how to make our home comfortable without looking cluttered

Do you think the room looks (is) cluttered?

If so, how much of what's in the room do you need and really like? How many items are in there because you wanted to style/decorate the space? How many accessories and decorative items that you don't need (and possibly don't have an attachment to) are in the room now bumping up against items you need and use?

Members here can give you suggestions about what to remove, but I think that's never particularly helpful because we have no idea how you use the items in the particular room, whether they're meaningful, etc.

Btw, I'm curious if your radiator is currently in use and if the plants on it are real.

Off-topic, I'm fascinated by the top two photos, where the first shows your walls and sofa as gray and the second shows them as tan/beige!

First off, your space is lovely and I impressed by what you have done so far. Most first home pics we see are a giant beige room with a brown sofa, a tv and nothing else.

I think there is a tendency with your first home to display everything that you have been given and to make impulsive purchases at Home Goods and other places. ITA with Lars, you have too many small items in the space.

The other thing that would make the space look more cohesive and cozy is a larger rug. If the sofa, chairs and coffee table can all touch the rug, it makes the space look more put together. Perhaps you can use the smaller rug in another area of the house.

Thank you

Actually - your house does look very comfortable - just cluttered. Too many little things on the mantel and coffee table. I'd remove the small framed piece to the right of your fireplace, clear the mantel of everything. and lower the clock a few inches. Since you have sconces above, I would not suggest two matching items on either side; instead, something long and slender in the middle perhaps. Clear off the coffee table of the tray and other unnecessary stuff. Place a couple of books on top and one of your orchids.

Thank you

Very nice home and I agree with the suggestions above. Please post more pictures here as you move things around a bit.

First things first--get rid of that clock! Destroy it; it's evil.

Nobody should be relaxing in a room like that with the clock constantly nagging them about the time. I just do not understand clocks like that.

Secondly, stay away from the décor store! Display items that are about you and your family and your travels and your interests. A group of 4 good photos from vacations or a poster from a festival you attended, etc., would be far, far more interesting (and make you more interesting to friends and guests) than that reproduction on the left.

And that text in the shadowbox on the right? I don't take advice from wall art; it's in no position to know. Just sayin'.

Your home looks comfortable and inviting. I love the yellow accents. I would relocate to another room clock and word art and hang art or mirror above mantel. I would declutter mantel and get a larger rug maybe something with some yellow in it. Your art would look nice over mantel as long as it is not larger than mantel, it’s kindahard to tell.

I'd get a basket to dump toys in at the end of play time.

I'd also remove the little stand with vase with the two flags.

Agree with all comments above. There's just way too many small things in this room. You have a great start, though! Looks very comfortable and inviting, just need to pare down all the "stuff," and get a larger rug to make the room feel bigger.

Gotta say, though, I am so curious about the bananas. Is that a little sculpture, or do you really keep your bananas on your mantel? :)

Thank you for your comments. The orchids on radiator are real. Walls and sofa are grey. I have to laugh because my husband put the bananas by the sun to ripen. We us the space for reading, playing board games and cards, etc. and dining area for homework. Always stuff all over but will try to start getting rid of clutter this weekend.

Added photos of other side of space. Pics taken before going to school so quite a mess but I tidied up a bit since then.

I think that the more a room is "lived in," the less it needs to be staged for show. Coffee tables, in particular, are hard-working spaces, and we never keep anything on them for long. When the kids have moved out, maybe some adult things can come back out, but meantime, having to move stuff to use your space is a bummer!

Lovely room -- you have nice taste and are way ahead of the average "first time decorating" poster. Enjoy the space!

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I love a lot of what you've done. I don't think your clock is 'evil' but that painting to the left of it, is awesome. Put it over the fireplace. Put clock somewhere else, like kitchen, or desk area...

The flags to right of fireplace, seem like something to go in a teen's room.

I didn't even see the tiny sconces. I would lose them in a minute to put that painting there instead.

"I think that the more a room is 'lived in,' the less it needs to be staged for show."

I agree with this philosophy so very much. I actually prefer the clutter of a happy, lived-in family home than a house with sections that aren't used but styled to the hilt.

I have three kids and know that the clutter can pile up if you don't stay on top it. It's much easier too if you get the kids to help once a day. If you can do one tidy in the morning, then another in the evening before bed, that's a huge help. And before you bring anything new into the living room (or dining room or kitchen), ask yourself if it really needs to be there.

Thank you I think that is good advice.

When I bought my first home, I got a lot of storage containers for various things I used in various rooms at Michaels and a local store called Home Goods. Very helpful in reducing visual clutter. Also, I had a huge basement so could store some of my decorative items and rotate them. Just a couple of ideas. Honestly I wouldn't do much other than get a groovy toy box, maybe switch the picture and the clock for placement. I like to keep track of time and my eyesight is going, so I like large clocks. I might also rethink slightly the shelves over the bench, they seem a little off balance. Maybe add another small one to the left?

But really, I think you've done a great job. Is there anything you don't love? I know I was guilty of too many plants and nick knacks in my first home, but fast got tired of dusting them, so did a purge about a year and a half in. I really can't see anything wrong with your collections other than it is busy and not everyone likes busy. I like busy but if that's not the vibe/direction you want to go in, you could edit to just things that are practical and you love. I had to be ruthless about things I liked but served no function and things I didn't like that were gifts from people who I did like. I put all my nick knacks in one curio cabinet, really crammed it full of all my beloved tchotchkes, and went more zen in the rest of the house.

Love the picture above fireplace. I have another small shelve to add to left side. We use our basement as a family room with tv.

Meant shelf

You do not need to fill every inch of space. Use your sideboard to store games and homework supplies.

Very nice

Great Photoshp Grover! Shows how small changes can have a big impact. Does not look off balance now. I often wonder if such a sense of placement can be taught and improved upon or if it just has to be innate. I hang out here to improve my skills. My problem is I know what looks good but not always how to get there.

We recommend getting rid of the clock and sconces above the fireplace and placing the artwork above it instead. Also remove all other small things on the wall that are not necessary. That should give you a good first start.

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FTR, agosto5, you don't need anything major here. You've made nice choices in furniture and furnishings, but you definitely have too much decor. Edit and simplify. Keep those things that are useful and the ones that you love; lose most of the tchotchkes that just take up space and collect dust.

Would your space allow you to have the sofa face the fireplace and the two chairs straddle the fireplace at a 45 degree angle?

I thought of that but space is narrow.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have applied most of it and love how it looks. Wondering about rug. Should I place a larger grey rug underneath for layered look or just get a bigger rug? And if so what would look best?