I would be inclined to move the sofa more in to the room and place the console behind it as a sofa table. Center the sofa on the window.

An area rug the width of the sofa and long enough to place the front feet of the sofa & to wing chairs onto the rug. Get a light background color for the rug. Maybe the color of the wood floors, with a nice accent trim border.

I like your arrangement.

I might flip the sofa and the chairs just so more light comes through the window and the dining room is separated more clearly. Also, the sofa is a better first view than the chairs. Love the library feel.

Options similar to these.

Thank you all so much for the ideas!

Vistas, if I move the table behind the sofa nothing is sort of greeting you When you come in. ...I put it there for an entry way feel but open to changes for other entry way ideas

You definitely need an area rug. Then I would move the furniture a little closer together on the edge of the rug.

Also, in your dining room, how many chairs are there to the table? Do you actually use them every day? I suggest no chairs at the ends , and two chairs on each side . This will eliminate at cluttered look, and give you a straight view through the rooms.

Are you married to the bookshelf?

Pull the seating are together with a generous rug.

The dining room is used 2 times a week. We're a family of 5.

I'm actually not married to the bookshelves I was considering moving them to another room and moving couch to that wall with a chair on either side, or chairs by windows. ...What do you think of that?

You have a lot of heavy looking furniture in the room. Could you chalk paint the bookcase a light color and move all the books elsewhere and "decorate" the bookcase. Move the smaller cabinet in the corner to another room.

A rug would be a great addition with some color. Then pillows with color. Everything is a little dark right now.

Ok I took the suggestion to move book case...and we are loving it now! Feels way more open and spacious it made the living room dining room into one big room which I am liking the feel of. What do you think?

Obviously need to rehang and arrange all wall hanging. Possibly will put tapestry behind couch.

Still looking for and input on the entrance... Because of door and layout nothing about it is really an entry way.

It's hard when the door comes right into your room.Do you use this door everyday or is there another door you use daily. Does the tenant come in this door also?

Do you need an area to put coats and shoes.

Also, the door seems to be hung the wrong way, when open it should have backed onto the wall, but you can't do anything about that now.

Hi, Thanks for he input! I use this door every day, the tenant does not. the white door on side is hardly used. I was thinking of hanging hooks on it maybe? and like a mail pocket thingy?

I have a small mat in the side for wet boots, and in the winter keep a bin nearby with gloves and hats...

SO MUCH better without the bookcase!!! :)

Thank you!

Do you still recommend rug?

Any tips for entrance?

Yes you still need a large rug for the sofa area and can you try a chair each side of the sofa - make a conversation area.

cant put anything other than big picture or canvas photo collage on back of tenant door since you open into it. what about getting a small rug for entry, 2 x 3 ish, to match a big rug that you put in front of couch? when you have a rugs, it will delineate the space better. plus I agree chairs need to go on either side of couch to finish sitting area.

I like the idea of matching rugs, and the idea of hanging something on back of door. Any thing you had in mind for there?

Thanks so much!

no, depends on what you decide to do above couch, but those vecro command strips are pretty cool for areas you can't nail into. Also, putting photos on canvas, a la costco, is lightweight in look and feel. what about some black and whites of your cutie patooties?

Better. Move one chair to other side with back facing dining room. Then measure for a rug that would sit about 6" under legs of sofa and long enough for front legs of chairs to sit on rug. The corner cabinet doesn't fit there. Is it true corner cab or just angled. If flat back try it on right wall after entry. A "gallery" over your sofa would not be best choice. A piece of art that is large enough to fit about 2/3 the width of sofa would be nice. Hang it no more than 6" above the back of sofa. Move plant to end of sofa near dining room to help visually separate the two spaces.

Wow thank you such good and detailed tips!

That corner cabinet is a true cornered back so we basically had no other corners to put it in.

I have a tapestry. ..it measures about 40 inches, ( the rod can extend more, with tassels on either side) back of couch is 76 inches. Is that doable or will it look too small? Not really in budget right now to buy Major art, this I have.

Will it fit in corner of dining room. How about in a bedroom? Look around your house. Think even in unusual spots because it doesn't work in that corner. You might be able to put it near the end of sofa facing into living room and hang a nice little tapestry on the side facing the dining room. Or put a mirror on the exposed backside to the dining room. Think out of the box!

Your tapestry could work. Just don't hang it too high. You have to remove the smaller wall hangings between living and dining room too. Keep it as open as possible. The eye needs some blank spaces to rest.

like this?

Yes, and with a rug, that will do what we call "ground" the space. You don't want it so big that you walk over it when you walk to the other rooms, so I think you can probably use a 5x7 rug, and there are lots of them out there not too expensive. Go to World Market or Pier 1 if you have one near you or Cosco if you are a member of that and take a look. Measure first though. I'm just guessing at size. You might need the next size larger. I would also look for a low bench that has storage for the bookbags, etc for right under your front window. That would help keep things tidy and organized. Very important in a small space to keep things organized. Even a wicker type toy basket with the lid would be good. Just to get things off the floor and behind some door, lid or container. Your floors are very nice so we want to protect them too.

Great ideas! Yes it's either 5x7 or 5x8. Should I get identical in small for entrance or just coordinating?

I have to admit I'm always a little depressed to see someone with small children who chooses such traditional furniture. In any case, I'd replace your entry console with a sideboard with storage that the kids can shove their stuff into and hide behind closed doors. Sideboard and rug below from World Market.

Thank you! Great to see the visualizations :)

I guess in this case the young people have no money for new furniture so we took hand me down chairs and used slip covers. ;)

I'll try to add in some fun with the rug and bench maybe.

IMO I would have kept the layout of the chairs from the first picture a placed the side table behind the two chairs and add wicker baskets underneath to place the toys and also put some curtains up and add a coffee table but it's what suits you best

Thanks! Which first? With the bookcase or after it was moved?

With the bookcase but I'm just referring to the chair layout

The pillows look nice. do you have a trunk or something similar around the house you could put at the front door so the kids could put their backpacks in. Yes you are doing the best you can on limited funds and we will try to help.

I know it's a behemoth, but what if you put the bookcases on the entry wall in place of the console. The kids could use the bottom cabinets for their stuff. You could clear one of the shelves as a drop zone for when you come in the door. One thing I've found (and I'm as guilty as anyone) is that when the ordinary detritus of daily life is scattered about and not put away, the space feels chaotic.

It definitely needs something to fill the space between the chairs and sofa. What about a very large upholstery or leather ottoman?

Thanks all!

I will try to get big nice bins for the backpacks to put on the bottom shelf of console table( currently the bottom is a mess)

I will be looking out for a bench for window though, possibly with storage.

Ottoman is nice idea, but I will first shop for a rug and see how it looks once filled in a bit.

I will be moving the corner piece- I found another corner I'll try it....

Thank you houzz community! I will repost a pic when some updates are done :) :)

Here's an idea to do something with that tenant door. Put decorative hooks, knobs on it so the girls can hang there coats on when they come in the door. Design it so it looks nice when no coats are on. Also, if you have an old picture frame, (just the frame) you could glue it on - paint it white - would give some interest to the door.

Great idea!

So...the search has begun for a rug ...and one for the entrance. The problem is the door opens and gets stuck on a rug! Only like a thin doormat texture or I tried my sons thin playmat for cars will be thin enough to go under the door. Any brainstorms?