Maybe pillows with a pattern?

So, what's your favorite color? What color do you get compliments on when you wear it? If you don't mind painting just a bit, you could add color to the backs of your cabinets. Easy to custom cut and then paint/wallpaper luan to go into them and you can change it up when you tire of it. Is your rug a bound piece of broadloom, or is it fitted carpet in a recess with a boarder of hardwood around it? I think that would be the place to start. The fireplace would be more exciting with a piece of art instead of the decor that is there now. Every room can use a touch of black; could be pretty in the backs of the cabinets and/or on the stained railings and newel posts of your stairs and the little Juliette balcony jutting into the room. Your end table with the sofas is a bit short. I think a new 3-seat sofa and two armchairs would be a great improvement. No loveseats though. They are always the fly in the ointment when it comes to good arrangements & rarely seat two.

These suggestions are great! I have thought about getting two sofas and chairs. The rug is embedded with the hardwood around it. I definitely want to paint all the railings on all my steps one day. I really like all colors. I am a fan of adding black somewhere-love that idea. Honestly, would love to get darker hardwood floors, but that is not anytime soon since that would be a big job throughout the house.

I also think you need new furniture. With the paneling the room feels a bit more formal than the current furniture. When I looked at your idea books, plus noticed the decor on shelves, I think your style is maybe not quite so formal though. Don’t get a matching set, and it looks like you may have room for two sofas and two chairs. I think the photo below shows a room that might inspire you, although personally I feel the coffee table is a bit too rustic for room. Maybe something similar but without the rivets would have suited better. There is another photo of the room but houzz will only let me attach one, so I’ll add another comment with that photo because it shows the relation between wall art/pillows better. I agree with art above FP, then use the art to inspire a colour for accent pillows.

Another view of same room.

My idea books are a lot for the basement new look, but honestly I am not a formal type. I like do like that rustic modern look, comfy and soft. I can get new furniture and that furniture can move to the finished basement. Just moved into this house two years ago and just kept the same furniture and decor I had. Now I’m ready to do something. I do like the coffee table in the picture that was attached. This room is used for conversations when folks are over. I will not add a TV, as I have three areas already with TVs. I am interested in ideas for the fireplace mantel-that has been a struggle for me. I think the earlier comment of painting or adding wallpaper to the back of the shelving is a neat idea.

I love the windows and often wondered if I should add some kind of fabric?

Lynn, what do you not like about the FP mantle? I’m not sure if it would be possible to change just mantle, or if you want to change more. Here is a photo showing a reclaimed wood mantle, coffee table similar to other room I posted, and the furniture is more formal than what you currently have.

I love the windows too and I wouldn’t cover them. And it also looks like it would be a bit tricky, ie: installing rods and blocking or overlapping bookcases because they are so close.

Marlene. Sorry should have clarified. I like the mantel not the decor on or above it.

I think it would look best with an unframed canvas painting that’s just a bit smaller than the middle framed area. I don’t think you need anything else on mantle as there’s already lots of decor on the wall as a whole. Your shelves are decorated pretty nicely but if could make on suggestion it would be to add a few books here and there.

Is the carpet an area rug or an area of bolted down carpet? Hard to tell...I think that’s the biggest problem with the room. That and I agree paint the stair bump out. It’s a small area, you could DIY.

Can the carpeted area be removed? It looks like it’s laid down low enough that replacing the carpet with matching oak flooring would be a possibility. That would open up huge options.
Its possible to have comfy furniture that compliments your beautiful custom woodwork. What colors do you like? The empty room would be neutral enough for you to go with anything.

The carpet is bolted down the hardwood frames the carpet.

Check out some of the gorgeous “wall to wall” carpets that are available now. Have one customized to your space with a contrasting trim that can be recessed into your floor. It will look like an area rug. I can envision a leopard print bound with a border of black carpet, or you could even do something with three kinds of carpet. A custom installer can put together something that appears like an area rug for you!

Yes, have new carpet installed or buy one the size of that. Or lets try a large rug we can layer.