can be painted to match the ceiling color & light kit removed. With the large white fireplace the wood wall is OK. Decide what functionality you need the room to fulfill: office space, music room, exercise room, relaxing while watching TV.

Can some of these functions be eliminated? Start with removing all accessories & unneeded items & then take another photo for us to really help with this dilemma.

Ideas for slider drapes:

But don't puddle them. These let in a lot of sun & are easy open/close.

Slider curtains can be arranged to all pull to one side. You can
Remove and paint fan blades without unbalancing them. Or you can buy new blades at BBStore. My fans are all starting to show their age......I'll have a long list for the electrician when the weather cools off. Totally use ambient and task lighting. Dislike lights in center of room ever.....it causes ghastly skin tones and you can't really read by them......