Yes, it is Darcy. I'm going to the store right now to look at the colors again. I'll check out all of those recommendations. The Darcy is 89 inches. The Wilcot is 106 inches. I'll check out the others.

Thanks, Housegal, for your very thoughtful response. I actually had to get a sofa instead of a chaise because of the unusual carpet color, and the limitations of colors available at Ashley. I'll be trying a few of all these ideas.

Seconding the idea of an area rug on top of the carpet to bring in other colors/shades. And using Chambray's clever layout!

Ashley's Hannon looks interesting on the screen, but be sure to see anything in person (and brought at least to the door so you see it in sunlight).

What about the Yvette sofa, it is 84 long.

I actually ended up getting the Caci sofa in "pebble." I really loved my carpet color, but it's created lots of problems and limitations. I bought the ottomon to go with the sofa, and I'm hoping to put it on the end to create Chambray's chaise effect. I also bought the Mannix chair as Chambray suggested. Those items used up my store credit, so I'm not limited to Ashley for the other pieces. Once I get those things in and try the ottomon idea, I'll probably tap you all again. This has been such a stressful decision! I can't tell you all how much I've appreciated all of you Houzz contributors for your help!

The ottoman is a great idea. Think about getting a very oversized beautiful wooden tray in an accent color so you can occasionally use it as a coffee table. On that note, if you have a penny or two left, look for nesting side tables you and your husband can pull out on movie night. Overstock and Wayfair are good for this:

Again, experiment with different layouts. I do like the sketch a previous poster did, tweaking you current layout. Do think about a patterned rug with the "pebble" color, gray, and an accent color as well as long white curtains with an accent strip. Good luck!

I like the charcoal colored chair and couch not the brown. I would paint I know again, but everything is too muted. You need something brighter. Put one chair by the window. Something under the tv. a shelf cabinet, something. We did the same kinda thing in our living room. Our furniture is too big for the space.

Hope you'll post a pic when new sofa and chair arrive. Love that the chair swivels too.

Grey has a place, but I don't think it should be every place. When I look at these pictures, it looks depressing. I would go with white walls in that area - that will brighten it up, and provide a contract to the grey carpet.

Then for the furniture, if you can't get a refund, see if you can find a style that is less bulky. Perhaps something with legs that show (it allows light to go under/past the furniture and not be blocked which also brightens the space. Perhaps a sofa in a blue: toned down slate blue, or go with a bright one.

Don't bother with a chair that matches. Get one that contrasts or adds an interesting pattern/color/design.

Just want to say, as a shorter person - 5'3" - I find oversized furniture very uncomfortable. My feed don't touch the ground and it hurts my back. Unless everyone sitting in the furniture is close to 6 feet, you may find furniture that isn't so deep to be more comfortable for people of all heights.

The more curves you have the quicker it will look dated. That goes for sofas and cabinets. West Elm has some good examples of less bulky sofas:
http://www.westelm.com/shop/furniture/sofas/?cm_type=gnav

And Pottery Barn has a few too. Even if you can't get a refund, maybe you can evaluate some style options that interestest you here, and look for something similar at Ashleys:
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/furniture-upholstery/sofa-sectional-collections/?cm_type=gnav

Thanks for the input! I was trying to mute the room at the first level, and then I was going to layer with pics and drapes, but maybe my order is wrong. I'll post when I'm finished. :)

you keep mentioning the blue-gray color of your rug as if that were bad why not embrace it instead? Use the rug color in throws or horizontal blinds for the window. Paint your walls white and use white floor to ceiling drapes at the window. Definitely a small couch - check out love seats, in a less cushy design. Consider a swivel chair or glider with foot rest to compliment the love seat. love the floor plan. add a floor lamp the kind that bounces light off the ceiling in the corner behind the love seat and ottoman. get one that has a three-way switch so you can dim it while watching tv but still have light to make the screen easier on your eyes and keep the room lit enough so you can avoid tripping over things.Use some bright accent colors to go with the gray blue a nice deep red enameled coffee table with throw pillows in the same shade, or maybe a matching lamp shade to give the room some pop? A console under the tv, maybe and area rug in the center of the room with your accent colors? or some framed posters/wall art in the accent colors on the wall across from the tv. If your husband is really messy (!) consider getting the loveseat covered in a nice tight outdoor fabric. It is a cinch to clean up and doesn't absorb spills easily. Do consider a lighter color to keep the room from looking blah or depressing. And quit putting yourself down! You might change the accent or wall colors 3 or 4 times before you are happy. But it is your room, and ultimately reflects what you like and are comfortable with. There is no 'wrong' when you achieve what you like!

That's a lot of grey. Ever think of using white on the walls. I just did, with the grey carpet and WOW! Made it bright. Then any furniture will match. Or if you are married to the paint, try teals, Carmel colors, white leather or off white. In my living room, we did grey furniture, in sun room white furniture, in family room we went with off white and chocolate leather. Same white paint with grey floors. All look awesome! We add any accent colors we want because the walls and floors are so neutral and except any color I put with it.

Thanks, Everyone! It really is a very bright space, but I can see that it does need color. I'll post when I get closer to the finish line. :)

You are being way to hard on yourself over this. Calm down and just breath. Do you have a friend or acquaintence who's great taste you admire? Ask them for advice, they will feel honoured. This is causing you such stress, can you afford to hire a decorator for just an hr or two to come and advise you? You don't have to commit to any more than that. This is supposed to fun and make you happy not ill. We all want that for you.

I think it looks boring because there are no patterns.Area carpet,draperies,throw pillows and bigger art will fix that.Try HomeGoods for good selections and prices.

It looks like you have a great plan. I agree, an extra set of eyes for color maybe just the reassurance you need. Grab a friend and take her to Ashley's with you and then out to lunch.

Please post new photos when the new furniture arrives.

Mcrkms,

Re the grey/blue/blue-grey/grey-blue conundrum - I feel your pain.

I have a blue-grey tile in my living room entryway and as a woodstove tile surround. When trying to find a blue grey paint for an accent wall that would not clash with the tile, I must have brought home every blue, grey, blue-grey paint chip from every manufacturer. Anything that looked good in the store (I brought an actual tile with me to pick chips) looked either too grey or too blue when I held it up to my wall at my house.

I finally got a perfect color. I was at Lowe's for the umpteenth time with my tile in hand and chips spread over the counter. A couple came over to me. Turned out they were house painters. They looked at my tile. Walked over to the Valspar Eddie Bauer chips, pulled one out and handed it to me. To my eye it was too dark, too grey, and even looked like it had a green undertone. I decided to trust their expertise and bought one gallon to try. Perfect. I'm sorry to say I lost their card. If I still had it now (5 years later) I would surely hire them.

the Sherman Williams store in Appleton WI will customize your paint for you. I took in some plates the color I wanted to duplicate for my dining room walls.The people there were fantastic I came back a couple hours later to pick up my plate and they had 3 samples for me to pick from. and exact match, then the same color in a lighter shade and a darker shade.i got the lighter and the exact match and got a little fancy with my wall painting and the trim. This was several years ago but now they are the only ones i buy paint from! Check out your local paint stores if you cant find what you want at menards. It is worth a couple dollars more cause you only have to do it once!

So many great ideas here. Glad you found a sofa and chair that work. I personally would suggest a lighter gray-ish white for the walls. There are lots of "whites" that aren't white. Ever thought about crown molding? Would draw the eye up. I like the ideas for "open" furniture, coffee table, side tables, TV console...gives the impression of more space. Some light drapes that hang straight down and fold up narrow when open, say, grommet style will soften the space. For accents, go for warm or soft colors that you like, in your art, throw pillows, lamps. I like the grey and white striped chair someone suggested (with photo). And like the aqua or turquoise as an accent color. Yellows are good with grays, as are orange/peach, or gold. Accent lighting can offset the dark impression of your grays. Maybe a corner table with lamp or a torchiere to throw light up and lighten the space by bouncing off the ceiling. Good luck.

I was thinking why not a nice royal blue or, if it's too bright, a navy blue couch instead of the dark gray/brown one? And I definitely agree with white walls and aqua/turquoise accents and maybe a tiny bit of yellow thrown in for a bright pop here and there.

You all are really wonderful. You're also making me feel so much better. I thought I was color blind! I never had this problem when I used golds, greens, and rusts. I do like the calmness of the grays and the monotone, but I just couldn't get this right. I'm thinking that I'll do the narrow white drapes, but I'm almost afraid to try to pick a white that does with gray! We have crown moulding in the downstairs, but we couldn't afford it in the loft. That stuff is expensive! I'll post when the furniture comes in, and I'd appreciate any and all suggestions.

I like the gray color of the carpet and walls. It's just that there is a lot of it and it needs to be broken up. I think a lighter sofa and drapes would help and then accent pillows and pops of color in accessories. I hope this works out for you and I look forward to the after pics. P.S. I know you have said you used your credit at Ashley but just going on their site for ease, I like the Olivia table lamps and the Merihill console table for under the TV.

Thanks! I'll go to look at those.

This sofa from Houzz is pretty.

Oh! I think so too! Thanks!

Too much grey and no patterns. Why not lighten up the walls and look to a patterned drape?

Thank you! As soon as I get the basics in there, I'll be searching for the next steps.

mcrms,

You are over thinking and over stressing at this point trying to make it "perfect". I recently went through the same emotional roller coaster. First, every minor detail that you're focusing on now will in time become insignificant. Think of making the room feel good. If this is your TV room comfort will be the most important thing in the end. Whatever color base you have just break it up a little with some patterned pillows, an area rug. Go with the tones that you love and if the carpet isn't just right, work with it. It will become a minor issue. When you get tables in make small vignettes on the, them, add some house plants and suddenly the large pieces will become the backdrop of the room. The console under the TV will make the room feel homey and warm. Home Goods has fabulous things for vignettes. Use natural elements to warm it up. And try to enjoy this as much as you can. I over obsessed and it took nearly one year for me to realize that what was making me crazy was fine and I wasted all that energy. Last thought, don't feel locked into gray there has to be complementing visuals. I caution you about bright colors although that seems to be the trend. Think soft, think subtle, think natural. Here are some examples of how the vignettes have more visual impact than the large peices

Thanks for the advice and moral support. I'm getting there.....

Most furniture stores offer free designer service....not sure about Ashley but it never hurts to ask the question. A professional designer can help with colors, placement etc.

I like the carpet and walls. Try to get your money back from Ashley. I would think dark blues or greys for a love seat and a recliner. Off white or painted tables would brighten up the room.

I may be the only one that likes the paint color, carpet color and furniture color. (I understand getting your money back on the broken furniture) Go with a lighter fabric on chairs/sofa and add some complimentary artwork on the walls and a couple of light-colored throws/covers if you go with dark furniture again. I think it would look nice. Easy for me to say, because I cannot see in person.

Thanks, Kathi. I did ask about a decorator at Ashley, but I think she was more of a salesperson. I'm getting much more help from all of you! And thanks, Pam and Hawk. Now that the dark furniture is out of there, I'm liking the wall and floor colors better too. I sort of like the monotone.

I too have a messy husband. I had to go leather. Just wipe it off! We had two recliners with two side tables for years. It worked very well but there's no snuggling together when watching movies. I know your problem with gray. I have a warm gray sofa which looks terrible next to cool gray. Don't try to match the gray. Go with blue, olive green, orange, or yellow.

Thanks, Gloria. At least I feel better that I'm not alone with the grays. I had no idea that this would be so difficult!

nice rooms

Add in some purple, bright green or dull yellow to add color

Thanks, Value. I hadn't thought of purple. Since I'm trending toward muted, maybe a dull yellow or that soft purple would do it!

The gray colors (carpet, wall, furniture) are fine, but you need an accent color to brighten things up and add style. Gold or yellow are a natural with gray. Add a window treatment, throw pillow, and a large mirror with a gold frame and the room will look designed. It doesn't look like you have lights in the ceiling, so you need at least two lamps - with stylish shades.

As far as the layout, you might want to try the TV in a new location. The room seems to long and narrow in the picture. Can you put the TV on the wall opposite the window? It feels like the sofa should be on the window wall, or at least one the chair and table. Don't put all the furniture against one wall, and don't think you have to push everything against the wall. You could float a chair or sofa at the entrance of the room facing the window and put the TV in the corner. Many possibilities.

Thanks, Sgoldcamp. I did try the sofa against the window, but it looked crammed (to me). I've ordered a sofa table, and I'm picking up a plant to try. I'm obviously afraid of color, but I think I'm going to pick up some throw pillows to start the ball rolling.

You may want to check out these recliner sofas from Franklin. Nice stuff and not expensive. These are my man cave pieces. I have two of the full sofas and they are awesome. You can get the love seat recliner for the short wall.
http://franklincorp.com/products/reclining-sofas/

the two seaters (love seat) in the 477 freedom, or 445 Westcott, and the 457 Calloway would look best in your room. They don;t look over stuffed or two big for the room. The backs look more comfortable and in proportion to your room size. You could cuddle with the hubby but still have your own recliner and a more streamlined style will keep it from being overbearing.

we too are older and retired. At times both can be messy, 2 two dogs on the couch with us,and both shed. When I grow up I want a Red Leather Couch no fake leather. I think all the Gray walls could be too much of one color causing the carpet to rebound into blue cast of color. Pop the color with Red. Maybe pop a Red line 2-4" wide 3 or 4 ft down from the ceiling to liven up that space. Couch n chairs...heck only get what is easy to get in and out of...the older we get the less our bodies work like knees etc. Couches are too close to the ground...my 84 yr old Mom has to sit on 3 pillows to get up after sitting so plan ahead...unless money is no object, and next year you go thru this again with furniture. Anything can be covered with a bright throw...moods change with color.

that is a really good point, after my hip replacement i had trouble getting in and out of my recliner. And i don't consider myself old! I had a handyman friend come over and mount my chair to a platform- actually a small skid covered with carpet that went with my room. plywood on the bottom and the top (1/2") and the height of the skid (approx 8") plus the carpet raised my chair up to the perfect height for getting in and out of. He will be coming back to do my couch this spring. because like your mother, the only way i can use my couch is to sit on pillows which are not comfortable.(my body tends to slide sideways or rock which is not good for my hip!) I really like the idea of red as a contrast color for your room. It is warm to counteract all that cool gray and it livens things up.

Some people like to stick to rules...I do not, so I do what makes me feel good, and right for us and the Company that stops by all the time, and we just roll with it, no pressure. We are very busy people as well. Our TV / Family room is Small, 15 ft x 15 ft has 4 entrances...one to the kitchen, the main one from the front door/and hallway to the bedrooms, sliding glass door to the backyard n pool, and stuck between the kitchen entry and the main entry is a full on wet bar. We have a 55 inch tv that sits on a tall cabinet so we all can see it, as this room gets lots of action now n then. Hubby and I are big on Movies in the evening, and we are comfort people, I being eclectic, and sporadic with most everything..keeps life from being boring. My walls in this room are Dark Emerald Green, and perfect for that big screen tv as the wall background and big tv's go it does not distract from the movie/show. My couch is set center of the room and slightly off at an angle, large coffee table, for both sets of feet, coffee cups, and a now n then snack, works perfect..plus it is a taller table, 18 in and just about 2 inches shorter than the couch. The couch sits up on bed risers as the fur babies have their beds under the couch...Yes dangerous...BUT ALL is strongly instructed about NO PLOPPING. Sit down like ladies and gentlemen or sit at the Pub tables...then No issues. I don't mince my words.. Coffee table is perfect for feet propping. Comfort is important. Behind the couch on the long wall in the corner is my full sized Computer in a cabinet, printer on a separate stand next to Computer cabinet, then one Pub Table and 2 chairs where Hubby and I like to eat watching tv. The other Pub table n 2 chairs sit on the Slider wall, without encumbering the exit/entrance. Then there is a floor to high ceiling Big Rock Corner Fireplace, massive and the TV cabinet butts to the hearth. And there is walking room all the way around the couch, coffee table, and behind the couch, in n out of each entrance. So, my point is this...Do not be afraid of color, or to put your couch cattywumpus in a corner, it can work, and be quite functional, and comfortable and look great with great accents. Just be sure you like sitting on that couch for Movie Night or a nice relaxing nap in the afternoon. Poofy big comfort pillows in bright colors are a feel good thing. I think if you go outside of the box, be brave and BOLD... you will love what is already inside you...

Thanks, Everyone--for the ideas and moral support. I had actually been pretending that the old age stuff wasn't going to be an issue. I'm getting there. I did get a sofa with ottoman (so it looks like the chaise), chair, and two pictures. Right now, I'm trying two end tables that I brought from the old house, and I'm thinking of either a collage wall of family photos mixed with a few other art "things" or a big piece of art on the side wall. It does look washed out, but, I sort of like that look. My plan is to add color splashes with pillows and accents. I keep finding red things that I relate to. It's coming together...slowly.

I think you'll be happier with the ottoman than with a chaise longue. They are often hard to get into and harder to get out of. With the ottoman, you just nudge it out of the way and access to seating is easy.

Remember, there's no law against putting a rug on top of carpeting! A gray and cream rug in a trendy pattern (chevron, lattice, etc) would do wonders. It would help define the space, add some much-needed pattern, lighten things up, and blend your colors. I'd also go with a lighter cool-gray sectional sofa with a mid-century look (no move overstuffed shapes); as long as you stay in cool tones of gray, you won't clash with carpet and you DON'T want to match the carpet anyway. Then, change the wall color to alabaster. Next and very importantly, add various shades of cream and alabaster (don't have to match perfectly) in drapes and throws with heavy emphasis on TEXTURES (fluffy, tweedy, gauzy, etc -- mix em up!!). Lastly, add an accent color using stuff you can replace if you tire of the color (throw pillows, a throw, artwork -- but don't overdo it, a little goes a long way). I'd go for a bold red-orange, myself. Would complement the bluish tones of the gray carpet and POP in your room! Lastly, get one statement houseplant. Something easy like mother-in-law's tongue (solid green, NOT edged in gold) or a big-leaf peace lily. Best wishes!

Getting room colors just right is such a talent! I applaud you for your efforts! Hope your Ashley furniture is more comfortable than the pieces we bought 3 years ago.