Can you add a pic of the rest of the room please? Hard to tell what to do. Thanks!

there's not much to the rest of the room, but here's a pic

Can we have a full pic of the wall behind the sofa?

the dog crate is a temporary issue, we have a new-ish puppy. ;)

In the corner where your windows are, you could have a seating area with two chairs, table in that corner with a lamp on it....I would remove the cube storage unit from the room. End table on each side of sofa with table lamps..The rug visually "stops" things right now...The window end of room is too bare. The chest needs a new spot...No focal point right now...are u getting a large storage unit or piece of furniture?

It seems kinda like it's not really a tiny room...it has multiple doorways, which play into how you can lay things out. How large is the room? And what look are you hoping for? You mention you are getting new furniture, so which pieces are you going to replace?

The room measures 12x20 (that's all the way to the stairs). I think it just feels small because of the lack of wall space to put furniture. I guess what I'm looking for is ideas of what could go where. I'm not really attached to any of the furniture, we just don't have anywhere else in our house to put it (our house is 1400sq ft including our partially finished basement which also houses my husband's office) and we have 3 kids. I'm looking for ways to make this room work better for us. We don't have a tv in there, but there's also no overhead lighting, so I need to have more lighting. I'm kind of trying to think out loud: would a sectional work in here? Would another, smaller sofa work better than the other chairs? It's a hodge podge mess right now so I figure I'd throw it out there for ideas.

Oh, and the room with the large entryway in the picture is our "dining area". It used to be our dining room, but we opened it up to the kitchen since our kitchen had no eating space... so it really doesn't make much sense to make that (even smaller) space into our living room.

Ok..so I think a unit for storage/entertainment which could house a t.v. would be good...and a nice one would create a focal point for your room...it could go on the wall across from sofa...or u could flip sofa to other wall and put unit on wall sofa was on...I would get one with lots of good storage for other stuff now currently out..If u did get a sectional..it prob. would have to go on the wall opposite where sofa is now or it would prob. block one doorway at least...Then I would look at the other end by the windows,,,cute spot for a seating arrangement...add in a large area rug, some wall art...just some thoughts...

Or if u got a sofa and loveseat, the tv could be on the current sofa wall, loveseat floated out from t.v. wall (sort of an "L" shape)...and there might be more space in the windows area for additional seating, etc...If enough space, a chair maybe across from loveseat also. There are a lot of people good at furniture arranging who will probably chime in too.

well the items you have in there are way too big and its too much of it try a smaller rectangular area rug with L shaped sofa and a coffee table would make the space feel bigger .....move the piano to the other side take out the little storage separator although they serve a great purpose its not right for this space....by moving both of those you add the appearance of a open floor plan......a nice floor lamp by the window ...take down the sheers and put up a wooden blinds......go a shade darker on the walls and viola........Tee'scapes

FWIW, I'm really not looking to add a tv in that room, I just want to make it more of a conversational space...

If the living room must stay where it is, here are a few things to try. I'll recommend things and just assume that they're going to fit since I have no measurements. You will just have to try them yourself and see if they do fit.

1. The sectioned storage unit which is serving as a divider I am assuming is serving some sort of function (shoe storage perhaps?). Try replacing whatever piece of furniture you have at the bottom of the stairs with the sectioned divider. This will open the traffic flow into the room.

2. Keep the piano where it is but remove everything off the top of it and relocate it elsewhere. It is just too much visual chatter.

3. Keep the sofa where it is and pull the rug over so that at least the front legs of the sofa are completely on the rug. I realize this will leave more 'bare' floor on the other side but that is actually what you want because you are trying to create a walkway.

4. Keep the end table next to the sofa but add a table lamp - probably the one from the shelf unit back by the pink chair.

5. Move the pink wing chair up so that it is right next to the end table with the newly relocated lamp. The sofa, end table and pink wing chair should form an "L". This will create a cozy conversation area and no one sitting in the conversation area will have to look at the dining/kitchen area. (You can think about the dishes later.)

6. Put the tall shelf directly against the wall where the rocker is now. The tall lamp can probably stay where it is next to the tall shelf. Make an attractive arrangement on the tall shelf: books, some of the pictures from the piano, some pottery, etc. Something you will WANT to look at while you're sitting on the couch.

7. Put the rocker back in the corner where the shelf unit and pink wing chair used to be. Rocking chairs need more room for the rockers and the corner location might be just the thing.

8. Pull the long, low storage unit over to the right, toward the rocker in the corner until the unit is centered under the window. A small table lamp on the end of the long, low storage unit will provide another little reading nook with the rocker.

You should now be able to come in the front door, walk along the front wall to get to the kitchen without walking directly through the conversation area. You have the chair closer to the sofa for a little 'closer' conversation. The rug is anchoring the conversation area and make it feel a bit "warmer". If you need extra seating in the conversation area, pull up the piano bench and make the "L" into a "U".

Go ahead and start moving things around. The best part is it didn't cost you a penny. But, if you want to spend money, we can certainly talk about that!

A few pics of different seating arrangement types...the end of your room where the windows are would look great with shelving like in the pic...Was not sure of your style or likes, so these are just examples. Sorry pics came out so small!!

So pretty. The key is to open up your window so you can see out - no matter bhow bad the view. Change the window treatment!

I like the ideas given sofar, but I'll throw this into the mix: lots of talk of the window treatments: we live in a close neighborhood, our side window is 20 feet from the neighbor's side entrance. The big window looks out on the street, which is 15 feet from the sidewalk, 25 ft from the street. I don't want to cover up my windows, but we have "those" neighbors to the south... so removing all window treatments is not an option. What should we put there instead of what we have?

Do u like plantation shutters?

I would recommend putting in a Cellular Shade in the window so cut that glare from the sun. I would also suggest getting the top down bottom up option so you have better control over the light and privacy. As for the drapery I would go with a drape that is lined so you can see the color of the fabric.

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/blinds-toronto/shades-toronto/cellular-shades.html


http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/drapery-toronto/panels/grommet-drapery.html