I'm not going to comment on everything that is wrong with that space. So what I will say is, given what you have to work with and what you say you want to do, I would make the half of the room that currently has your desk, the TV and that weird shelf, your "office". I would put the desk in the center of that space with the back to the wall where the weird shelf is now. And then find a new home for the TV in the living room.

@cpaul1 I am not committed to what I've proposed - just asking for opinions and trying to work with what I have as a renter. Not opposed to overhaul where needed.

Would love them, if you have the time to critique!

I would put the loveseat where the chair is now, so it will act as more of a divider between spaces. Move the tv to the wall adjacent to fp, so loveseat will be facing it. Move the chair to under the window along with small end table. Move your desk to the larger wall and bookcase to where desk currently is.

There are a few things you could do here. First off, we think you could easily move your desk so it is facing the living room. Turn your desk a quarter turn to the left and then you would be facing the living room and be able to see out your windows some. It looks like there is plenty of room to do this. If you then wanted a rug, you could get one that would just fit under the area for the entire desk and chair. We agree with moving the TV to the empty wall beside the loveseat. This will free up that area so you can get a bigger book shelf if you'd like. We would then have the loveseat face the TV and move the chair at an angle beside the TV on the right. We think these suggestions might help.

Notice desk faces out into room?

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it would be cool if you could extend the desk surface across the wall to where the tv is, (so an L shape), remove tower and tv stand. your desk is pretty, and one surface = cleaner look.

Could you mount the TV above the fireplace? It looks like the chimney is in the middle of the nook (I can't tell) but you could place the TV in front, and then layer some kind of accents in the deeper nook behind (a plant, tall vase, art).

For seating: one small sectional (or the kind of couch with a chaise). A round or oval coffee table might help the space feel easier to walk around.

The bookcase I suggest to be short and wide -- no taller than the short wall that looks over your stairs. Hang some large art above it-- but if you did, take down the art that's currently under your hall light or it will look like too much.

Unfortunately my plan involves getting almost all new furniture!

I wonder if an arrangement like below would work for you.

One plain large rug for the entire room and an accent rug for the primary seating area. Maybe jute or sisal in a 9 x 12'ish. The desk moves to the other side near the opening so you have a view out the windows. On the blank wall, a longish console and maybe next to it a couple of ottomans or a small accent chair when you need extra seating.

I'm curious about the room beyond the door and windows. Is it a sun porch?