You've shown us two walls. You wouldn't do that to an interior designer, so take more pix and comment here to post them using the Photo button under the comment box.

Ok, here it is, all the animals (and the teenager) in the picture! Small 13 x 15 family room. Still some tape on the side of the fireplace, I think it needs another coat of BM linen white.

A framed print for over the mantel will really warm up the room.

TV needs to drop down about 8 or 10 inches.

Could there be a less prominent place for the aquarium? on a smaller wall, perhaps?

Mirrors can be cold and on the mantel they often reflect the ceiling, so not very interesting.

A rug? Nothing too crazy.

The shelf next to the TV looks out of place and messy. Could it find a new place to be?

Touches of coral would be a nice complement to your décor.

Looks like some nice lime green on that one pillow. Would you like to sprinkle a bit more of that around the room to add some life? Rug to anchor the two seating pieces, another pillow, and a pair of art pieces to flank the FP.

We've considered moving the aquarium, but the tank lit up in the evening is relaxing. The pictures and rug are nice, thank you! How about some color ideas for accents?

Not ugly just plain what about an ottoman furry pillows, heavy curtains, bulky candles holders, bulky plant, a throw blanket and lastly an area rug too?

Drapes and the blue here and in the matched pictures above for your second accent color.

Love the drapes and lamp! And I'm probably skipping the chair and just putting a plant in the corner....

Hello Susan. In the first pic, the furniture looks beige, but later photos show them as light gray. Do the curtain panels gave any silver threads in them? Your room has a good start. It just needs color. Pick a color from your parrot as your inspiration and add some pillows, some soft throws for cool evenings. Some art on the walls will add more color. A mirror is okay if it is hung on the wall or above the fireplace. The problem with having it over the fireplace is that anyone seated in the room will see what is reflected from that low angle, and are likely to just see the ceiling. You may need a floor lamp near a reading chair (another opportunity to add color in a print or geometric pattern), end tables for table lamps, a coffee table. A rug isn't required, but it helps add color and helps with softening sound from the tv or the parrot. Since this is where everyone is, it needs to be comfortable, and the leather seating looks comfortable.

I think you just need to liven it up a little with some pops of color and cozy accents, love where you started. I love the idea of a colored lamp, and then pull that color in by fun pillows. I love how decorators are now hanging panels on the outside of a series of Windows with just a small rod. You could do a nice cream and gray heavy material drape on either end. You need some height by the fireplace, maybe built in shelves, which would be on the expensive side, or a big mirror leaned against the wall. I have a blanket ladder and absolutely love it...brings in different colors on the blankets. :).

I do think you need a nice rug, and either a covered ottoman or wood coffee table...

Can't wait to see what you do!

I found these curtains from Pier1, not sure to go blue or grey with them, I'm more partial to the blue I think

I like the top ones. Do they come in lengths long enough to hang floor to ceiling?

Hi Susan K. The extra pictures really helped clarify the space for me. The room has a very relaxed and cozy feel right now. That's very appealing in a family room! I think you're definitely on the right track with those lovely colors.

Here's my concern: there is an awful lot of visual weight on the tv wall. All that black is not spread around the room, but is clustered on that wall. Can you move the aquarium and its stand over to the left of the fireplace? Alternatively, can you paint the stand to match the wall? Black is a very dominant color and it's no friend to the other soft colors you have in the room when it is concentrated in one part of the space. I agree with leelee that the tv needs to drop down lower.

I'm not certain where you would place an accent chair since there doesn't seem to be any leftover space in the room. To keep things open, you might want to forego the chair and use patterned drapes instead. Patterned drapes will also help balance out the tv wall. To introduce black to the other side of the room, you might want to select drapes with some black in them. Nothing dominating, just part of the pattern as an accent color, perhaps.

Pier One has some great drapes, but I've only been able to find 84" ones there. The room would be better served to have them hang floor to ceiling, so you might check to see if you can special order longer versions of the drapes you like. Or, if you're comfortable ordering without seeing in person first, you can order longer drapes online from www.PierOne.com

With all the great advice you're getting here, I'm sure you'll be able to pick out just the items to make you very happy with the end result. Good Luck!

I will check, that's a nice idea! I added some teal pillows and the plant from the living room, just to add some color. I think I need a taller plant for that corner, or something higher. I have a lot of work to do!

LOVE the idea about painting the fish-tank stand! I would have NEVER thought of that!

I like both drapes you selected, probably the top the best!

felizlady, my little parrot (Kiwi) is very quiet! LOL! But I love your suggestion of bringing the "parrot" green into the room! :)

Bethany, thank you for the kind words! :)

These colors would work if you like them.

It's feeling kind of "cold" to me, maybe I need get softer colors for the pillows and whatever is going on the windows.

Seems a casual rug with bold flowers of muted teal [and avocado yellow-green? but is it brown or black?] ---

Susan, you've got a great base for this room with the neutrals, so you can go any direction you want. I would urge you to consider art instead of the mirror over the mantel, then use those colors to inform the rest of the room.

I'll return in a bit with a rendering or two to demonstrate.

I love the rug, I'm thinking then more plain curtain panels?

In my mind I have cottage-fixer upper style, and everything winds up looking beachy/modern!

Add a piece with some rustic reclaimed wood?

A few looks for you:

I would definitely add a rug though I'd keep it away from the bird cage. I used to have a cockatoo who threw his food out the cage when he got pissed off :)

Check out my artwork for above the mantel. Many sizes and colors to choose from: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShoaGallery

Some samples below. Enjoy decorating!

can anyone do a more rustic/cottage look with their cool design software? I will replace the coffee tables and lamps, the mirror over the fireplace is going and I'll do whatever to get it more rustic/cottage/fixer upper-y

I'm liking this art, not sure if it's too dark

The big advantage with rustic/cottage style when there are boys and girls in the same space is you can combine masculine and feminine elements and still have a cohesive room. Here are some elements of rustic/cottage style: Lots of texture; unpolished surfaces; colors from nature; art with natural themes; rounded non-geometric shapes and lines; and textiles with tactile surfaces. What can be very appealing, however, is to have that one something shiny in a rustic room, like a glass coffee table or a lamp base. Or you can use one modern art piece on the wall. The contrast makes the room more interesting as a whole. For a rustic look that combines elements of that style, yet is not overly masculine or feminine, check out this picture. You can see lots of texture, rounded shapes, natural elements like stone and wood and so forth.

Idk if I'm saying this right: Someone already mentioned that distinct pattern on curtains would balance visual pow of black on other side of room.

Maybe patterned rug too?

Then simple 'nature' art.... and where's that shiny? :)

I'm a little bit in love with this picture, what do y'all think about the frame?

Me like too, but...

and the frame has a moderately rustic look, you think so?

but?

Oh, I only meant that I won't be living there. Seems that it would attract eye, add to the fireplace area. I wouldn't buy that and a floral rug ha, but true.

Does this room open directly from entry? -Deb

Forgot to ask if the surround has particular detail - can't see it... what kind?

the room opens to the kitchen, it's all one big room. The fireplace surround is pretty simple, not a lot of detail, if that's the surround you're talking about

Yes, the fp 'surround'.

Are there other colors and/or patterns you'd like to repeat from the rest of your house? Especially the kitchen...

The kitchen is a blank slate, just-painted linen white cabinets, neutral beige tile floor, dark almost black quartz countertops, stainless appliances and agreeable gray walls, I'm probably going to do an ivory subway tile backsplash, but that's another dilemma! My favorite thing in the whole house, that you can see a little bit from both the kitchen and family room are my turquoise dining room chairs :)

Take a photo back further so you can see the whole room.

I do like the black lamp shades that grover added. I would go with corals for accent colors. I also would choose an abstract art piece for above the mantle. Add a coffee table or an ottoman & the area rug. Go with lively colors for the rug I think.

When enlarged, grover's is quite nice.

Incidentally, I like your chairs a lot / and I think I see daylilies in your art...