This is a great Chinoiserie story on Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/chinoiserie-sends-rooms-on-flights-of-fancy-stsetivw-vs~3924385 . One of the photos:

I would never recommend Ikea :>) The rugs are all from overstock.com. They are all online ordering. I have used them and they have excellent products, service and shipping. They are NOT expensive rugs, but good quality. Read the reviews

I will send items numbers. I cleaned my PC last night, so will have to look them up again. :>) Give me a few minutes.

ITEM# 17689591

ITEM# 17274769 This one has no reviews but I checked other rugs by this mfg and they are all excellent

ITEM# 15622927

ITEM# 17225843

ITEM# 17839363

If you have any questions please just post.

I really like this rug for the room, and painting is an excellent color. You could keep the lamp (minus the jar), just get a new shade.

Pier 1

Not as good

Just wanted to show some of the rugs in the room.

Love the top photo from BeverlyFLAD, notice what an improvement that large art makes! It can really update a room when you mix abstract or colorful art with traditional furniture.

Are you willing to replace the rug? With either a sisal rug or something tone on tone?

Agree the window valance is dated and needs to go.

Here's a great blog link with Before and After photos, with tips for selecting art. People tell us it's very helpful!!

http://www.interiordesigngreensboro.com/search?q=abstract+art

Hope this helps?

Gosh if there's one thing you should consider keeping is the Chinese Ancients you have on your wall. I wouldn't consider replacing them with some cheap piece of art.

If you are still fond of the Chinese style you developed, I would consider changing the coffee table to a lacquered Chinese style and change the rug to something more interesting other than the Chinese carved rug you have on the floor.

If necessary, keep the sheers, although I would focus on the view outside your doors. I would also take one of the colors from the new rug and create fixed panels at either side of the doors to add some interest and color in the room.

Interesting comment about the chinoiserie. My foyer has an oriental mirror. It is a LaBarge, I think it is called. And it stays!!! Also next to piano is a small chest that is chinoiserie that has sentimental value. I still love it but most of my chinoiserie is heading out because it looks dated. The room you referenced is beautiful. I find the art shown beautiful as well. Oh the dilemma of updating!!

I personally like your Chinese accents, especially the pictures. I think what is dating your room the most are the curtains. I would also consider a different rug. Or keep the rug and get a different coffee table.

I think you should think about how you would like this room to look now. You've gotten plenty of use out of these pieces and you deserve a change. Can you move piano to a different room? Maybe a guest bedroom? Here is a beautiful room in a Florida style. I love the lightness and the soft melon color.

Hey, I am thinking that you are thinking like me. I retired several years ago and not only did I look around and see I needed an update, but I actually downsized my condo living. I was alone and decided that I needed a fresh look for my retirement years. I am not recommending moving :>), but let me tell you I am so much happier. I also had pieces that I had for 30+ years and loved most of it. I decided it was time to let someone else enjoy my old things and I bought all new. Nothing expensive other than my cream leather sofa, and I actually bought one of those "cheap" paintings from Pier 1 and I get more compliments on it than almost anything else. Go figure.

And you know, every time I am in my great room, it makes me happy. There were a couple of items that I tried to work around and moved to another room so I could keep, but I wanted to simplify my life and told myself those items, meant nothing to my life and my family and friends love my new look. They don't seem to care that my new rug was only $212 and no one ever has asked me what happened to my $5000 oriental rug. (Yes, I had one also in my dining room). Now, I love my condo (in FL) and spend my money on cruising. :>) And if I decide to change décor in 5 years, I won't feel I am stuck with some expensive items that I cannot change out.

BTW, I have one thing I couldn't part with, a Murano glass chandelier that I bought in Venice that I had over my dining table. I moved it to my bedroom and it looks wonderful.

I don't like seeing my decor in someone else's rooms. Which I have done shopping at Pier 1. I like to shop Etsy for decor. Things are original and very reasonable and you are supporting a real person not a chinese factory.

The Pier 1 piece is perfect for over my sofa. I could care less who else has it. I am the only original in my house and I like that. The stuff I have is just stuff.

I moved the rug 90degrees. I pulled in the chair. All furniture is barely on the rug which because of rugs thickness would be uneven with two legs on and two off. The rug is 5 x9. I think 10 x 12 without a medallion might do it. Any thoughts about the chair being removed from corner and leaving corner empty.?

Can the rug be pulled all the way to the wall opposite the piano so that both front and back legs of the sofa are on it? Are the two sofas the same size?

The corner looks good without the chair :-) Can you take some pictures from the window facing the sofas?

The rug is too heavy for me alone to move but if moved the medallion probably would be covered by coffee table and out of way of piano bench. The couches are love seats. This is a small living room

All those posters who told you to turn the rug were mistaken, although the rug should be larger for this room so that some of the rug is beneath the sofa. I would still change out the loveseat for two chairs.

No. The rug is too small to be on front and back legs of both love seats. A new rug is looking to be more and more the direction I should start and then do new sheers to ceiling with fixed panels on each side. I am beginning to not want to toss my king and queen pictures. Yes, I know that silk plant needs to go.

Hmm. Interesting comment again as I stated very early in these postings that I had another matching club chair. I had moved it a few years ago out because I thought it was too much furniture. So are you suggesting one less love seat and bring back the two chairs??

I think it might be worth a try..................always shop from your home first. Saves money.

Sometimes all your art needs is a contrasting wall color behind it to make it appear larger or more intense. You don't have to paint all the walls a color, just the one.

I would be afraid to chance buying a rug from Internet mostly because of color I would fear I would get a surprise when I got it. Might not go with everything else. I have always ordered custom sheers/ draped and pay a fortune. should I chance ordering from the Internet? Right now they have no hem and one continuous fabric on each panel. Set me straight

2 chairs are always better than a loveseat. Regarding sheers, look locally, JC Penneys, Bed Bath & Beyond have a nice selection. You shouldn't have to pay a fortune. I got my panels at Penneys and sheers at BB&B. As far as rugs, you must have rug stores locally, You will probably pay more but at least you won't panic over color.

The tables look much better cleared off. Check with Pier 1 for another table base the one above will do nicely and is $100. Ready made draperies come in 84-96 and 108" I believe, Hang the rods accordingly. Why don't you take down the scarf and adjust the sheers on the rod and see how they look. You may not have to buy new.

Also, after you get a new rug and re-arrange the chairs and sofa, live with the K&Q and see if you still like them on that wall.

Look at another floor lamp, those touchier lamps are worthless for lighting. Move the silk plant over by it and the piano and see if you like it there. Home Goods, Pier 1, and even HD and Lowes have nice floor lamps that are not expensive..

Interesting comment about the wall color. I had a gorgeous Chinese red accent wall where you showed one for 12 years and last year painted it beige.

What color of blue is that.?

I think that is wallpaper.

Sherry - it looks like painted grasscloth since color goes around the corner onto the shelves. I would go to paint store with the photo and see if you can find something similar. It would be super with your blue chairs! I looked up Chinoiserie and several sites suggested jute or sisal rugs, like above. I love this whole look! End tables, lamps etc. Very sophisticated.

Sherry - It is a blue colored grasscloth wallpaper. In the Q&A section for the picture, someone commented that they found it online at Decorator's Best. Here are 2 from there.

Hi Sherry, we bring both ready made drapes from various good sources AND a couple of custom drapery panels - and hold them up to clients windows so they can see the difference.

Custom are wonderful in the main living area. They hang nicely, due to the pleats, construction, hidden drapery pins, etc. They're thicker due to the lining and fabric quality, they're wider, and we can specify the perfect length , color tone, texture, etc.

I mention this because above you said you've always had custom made drapes in the past, so you're used to that level of quality.

We find ways to save client's money in other areas, by finding good deals on other merchandise, (art, lamps, accessories, rugs, etc), there are deals out there if you search!

Yeah, you are right. I am use to custom drapes and initially what I wanted to change is what you see when you come into my house and the drapes are closed for privacy at night or because of heat of mid day sun pouring in. What you see is the back of off white love seat and off white sheers. The ceiling I'd a trey ceiling and the walls are ten feet. I was thinking of possibly putting money into new sheers and take them all the way up to ceiling with fixed panels. I would guess that would be a couple of thousand dollars but it would give me some drama. Everyone has convinced me to get larger rug, maybe 10x12. The present one is 9x7. I am up for a new coffee table. I am trying to update the Asian aspects while reducing the amount of small items. Maybe the accent wall will come back. In all honesty all my pieces are name brand and higher end. That is my problem with chucking a Murray Feiss lamp for Home Goods. The rug is wool and hand knotted.

Perhaps you should go to Houzz and type in "oriental themed living rooms" and see what designs are out there. Find out what is out there that will help you "update" your space. If you are concerned that replacing a lamp with lesser quality is unacceptable, then you should just keep what you have or be prepared to spend a fair amount of money to redo the room and give it a fresh look. Good grief, You have had some of that furniture for 35 years. I think you have gotten your money's worth. No one is suggesting that you chuck your items. Take them to a re-sell shop and let someone else enjoy them. And if you love them too much to give them up, then don't. You do not have to replace anything with something from Home Goods.

So what if the rug is wool and hand knotted. You either love it in the room or you don't. If you love it and the way it looks, then keep it, if you want a different look, then sell it. That goes for everything in the room. How much money you want to spend to replace anything is again up to you.

Totally agree with Susan. Why don't you go to Ethan Allen and other higher end furniture stores around your area and look at the room vignettes there - they are up to date but will still have a more timeless look. Interior decoration/design has become more like fashion in the last 35 years. Things go out of style. Like shoulder pads from the 80's.

I had a beautiful wool rug that cost more than I would ever spend again. It was great til the dog threw up and it left a huge stain that couldn't be covered with furniture. Keep it because it cost a fortune? and have to look at it every day? I had to get rid of it! Now I buy polypropylene rugs. I can't even remember what I had in my living room 35 years ago but I think it was mauve.

Hi, haven't read all of the comments, but totally agree with you, I would not buy a rug on the Internet. You don't give a budget, so it's hard to offer advice. Are you trying to stay under $5,000, $10,000 , $20,000?
To me the biggest update would be a new carpet and custom drapery panels. If you want to replace your furniture you could do it in stages as your budget allows. One sofa and two accent chairs, not a matching set. A good sofa will run you a few thousand dollars, so don't know if you are ready to do that.
Reupholstering your current pieces is an option, but you may want to update the style at this point.
A custom linen bound sisal rug would lighten your room tremendously. A designer or a good furniture store can have one made to measure for your space. Both Merida and Stark carpets have fabulous choices of styles and color. Or get a good broadloom cut and bound to size. I would have beautiful custom drapery panels made out of a natural linen, lined of course.
Then new lamps and a few accessories.
Love your Chinese Art!

It sounds to me like you need to make some decisions on the extent of the updating you want to do.

If you want to keep your existing pieces and character of the room, you can make some small changes to give the room a more up to date feel by doing the following:

- move your rug back to the position you had it in before but pulled away from the window and more into the room

- put one sofa in storage and use your two blue chairs instead - keep the sofa against the wall and put the two chairs in place of the other sofa but placed completely on the rug

- take the scarf off the curtain rod and use stationary panels instead - keep the existing sheers

- replace the shade on your Chinese vase lamp with a more contemporary shade

- paint an accent wall in a deep blue that would work with your rug, the chairs and the artwork

- get new decorative pillows for the sofa that would tie the room together

- get a new coffee table or a new base for the existing table

- get a new floor lamp for the other side of the sofa

If you want a completely different feel in the room then you have to decide what direction you want to take the room in (no more Oriental theme?) and what pieces to replace and at what budget.

Do you have any inspirational photos of what you would like this room to look like?

I agree. I will replace the rug. I will look at the sisal suggested. I will get rid of valances. I will change coffee table and the mirror I don't like above piano. I will get side drapery panels. I know making those decisions will take me time. I will start with a rug . I will get rid of the valences. Several asked my budget??? I am guessing about 5,000. My husband needs convincing of the necessity of spending money on a room we just walk by and never use. I don't think he wants presently to get rid of upholstered furniture, I think the other changes will make the impact I want. I will take everything said into consideration as this forum has given me much needed feedback.
Does anyone think having new sheers that go to ceiling are a worthwhile investment as far as having the visual drama or impact I am looking at ? I still plan on adding the stationary drape panels no matter what.

Could you take a picture of the window wall in its entirety? It's hard to advise on window treatments without seeing the whole window.

If you send photo of window, please take down scarf first. we know it's going away and will give a better idea of what it looks like with just the sheers. Thanks.

You can tell H the love seats are probably at least 20 lbs heavier now because of dust mites.

Check Rugs as Art in Sarasota. I've seen it online. You could call them and see if they have a good selection.

If Sherry lives in the Tampa area, she has oodles of furniture stores and rug places. Some friends flew me to Tampa to help decorate their new home and we visited some great places. They were millionaires so money was not an issue. Boy, did I have fun. Unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of money, but I have learned that you can have a beautiful home on a tight budget. I did my own on a dime and I love it.

I won't be able to get the valances off until later this month. I will send picture then.

I think you have a beautiful space! Hope that we get to see an update :)
Also, I LOVE your coffee table!! Might I ask where you found it? :)

Have you considered a different window treatment? There are blinds called VertiCell that are quite attractive and probably cheaper than new drapes. Some might consider pinch pleated drapes a bit dated.