Here's a couple more pictures ...

Sorry I can seem to insert the vase picture.

Bump.

I would really appreciate any help you can give on decorating this room!! I am really stumped on how to decorate the walls and mantle. So sorry that the text in my original post came out so strangely.

I keep looking at your pics trying to figure out what to suggest. I think your sofa needs to be centered on the long wall, for art placement, but that might not work with the large piece under the tv (too close, block walkway?).

I think you could use some taller pieces of furniture, like bookcases flanking the fireplace, too, to fill some upper wall space so you won't feel like you have to hang something on every wall. But again, can't tell if the couches would have to move too far toward the tv in order to do that. If not on fireplace wall, then maybe on the far left side of long wall. Then you could leave the couch where it is and have a more balanced area to hang art above it.

If the tv were placed on the same wall as the fireplace, then you could have an L shaped arrangement with your couches, with more furniture arranging flexibility, which will also help with art placement.

Lastly, is the coffee table two pushed together or just one large piece? It seems really big for the space. A rug might warm things up, but not much of it would show with that table!

Perhaps, when the budget allows, you could look for a polypropylene rug. They often have a lower pile that doesn't hold dust or dirt like a wool one. Easy to hose them off in the driveway once in a while to clean them. Look on Craigslist for bookcases, if that idea interests you, and perhaps a smaller table if you end up with a rug.

Here is your vase pic:

Thank you Olychick and celerygirl!! I appreciate the help.

Olychick - The walkways around the coaches and not that big (18"), except there is some more space in front of the TV. I do not think I can squeeze in bookcases anywhere really. Yes, those are two coffee tables pushed together. It was the only way we could figure out how to balance the room. We needed a lot of seating, but the fireplace and TV make it so awkward that they need to be a bit spread out. I see your point about putting the TV in the corner, but I think that chance has gone! Would corner shelves look good at all to the left of the fireplace? What has been so difficult is the width of the walls on either side of the fireplace. Even a typical bookcase would look a little narrow! Oh, and thank your for the outdoor rug idea. I like it.

celerygirl - Thank you for the mock ups!!!! They help so much to visualize. I like the idea of the floating shelves! And I like your minimalist placement of objects. Do you think it looks like too many lines with the mantle too?

What does everyone think of having a row of photos or paintings with minimalist/art gallery vibe? The photos would run the long wall and wrap round the walls on either side of the fireplace. Sort of like this

https://en.leica-camera.com/Leica-Galleries/Leica-Gallery-Warsaw/About-us-Gallery-Warsaw

The pic of the black and white exhibition. So sorry, but I am new to posting and I cannot figure out how to embed clips from websites. It keeps saying the post is too large!