I searched "brown living room" on Houzz photos and found these examples.

I say go for as MUCH ART as can fit on the walls. Why? Because it COVERS UP the BROWN WALLS! SCORE! You cover the brown walls AND you add colour. The "fun" thing is...the ART will cost about the same as painting the room professionally - but "shhhh" don't tell her.

Get plenty of bold colour on the walls...and then find a rug that will pull everything together. And remember: brown works really well with BLUE! Not navy blue....but teal or turquoise.

Look at the blue in that painting you found. That's an awesome blue for what you are dealing with. Keep a photo of it on your phone and go shopping. And feel free to use pops of ORANGE (about 10%) to keep everything lively and bold.

Orange plays well with brown and really makes BLUE stand out. It's a win-win colour combo! Have fun. Your sis likes bold and you have a great eye! Enjoy the experience.

I happen to like brown too. I have accented with orange or smokey blue pillows and other accessories in various combinations from room to room. Thanks for confirming my decisions Cancork Floor.

Thanks for the advice. I wanted to start with the blues and oranges but my issue is finding pillows with color that don't look "cheesy". I already have the photo in my phone and have gone on a few trips. Do I need to shop online for pillows instead? Any suggestions?

Sorry I misunderstood about where the painting is. I'm still a little lost about where it is, but regardless, I think most of what I shared still applies. I agree orange plays well with real and brown. I think you could use one or the other, or both, but I'd still recommend using a large amount of white/cream in a rug, throw, and maybe drapes to lighten things up overall. Where are you looking for pillows? Pottery Barn and Anthropologie have a good selection I think. I'd look for ones in a luxe fabric that feels good as well as looks good. I'll see if I can find any to serve as inspiration.

Hi, you have your work cut out for you! I would go with a light blue, green color. Pretty with brown, and tan tones. Goodluck.

DH, the first picture above is what the room looks like right now -- the big white art behind the couch and console underneath it is brand new. The second picture is taken from behind the couch looking towards the front door/foyer area (which is not visible from the first pic). It was taken before the colorful art was placed in the foyer (wall to the left of the rug). The console table is not visible in the second pic either bc it wasn't not purchased when I took that pic. So based on the location of the colorful art, you really cannot see it from the living room.

Ok, I think I'm understanding better. Do you have another blank wall where art that has more colors like the one that is in the foyer now could go? I like the white painting/sculpture/console vignette. Maybe you could stack 2-3 books that have orange/teal/cream covers on the opposite side of the console to bring some color there? Or a low dish or something? Good to repeat colors in a few areas.

And how is lighting? I'm thinking you could bring in some table and floor lamps? Might be nice to have some light on the white art piece.

Here are some pillows I found. I'm certainly not recommending all of these, but maybe you'll like one or two of them, or it will give you a better idea of what you want.

Thank you! Yes there is one empty wall. If you look at the first picture with the couch, it would be on the left side. She has some tall DARK BROWN wood sticks there now....

Let me look through the pillows. She really tends to like one of two extremes -- all browns OR eclectic (like that bold art). She keeps saying she wants something "funky". (Laugh)

Maybe the artist that did the entry way piece will have another piece that will complement it and the other art you have in the room already? Definitely nice abstract pieces, and I like that you have some sculpture as well as wall art. Maybe something that leans toward the teal and orange? Or, completely different: my dad has a beautiful Japanese Kimono that's mostly cream and orange on his living room wall and his furniture pieces are quite modern, something like that would be beautiful and unexpected and take this to definitely being an eclectic space.

I'm leaving town for a few days, but I'll check in to see how you've been doing when I get back. You have good taste, so I'm confident you'll do a great job. : )

Anne Duke I love browns as well. With oranges, creams and blues.

An area rug like this would really bring some life to the sofa area.

https://www.jossandmain.com/Zoey-Multicolor-Area-Rug-MTNA3396.html?piid=22734836

You could add a pillow like this

https://www.allmodern.com/Digby-Bluish-by-Iris-Lehnhardt-Throw-Pillow-IVYB4279.html?piid%5B0%5D=22247957&piid=22247957

Maybe throw in a few of these

https://www.etsy.com/listing/484291906/couch-pillow-aztec-pillow-sofa-pillow?utm_campaign=shopping_us_SARIKAYAKILIMPILLOWS_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=11926933&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vnMBRDgARIsACm_BhJfQ6TJ_-Fo0WR6KY9YgbM8Lb2B2q6KgghEw-xxPGh6a85jucQtSqQaAuiIEALw_wcB

Maybe you could add a metallic coffee table for a little shine. https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Madison-Park-Carson-Gold-Coffee-Table/14548145/product.html?refccid=DCMMUKQJGYXJ6JSAXM63KHRTHQ&searchidx=47&keywords=&refinement=type:Coffee%20Tables|shape:Round|material:Metal|

So, the orange and blue is looking like a fall festival in this space. So not the look she is going for.....LOL. Could I possible pull mostly white and fuzzy rug and glass table in here to make it work?

I recently did her bedroom on a low budget (she's extremely frugal). She loves pillows and fluff. This is her taste. Sorry for the poor quality pictures, as my phone doesn't capture color well. Its mostly gray, white, tans.

Well, she does like brown! Get A rug large enough so that at least all the front legs of the furniture will fit. Yes, a white or ivory rug will lighten up the space quite a bit. I'd also recommend getting some good lighting. Use 3000k or 3200K LED bulbs everywhere. Maybe just try the teal pillows and no orange? Or white/ivory pillows with just a touch of a smoky blue? That will be a more calming feeling.

I like the idea of a much larger rug using white and ivory alongside smokey blue accent. I guess can we start with a layout and coffee table ideas maybe? Here is the view from the other side. The sticks can go also.....she is adamant about the TV there (she did that), so I am hoping this doesn't make the post go wayward LOL. She wanted additional seating in the room and just put the chairs there for the moment. Would it be too much if I did 4 chairs and 1 couch (remove the sectional)?

For space planning, can you start with a rough sketch, noting the overall dimensions and size/placement of doorways, windows, fireplace, and built-ins. And then please include measurements of the sofa and any other furniture that's staying.

That is an especially high tv installation. I'd move the sofa back if you can. I have a sister, too, so I understand the dynamic. If her neck starts to hurt, that may be the time to talk about better tv placement, plus she's already seems to have the built-in for it, will it fit in there?

The sticks white washed or painted white could work there with another piece of art or wall sculpture to the right to balance it. I think you need to bring more lightness to that side of the room. Ooh, maybe a large leaning wall mirror to reflect some light back into the space?

I'm thinking a round coffee table, and will need to see the layout to know what kind of additional seating can work. Something in a light natural linen or light taupe could be the way to go.

So, hell has frozen over. :-) I am able to convince my sister to replace the existing sectional. Will that help with keeping the paint? What color couch would work best? And more importantly, what layout? I told her she may or may not get a sectional as I felt like we can do more without one?

My thoughts are headed in a more modern direction. She would like some "funky" chairs as she calls them, so my thought would be that they are unique or eclectic or something. Thoughts? She is still a neutral person, so the couch would definitely have to be in the neutral family. We will probably start searching locally soon.

These chairs may not be funky enough (they aren't) but for a colorway re sofa and blue it is a good inspiration pic.

Would these chairs be "funky" enough?
Oldies refurbished?
Serious funk

That sectional isn’t the elephant in the room. It’s a whole large herd of elephants.

Deco, your second picture is heading that direction. She loathes anything with a vintage or antique feel to it.

I love the bamboo poles....FTR and looking at the painting you got her, I would do red as an accent color...

I feel as if you're both being a TINY bit too safe...like you're both just on the edge of jumping in with both feet and saying ppttthhh to the world of HGTV...

So I say, jump..

I hope these are better pictures. I need layout assistance, I believe. FOR A NEW COUCH AND CHAIRS OR NEW SECTIONAL. Would like to know a good layout before making selections.

I guess I'm confused. That would mean that the chaise is along the wall underneath where the big art is? So that means we would be sitting looking directly into the foyer? The art is not on the wall in this specific picture, but the art is now on the wall directly on the right.

Also, she will be getting rid of this sectional (not sure if you saw that above). So basically, we can go with couches and chairs (my preference) or a new sectional (her preference). If we do get a new sectional, I need to know what side the chaise needs to be on, etc. I'm just looking for an overall layout for the space.

Don't limit yourself to a fixed chaise. Get a reversible chaise sofa so you have the flexibility to arrange it from right to left when you want. I think we need a sketch of the floorplan and measurements.

This is definitely not to scale

Would she be willing to put the TV elsewhere? It seems to me a smaller one could have gone in the cabinet left of the FP. How about putting it opposite the FP? TV is going to have to be settled to work on furniture arrangement. It doesn't look good towering over the room and hiding the nice woodwork at the FP focal point. You may as well treat the FP as just another wall, rather than the star of the room its meant to be.

Honestly, they were firm in their decision not to place the TV in the cabinet. From their perspective, everyone would have to lean left just to be able to view it. It really IS the focal point and a realistic aspect of their daily routines with the kids. They love movie night, cuddling up and watching movies. I didn't really argue because it is about the family time and trumps "design" for them. :-) Personally, I know many designers will not agree (I hope no one is offended), but I just wanted to be transparent about it.

However, if there is another arrangement that works better (ie everyone can see the TV, it's not hidden or in a corner, or with that back of the couch facing the fireplace), I may be able to change her mind with a little persistence. Thoughts?

I didn't realize this was a family home - just thought it was her. So this is a family room, and we have to consider the traffic path which cuts across the room from right of the FP to the opposite corner. How many need to be seated here?

Well, family size of 4, but they always have additional family over visiting. That being said, if she can get 6-7 she would be happy. Overflow can be in the kitchen (you can see it from the picture).

Rcarterworld, would you mind telling me where the art you bought came from? Doing a small amount of decorating for my new daught-in-law and she has a real thing with brown also
Thank you, Harley

Could she get some curves in there...maybe a U-shaped sectional, a large round or oval coffee table, something more fluid? everything seems very angular. Removing the angular dark espresso leather section will help A LOT. Perhaps if the new sofa were a fabric with swirling or circular fabric?

I saw the post above with all the throw pillows---guess what they will just slide around on a leather sofa! Unless a copius amount of duct tape is applied.....

I wouldn't get a chaise on the sectional. Linen would be cool or grey velveteen. A new rug. The fireplace mantle needs some "detail" work. I'd stencil a design across it...in grey to match the couch? Get rid of the BIG bamboo OR paint it intense yellow....

Not suggesting white, but since TV cuddling is the main reason for the room, maybe a circle or curved sofa is the answer, along with one or two chairs. Then the two walls can be used for casegoods under art. Price will be the issue for her though.

She's a hard sell folks. She is not liking the curved couches and feels she would not be able to "migrate them elsewhere" at a later date, if needed. She is definitely okay with a round table though. I'm trying to imagine how folks would decorate this room as if the TV were not in the room. I think that is the look she is going for because the fireplace would probably be the star or no?

Square fabric-covered pillows on leather furniture often refuse to stand up as desired. There is a hack decorators use to solve that issue. Place a good scoop of sand (1 1/2 cups or so for a large pillow) in a sealable plastic gallon baggie. Then seal and roll the bag into a log and place it inside the zipper side of the pillow cover. That should help the pillow stay upright. Obviously, you need pillows with zippered covers to make it work. Three or four pillows are plenty for any sofa.
Lumbar pillows (log shaped) are another idea and don't require weights to stay in place.

Don't forget floor lamps and table lamps!
A room that size with furniture that size needs a large rug, about 12'x18' or so (depending upon the actual room measurements) to form a good island for the seating furniture arrangement. A patterned wool rug will stand up well to wear and will give some color suggestions for accessories and window coverings. Leave two or three feet of uncovered floor around the room. Consoles and other decorative furniture can stand upon the hardwood floor.

If there were no TV and there were a decent budget, I'd probably suggest a sofa and 4 chairs or two sofas and 2 chairs (if scaled to fit the space.) Posting these for arrangement, not the particular style of the furniture. This would all focus on the fireplace.

Deco, your first picture was my thinking. But that would mean that the couch would have to be a loveseat size?

I just wanted to comment and ask if the TV has been tried in the cabinet? We have the same set up and we don't have to lean to the (in our case) right to see the TV...Our cabinet doors open and slide back into the cabinet, though, and hers may not.

Not necessarily a love - as I said; these are for arrangement, not specific furniture. Use painter's tape and lay out specific pieces you like on the floor to see what fits best. I don't care for loveseats - most only seat 1 person since in general people don't like to sit that close unless they're lovers - hence the name of the sofa.

So...do we purchase a sofa and 4 chairs? Sofa on picture wall and then 2 chairs on either side? We have been playing around with layouts.

I really wish my sister would let me do this for her living room!

Sure. That could work. So could two sofas and two chairs. How many people does typically she sit in here? And is this the main tv viewing space?

Daily 3 to 4. Weekends, more like 5-6. They are a sectional family, so she is having a difficult time letting that idea go. I'll post a pick of a temporary arrangement she liked until she could commit to something. I'll post when I get back over there.

Are you permanently breaking up that sectional? Because that's strange to me and I wouldn't do it. Love your painting.

Thanks! That sectional will be sold. We are going to replace it with new seating and I was just breaking it up so that can we "see" what 2 couches would look like, a light colored sectional with chaise in the other side, etc. I'm trying to mock up the room before making a purchasing mistake.

If she chose a sectional?