Do a built in on the wall where you have the TV......if you can't afford custom you can still do something great with stock cabinets

thanks. do you think a built in would seem bulky and block the entry way? what type of built in would you recommend?

as much as i dont like tv's a focal points - mount that tv over the fireplace and place cream/off white frame around it to help black tv against wall transition -and frame out those windows...then flip those couches running perpendicular to the fireplace wall - add thin but long coffee table running in between couches with a light color fluffy rug underneath...use tall candles or silver decor (anythign tall) on either side of the mantel to bring eye up...

Could you take more pictures and show a 360 degree view of the room? =) It helps to understand the whole space.

We're building a home and you living room looks similar to what we'll be figuring out. Only exception is no windows by the fireplace. The wall color obviously depends upon the mood you're looking to have. If this was my room, if I could afford - I'd prefer built ins surrounding the fireplace - simple such as bench on one side under a window anthen the other side closed covered cabinet. Trim would match the mantel. For a tranquil feeling I would paint the walls - Sea salt or Tranquility by sherwin williams. Both would look so sharp with the white trim and the beautiful hardwood floor. The couches - appear modern to me - if thats your style then I would change the color to a dark brown if possible - Not sure on that. You have beautiful color around the fireplace and to me this is you focal point. Then possibly a larger tv/cabinet. The curtains and pillows - to me would carry the "splashes" of accent colors. I envision a painting pulling in all the colors - over the fireplace. Hope this helps.

Decide firstly what you want the focal point to be.. T.v. Or fireplace. If it was my room I would wallpaper the fireplace section (cheap and easy to change), add a t.v. Cabinet with shelving each side displaying your personality (books, pictures, collections). Ground the room with a rug, as overall there is no real texture in the space and it looks in the photo as it needs warming up. Then decide later on the window treatments.

I did a great built in with stock cabinets in my bedroom and it only comes out 14 inches...

You can put the tv on the wall. One side of the wall paint in gray and the other three - white. put gray flooring. decorate with the details! This is what I had in mind:

Do not put the tv over the fireplace! It is too high for proper viewing (should be at EYE LEVEL when you're sitting) and it will detract from the fireplace, which is the proper focal point. The present layout is artful in this regard because it provides seating for the tv at the same time preserving the illusion of the fireplace as the most important feature. Put eye-catching art about the mantle to highlight it even more. Use window treatments to do the same - they will act as a frame. The tv can be further downplayed by wall mounting it and surrounding it with bookcases.

Further to my comment above, I would make the bookcase surround white (the black now jumps out at you) and consider making the fireplace surround a completely different color.

I'm not sure where you are, but we are in Maryland and used a company called Aesthetic Closets.....it is a small company ...they get a close fit using stock cabinets which saves money....the storage is fabulous....and I'd do this even if you put the TV over the fireplace as someone else suggested. My sister has the exact room set you up do and she put chairs on either side of the fireplace, and did the built in holding the TV....I wish I had a pictue...sorry...but the room as a wonderful feel....very welcoming....She did all neutral....off white.

If it were my room... I would go with a warm medium tone yellow or macadamian nut brown. Cheap cut to order fake wood blinds on the windows from Lowes, Home Depot etc. Large art above the fireplace. Can be just an inexpensive frame from Hobby Lobby with anything you like inside (kids drawing, create a collage from magazines and photo copy it , draw something). I would worry about investing in something after I have lived in the space awhile. Get that tv mounted on the wall. I would get curtains up too. Two sets total. One for the picture window and one set to either side of the FP wall windows, like bookends. Get some with some nice texture or shine. Walmart has some inexpensive insulated curtains and Pottery Barn has a beautiful expensive selection. Large rug for the floor with an ottoman so peeps get their feet off the couch. Throw pillows and blankets on couches add color and are inviting. I would prob get rid of the Kleenex table in this room. Use a tray on the ottoman to set drinks. Go slow and move furn around often until you like the feel. Don't forget plants and lighting. Some tall lighting that comes over the couches and candles.

At the moment this room looks impersonal. There is nothing in it to suggest your interests such a books, magazines, DVD's etc. No flowers or plants and nothing to provide comfort i.e a pair of lamps, a throw, a coffee table. Firstly, a large, mantle to ceiling mirror above the fireplace can begin a transformation. I bought very cheaply, a large, bevelled-edge mirror, made in China, which I glued on the wall with mirror glue and it gave a focus to the room. If funds run to it, a large framed mirror would be preferable. Secondly I agree that you should install white or light patterned, generously gathered curtains over all windows. Beside the fireplace, these should be draped to the corner side and held in place with a decorative curtain tie. In front of the curtains I would place a matching pair of either low bookcases or chests of drawers, walnut coloured or second hand painted white would be good, especially if you put on new smart handles. I would not repaint the whole room, but rather, I would paint 6" stripes of white using masking tape (two coats to cover the buttermilk paint). This will instantly freshen up the room. This room needs tall table lamps to provide "mood" lighting and to vary the heights in the room. One lamp could go on the piece of furniture beside the fireplace and one on the glass table behind the sofa. I agree that storage unit with a space which can house the TV would be great. Go to local auctions or try ebay. Failing that, there is a special narrow box which attaches to the wall, houses the TV and can have an artwork in front to disguise the TV. The best rooms do not come together all at once, a home is always a work in progress. Good luck.

I would not put the tv above the fireplace. No one likes craning their neck to look up at the tv. Some kind of cabinetry would give the tv a finished look. Maybe a pretty mirror above the fp and some art on the walls. The lemon yellow color could be toned down to make the room easier to watch tv, it is very bright. A color that would contrast with the white fp and white trim.You could look at getting some very simple/small window dressings to soften the look there., keeping the window covers that you have, just adding something across the top of the window. A larger area rung that covers a little more floor. Small coffee table and some lamps You don't want to over crowd the room, but a little of that will warm it up and make it inviting.

I like the idea of leaving the tv on the big wall (I think a TV above the fireplace would be really hard to watch). Put some cabinets around it to break up the wall. Keep the window coverings and add drapes. Once you get it decorated it'll look better. Lighting is also important in determining how your room feels. Wherever we live we invest in dimmers on almost every light.

It seems to me, if you like the modern/transitional look (and judging by your saved images, you have rich, slightly formal tastes), you may want to address the proportions in the room to be more streamline. The mantle and window, not to mention the fireplace brick, are a bit disharmonious with one another. You don't mention a budget so it's hard to make more useful suggestions, but a few ideas: no TV above the fireplace but instead a lovely large silver-framed mirror lined with the top of the windows; shelves fitted under the narrow windows to give a cleaner line; window treatment suggestions for those smaller windows are dependent on what's on the other side--you could simply use a pretty opaque covering or roman blinds; tuck a cozy reading chair and light source into that corner to have a view of the larger window (which could have complementary/matching blinds and a full curtain). Pull the couch away from the bigger window and replace the second couch with matching club chairs in a softer grey or I would choose a turquoise or aqua to bring some colour and depth...

Dove grey and white is a classic modern/transitional combo (go lighter grey on the wall, with those lovely floors, if you choose grey. I like grey and used it in my condo when I moved in, but it can be a bit overwhelming in smaller room if it's too dark... You could, however, use a darker grey in your adjacent dining room and contrast with a much lighter grey, almost silver in the living room).

As for the dreaded long wall... I have one of those too. Actually, two of them in my bowling alley of a condo... One is alcoved slightly so I was able to more easily line the wall with my beloved Cado shelving. I think it's not at all your style (and it's a bit chaotic here; I only just moved in when I sorted this), but I post it to show you what the colour combo of grey and similar wood tone as your floors would look like, and to suggest you could fashion a full wall of shelving to tuck your TV into. I don't own a TV, but if I did, I could easily tuck it into this fella. A narrower unit shouldn't be a problem to maneuver around, especially if you replace the couch.

Finally, for your look, you'll need a great area rug. I'd recommend a rich, plush grey and white. Bronze or gold and grey look good together too, so you could opt for those as accent instead of silver (and so would not have to paint out the fireplace).

Just some peanut gallery suggestions. Good luck! You've got a nice space to work with!

paint the whole room a nice charcoal colour, but leave all the trims white...then put up a couple of white floating shelves and or picture rails on both the TV cabinet wall and the fireplace wall.. put up some small b&w photos in matching white frames.. and a couple of images with a colour that really stands out, like a citrine or lime, then continue with that colour with some scatter cushions and more charcoal coloured and lighter grey coloured cushions...and then finally include 2- 3 plants in the room... one large full height on the floor, like a draecena and a couple little ones on the fire place and the tv unit. all the best... also you have that gorgeous golden floor to work with.. you are very lucky!! I agree with other comments, the tv would look great on a wall bracket and replacing the tv cabinet with a long low line one would work really well.. all the best with it.. and enjoy the process.. no need to spin!

Well, I like the colours (plain, but nice) and I would add a complementary one to your colour squeme to enhance it. The TV unit is too small for the TV. And so the small table under the window. The rug is out of porpotion: it is small in one side and large in the other side. Try one that can be within the area of the sofas. If you want to be bold, red for the fireplace is a great option, if not, try a color one or two tones stronger that the walls. I like the idea of an Art Work but, It is a little bit trick, so a nice picture of the family will be perfect. Just go up to the lines of the windows (not higher). You can use a nice wallpaper on the TV wall with a plain colour (avoid stripes, flowers and geometrics figures) to not disturb who will be watching TV. A nice lamp adds a cozy feeling to the room.... Hope to have helped somehow! Have a good luck with your decoration!... Susi

thank you all!! so many great ideas and things to consider! i'm going to digest the ideas and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions :)

Its like I'm looking at my own living room! I would suggest you look into Ikea Besta series. I have this in my old and current home. People may say its cheap, but they have come a long way - believe me. This thing has been taken apart and put back together at least 3 times, and good as new.

I'm not sure about your house layout and what your needs are, but it looks like you plenty of wall space to Ikea Besta including bookshelves, TV stand (to house the pvr/dvd player and such) if possible use a wall bracket and panels - gives it a great modern look. And on top you could use the 60x64cm frames with glass doors and have a display cabinet with lights. will give height to the room if your ceilings are low.

I will recommend you check out the Besta Vara doors, they're sleek, modern-contemporary and almost half price of the other doors.

As for the fire place add a large mirror (sunburst type), or an abstract wall art. By the windows use long wide drapes that will (almost) reach the other wall - this will make the windows wider. Not sure what kind of view you have (maybe brick wall from other house?) , I recommend having nice sheers done - there are different styles and levels of opaque.

In regards to the rug, I'm sure its lovely! However you have a big, no enormous sectional! The rule of thumb is that the furniture should be placed on top of it, or at least touching to all edges of sofa. Depending on your budget, id recommend getting one that's bigger. Perhaps also a nice ornate and modern chandelier?

Make a trip to ikea , winners, urban barn, west elm marshals - not sure what's in your area, and get some bright pillows and throws to break up the dark sofa. check out the clearance section. That's a great place to find accessories.

Find a coffee table or ottoman thats proportional to your furniture. Round or square would work, you could have orchids or small plants on top of it as an accent.

Hope this helps, sorry for the long post.

As an artist I see it missing from your space...this is a quick rendering with one of my prints....adds color...interest. I saw your buddha sculpture..so creating a zen like room would be really nice. I have many pieces that would work, but I promised my girl a trip to the beach...so this was the one that came to mind immediately when I saw your space. :)

I agree with the large rug--I think that alone would make a big difference to the feel of the space.

If the couches are staying, I would add lighter pieces, no more dark leather or dark furniture.
You could add texture and warmth to the space using fabric and accessories.

Ladies, it's been nearly two years...let's hope they worked it out by now.

hah, woops...new to houzz, stil figuring things out, clearly ;)