The sofa should be centered on the long wall with end tables. Put the chair in an L configuration on the left side (facing the sofa near the hallway). Move the chest over to the wall with the window near your front door. Just the furniture arrangement will make it feel completely different. Then get a large piece of colorful art to put above your cabinet on the wall leading to the dining table. I would update your lamp with the tan shade, or use a floor lamp instead. I would remove the mirror by your front door, and paint that alcove whatever color you decide to use for your accent color in the living area.

It makes a room feel much larger when there is plenty of space between the furniture pieces, or between the furniture and the wall. Either the stereo or desk should leave the room, as well as the plant stand and small side table.

With a 13 ft width, you have plenty of room for the sofa and chair to face each other, with a coffee table in between. The pieces can even be pulled away from the wall a bit, which makes the room feel more spacious. Just don't fill in the smaller spaces with more small furniture pieces.

Thank you again to all for helping me visualize your ideas. Please dont stop, I think my rusty brain is beginning to formulate or is it percolate? :) I will be keeping the desk as we need all the storage we can muster, as well as it is a sentimental piece. The stereo cabinet may have to go.

The floor-length half sheers are not really a good look. Do you need sheers for daytime privacy from the street (east window)? Do you need full drapes for night-time privacy?

Can we see your windows without the sheers? The windows and trim are pretty - show it off.

I think the best look would be to remove the sheers, and hang floor to ceiling drapes on a decorative rod. Be sure the rod is wide enough that the drapes can sit beside the windows to show the entire window during the day.

Had some fun with Floorplanner software using the dimensions you provided, and found that the sofa on the long wall seemed to allow the most flexibility. I moved the desk (with its top back on) over to the south wall, moved the stereo thing to the west wall. I also bought you a new, larger round end table, some curtains and rods, a pillow, an ottoman, and a rug. Hope I didn't blow the budget!

Yes, we need daytime privacy from the street and the neighbor at the other window. Houses are only about 5 feet apart. Wow your floor planner software is so helpful in visualizing. thank you. Nope you didnt break the budget yet, although the round end table stays as it is a recent hand made gift from my husband. :)

what about cellular or other shades with feature of pull down from the top? so those seated have privacy

Here's another sofa/chair placement suggested by others, with stereo cabinet removed, current square side table(s) back in, and round side table restored to its proper size :)

I like catliesl floor plan #1.

New version with NO coffee table/ottoman, a round rug (blue?) pulled from the dining area, angled recliner in corner, and stereo cabinet in front of window. Desk still on south wall.

Thank you catliesl! I so appreciate being able to see it both ways. It looks a bit naked without the stereo after all these years. BUT it makes sense visually.

Deb Zilch, yes I have seen and liked the top down shades....in others houses. I guess I thought they looked too contemporary/modern? Over the years we have had full drapes, wooden shutters, current type panels, Roman shades, and even bare windows for a short time :) I think I have covered all possibilities. Its a matter now of which one I want to start the rotation again. And like I said, I just couldn't get my mind moving. HA!

Three questions for anyone.

If i put the desk with top on it on the east/front wall over the niche, it still reveals about 5 inches of the niche (niche 47" tall and 5" from the ceiling trim), but is high enough that a picture perched up there would look odd. We have had it there before and just lived with the little cave looking hole left at the top of the niche, not knowing what else to do. Any ideas there?

If I dont put the desk on that wall and have drape panels that come out from both sides of the window, they don't come out far enough to cover the niche and stay balanced with the other side. I have looked in the past for a long narrow picture/saying/something that would cover it and have never found anything that long. Was going to do something DIY with a canvas and couldn't find one that size. Only one that was a HUGE rectangle (36 x 48 )that filled the whole area. Looked off balance with a pic on that tiny piece of wall.. To my minds eye, any of the other 3 walls could hold something that large. Is my thinking off or am I looking in the wrong place? Plastering over it is not an option. It wont keep me up at night if there doesnt seem to be a solution, but it would be nice to FINALLY do something. :)

And third: If I go with full drape panels and rods again, would plain white be best or something with some color (navy/royal//teal) that I use in the room?

Such a wealth of knowledge and help on this site. Thank you to each of you for helping to get me unstuck and thinking forward again. So grateful...

PS I see my note here has crossed paths with new entries. Catliesl your third version looks interesting with a round rug. Hadnt ever thought of that. Although would have to get a different one as the dining room one is actually a deep gray, not quite charcoal and about 7 1/2 feet across.

Good job Catliesl...this is the best layout allows.... a traffic path from door and provides a nice conversation seating..I would most likely switch stereo cabinet & mirror with the hutch....

Funny how something like that little niche can enrage us. I actually like it. Can you get 2-3 small, glass shelves cut to fit at a hardware store and use some very discreet brackets to install them inside the niche? Then maybe you could use that space for displaying small, framed photos or other objects. Another option would be a long, narrow tapestry or runner-like thing to hang over the niche (do you quilt?). That could add a spot of color, texture, and pattern that picks up whatever other accent colors you choose.

In the above layout is the niche on the wall where chair is? If so a slender vertical wall art could cover it..or add floating shelves and create a bookcase or bar area..maybe all books or display beautiful decor....you can make it work...I like how it runs next to window...thats old architecture for you! Sometimes you just have to embrace it!:)

Is this what you had in mind for arrangement?

catliesl...yes I quilt, but thinking that took me back to country look, what say you:) At one time I had framed 5 x 7 pics hanging on the back of the niche (11 in wide). As mentioned above I have looked and looked for wall art of some kind, but never found one 47" long etc. Perhaps shelves would be a change up. Home Interiors with Ease... yes niche is on east/front door wall (chair wall in pic).

On this layout where is the from door.?

I'd better not weigh in on decor - my style is what people politely call "granny chic" with quilts and vintage junk and tired furniture :). But I have seen some beautiful modern quilts used as art in public spaces.

Home Interiors with Ease...top of pic, niche is behind hutch and front door is to right of hutch. We never use the front door.

catliesl...that is exactly where I have been :) Nothing wrong at all with that. I have found as I have gotten older I am drawn to cleaner walls, less stuff, lighter colors etc. Less to dust! :)

I would flip the chair to where the hutch is...so it is next to the door and we can do something special with the niche..no worries.

do you have an IKEA near you?

These chairs are just so cute and would look great with your sofa....what s the height of the back of your sofa?

Home Interiors with Ease....Yes, IKEA is close. Back of couch is 32".

you could have some fun and go eclectic here :) bright colors with your vintage pieces and fun plaid couch in place of the chesterfield below. picture is just an inspiration of course.

xoxo eva @ MONARCHSOFAS.COM

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Thanks and what is the depth front to back?

Home Interiors with Ease....couch 33 inches front to back, 72" long.

Nanasewn - please don't cover the front door. You need the ingress/egress in case of fire or other emergency, How would Fire Dept get in? Also how wide is niche?

ashhtonchic... Nope the front door isnt used but has never been covered. I wouldnt have a place to hang my Christmas cards :) Niche is 11" wide x 47" long.

This chair could work well too...I checked the depth..very nice.

I would just go with a traditional style it blends well with your other furniture pieces very well...

Here are some ideas for niche. You could paint it an accent color to bring attention to it.

Hang these in a row of 3.

World Menagerie Metal Flower Wall Decor & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

Stratton Home Decor 3 Piece Acrylic Burst Wall Décor Set & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

Love this vase idea. You could cover a board with some fabric to attach vase to.

Gracie Oaks Metal Shutter with Bottle Vase Wall Décor | Wayfair · More Info

These are from Wayfair but Ikea probably has lots of cute decorative items also.

The nice thing about the IKEA chairs is that the covers are all washable. My daughter had the Tullsta chair and it's very small scaled and very uncomfortable.

Here are smaller star bursts

Wrought Studio 2 Piece Starburst Wall Décor Set & Reviews | Wayfair · More Info

A true granny would display a collection of vintage plates in that niche.

AAhhh! So true!

so don't do it, you want to be a cool granny!

Any updates?

Not really. The blue chair I pulled from the room to take pics is being loaded in car to take to Salvation Army. That needs to be done so we can move things around a bit. Life has gotten in the way some. Thank you for asking..

Just out of curiosity, why can't the niche be eliminated with a drywall patch? It's really not a big job.

It could. However we would have to hire someone to do it and we are counting the pennies for the important items we would like to purchase.

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-does-drywall-repair-cost-small-holes.htm

I like the niche!

After an unexpected death in the family, I am trying to get back on track in my living room. Wondering if 2 matching lamps work better than coordinating ones in this small room. There is no overhead/ceiling lights.

Ellen Tracy....was able to find the furniture slides. Will be using this week. Thank you

Welcome back! Do you have updated photos?

So sorry about your loss. I think a lot depends on the lamps. I'm a symmetrical person so I like things to match but you may feel otherwise.

Just tuning in..my two cent's worth....had to say I really like the top part of your secretary, with the doors closed. I had a similar one once and it's amazing how much stuff you can store in those things! Of course if you use it for general storage, you might want to put some paper or fabric behind the class.

I didn't see if it would fit between the window and the niche.

As for artwork for the niche, since you are a quilter, and if you are into crafting in general, you could make something non-country (contemporary?) with fabric or other textile or even textile/mixed media...there are some cool things to do with fabric woven with copper in its many color (and shape) manifestations...

See this for inspiration:

https://www.textileartist.org/kieta-jackson-extraordinary-woven-wire-sculptures

Or google for contemporary quilts....when meant simply to be wall hangings, some use bats of wool, unfinished pieces of silk, lots of variety ....it could be really fun to do something totally non-functional for that niche!

Checked -- houndstooth isn't same style, but looks similar? other colors, and even blue-

Houndstooth Check Faux Sheer Linen Rod Pocket Top Single Panel Curtain, Yellow · More Info

Veranda Black Feather Down Decorative Throw Pillow, 24x24 · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/houndstooth-check-faux-sheer-linen-rod-pocket-top-single-panel-curtain-yellow-prvw-vr~94233523

https://www.houzz.com/products/veranda-black-feather-down-decorative-throw-pillow-24x24-prvw-vr~63270140

Sorry, I don't know where the discussion is at - a 'hip' pillow, for blue chair? etc.

Cotton Pillow, Flower Print and Off White PomPom Trim · More Info

Houndstooth Check Faux Sheer Linen Rod Pocket Top Single Panel Curtain, 52"x84" · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/cotton-pillow-flower-print-and-off-white-pompom-trim-prvw-vr~16248269

Nice room. Looks inviting as is.

Getting someone to do upholstery work is expensive. A local auto/window and interior fabric repair place might know others that will sew covers for home furnishings from whom you might get additional estimates.

Like the secretary angled in the corner. Would probably consider removing the kitchen/dining objects and replacing them with items more living room oriented -- framed photographs of places or people and/or other family treasures; then, since the doors have glass, close them.

Like the niche near the door with the vertical art.

Would want a snake plant in the pot on the plant stand near the window.

Solid colors for throw pillows and other fabric furnishings -- unless you have a very specific theme you particularly like such as geometric design or floral or forest or beach.

Larger lamp shade for the table lamp -- white for all shades.

Probably full curtains or drapes rather than cafe curtains. Use mini blinds inside the window frames for privacy/light control and curtain or drape panels on a wider than window rod that will cover the side frame of the window with your sheer curtains in between or on an inner rod.