Yes, invest in shutters. I would turn the sectional so the back of it forms a bit of a foyer for you. Anchor the sofa on a rug that is about 4 feet wider than the sofa and big enough to slip under the front 1/3 of the two seats and all the way under the chaise portion with 2 feet extended past each end of the piece. Time for a bigger shoe cabinet, one that closes and fits in that same spot.

https://www.houzz.com/products/query/shoe-cabinet/nqrwns

If you have the budget to redo the FP I would take it to the ceiling and install cabinetry to flank it. That might be something to plan, dream and save up for. Meanwhile, find a poster or art you love to hang above the mantel. Storage for toys and the videos is a must, so the built-ins could handle some of that. The white chair and bean bag would have to go for me to be comfortable there.

HU,,,I'm only about 35 miles inland from you.

I think putting something on either side of fireplace would be perfect for you.

I just wanted to show you how you could build up above the mantel, (but i'd do the tv there)

Ikea Billy Bookcases can be used as a hack and look like they're built in after adding some custom molding

or you could add some type of shiplap molding to go behind the tv. (how to, below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-kS53I4ikE

This one would work for your space (you could substitute a bench on one side)

Here's the tutorial!

https://decorandthedog.net/decorandthedog/2014/10/12/living-built-ins-tutorial-cost-breakdown

https://thesweetestdigs.com/the-living-room-a-fireplace-built-in/

maybe do a cabinet on one side (to put all of the dvd's and related stuff, and on the other side do a bench w/a lift up top for the toys. and the kids can also sit there and play on the bench or curl up to play games when they get a little older.

these are pretty easy DIY projects if you guys are at all inclined to do so.

you can also hide the wiring and put in an outlet behind the tv if you decide to mount it above the mantel.

**notice the cellular blinds on the window. they are the top-down option. blinds.com!!)

some other design options

I like the addition of the dark wood mantel w/this fireplace.

Notice the other white elements in the room.

plenty of storage w/the cabinets. notice furniture arrangement.

another furniture option. have a sofa on each side instead of the bulky sectional. then you could do a chair or two at the top like they show here^ Looks better balanced too since you have windows on each side. Just imagine the above arrangement and fireplace in your space. it would be a great solution and look great.

I think you should keep your wood ceiling, but painting the beams white will give you some extra brightness (after you lose those drapes and try those top down cellulars!

Silhouettes

Toys can go in cubbies behind couch or/and half of them put away. Then exchange them in 6mos.

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Keep the wood ceiling as is! Your house could lose value if you change it. It also goes beautifully with the floors. I would put a mantelpiece of wood in that color over the fireplace to break up that monolithic wall.

You might want to look up "craftsman style", since the wood elements in your room are in that vein. You might find other features to echo that style. The front door glass goes in that direction. Your trunk does, too.

One element of "craftsman" is to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. Since you're in a mild climate, I would work on making this happen, if you can, because the room seems very closed-in. Get rid of the curtains—they are all kinds of wrong in that space, including how they're hung. They make the room droopy.

Built-ins are part of that aesthetic. I think built-in benches would be brilliant, especially since they can be toy boxes.

Consider a rug in some shade of green with a vine pattern or other stylized natural element.

Are the windows open-able? Do they look out to trees? Too bad they aren't bigger. But maybe at least make them casements and get away from the sliders.

1 rug in LR & larger! Extend curtain rods 6 inches on sides & 4 inches from ceiling.

Then if do bench toy boxes; must make holes or vented wood incase kids hide in it.

Bean bag to their room?

Moved stuff around and bought a throw and accent pillows. What do you think so far?

We've decided the bean bag has to go.

The bookcases were supposed to go where the being bag is and you gotta keep space between the couch on the side so you can walk into your living Room from any direction

welp here is my 2cents! I would move your curtain rods up and loose the light blue it really has nothing to do with your space.

I would outside mount some seagrass blinds to fake larger windows and bring the wood tone in.

I also thought you could very well use some reclaimed "rustic" trim at the top of the walls to complete the look.

Then sell the current tv console tho it's nice its dark and feels large and in charge. two matching low bookshelves with baskets to house toys etc. Paint the mantel black to add some contrast and add a black frame above the mantel.

Another tho it's just that, swap to a satin nickel fan to take some weight out of the ceiling.

also try the blue and white rug you had for the play area under the sofa, then recover a few of the cushions to pull out some blue tones...

thank you.
@happyleg centering the sofa the problem is that the couch is so wide that it would only leave 2 or 3 ft on each side...

thank you.
@happyleg centering the sofa the problem is that the couch is so wide that it would only leave 2 or 3 ft on each side...

RL Relocation - I like your ideas, let me look at it better when I get home. we were thinking removing the curtains and put plantation shutters but your option is good too

2-3 feet is SO ample! try to center it, might just need some time to adjust to the idea.

following

The TV my tap to get anchored if you gotta put it on some cubbies it at the anchor it to the wall Could get an arm that you can angle the arm for the TV

I keep looking at the above by RL, & like it. Bean bag to the left under window.

I just centered the couch, there's only 2 1/2 ft on each side, no room for a small side table. I don't dislike it, being able to go to the living room from left or right is great but the wide is not happy with this lol

wife* not happy sorry. it makes the coffee table off centered with the fire place. Centered might work with a different kind of couch maybe? Going to leave it centered for the week end see how we feel about it

Ok, if not:: couch try under window to the left.

Here is a pic of a Room that the lamp don't lineup with the mere and the couches and center dundore the mirror or the coffee table but it's a nice Room

Crazy phone of mine I was trying to say the Mayor M the couch don't lineup with it or the lamp

This phone is crazy at changed my words after I put the man the MIRROR and couch don't lineup in this picture I posted above

O brother I hope you understand but I'm on my crazy phone not the computer right now

Switch to a larger rug will help anchor the space better, I totally get the off-center deal! I am very happy you are willing to try it! IDK what or if anything you plan to replace but going to a round coffee table might be a plan as well. Would you post a picture of how that looks now for us?

current goal is to clean up the living room. Less stuff every where, paint walls white, new draperies or plantation shutters then it will be easier to get new furniture and install shelves on each sides of the fireplace.

Right now

That will be a good plan and I can't wait to see it

JOY! this looks great, now you could put a sofa table behind the couch and that would center to the FP. And also be a spot to set things in lue of end tables . Straighten out the tv console so it's not at an angle... looks like a real room !!

Im not sold on built ins, bc, the fireplace is shallow so you would have to built out quite a bit to get usable storage. at least the depth of the console you have now. Might be an idea to blue tape out the depth you need to see if it works for you

RL, it's not that shallow. she could easily do something like this

anything, any storage, is better than none.

It migh take some time but I really like the idea of built-in shelves plus it will increase house value.

Looking at curtains, if i paint the walls white, wouldn't all white curtains make the walls appear empty when closed? Maybe Ivory or Oatmeal color?

don't do curtains. do blinds.

with your heavy sofa, wood beams, and the way they are placed, the windows will look too heavy w/curtains that go to the floor.

keep it neat and simple and do blinds. woven woods, cellulars, Silouhettes, would be perfect

cheaper than plantation shutters too

See how this window looks? it's very similar to yours. look how neat and clean the woven wood blinds look. (cellulars or the others would give the same look in case you don't like the bamboo look) Also notice how they have their sectional placed under the window. and notice the white beams. (I like your wood, but I think the beams painted white would really update the space)

Silhouette or

luxaflex- Pirouette

that would be my choice for your windows. and they come in every color.

Blinds.com is having a sale right now. if you could do inset blinds, great! take the measurements and price out some of the selections on their site. I've ordered 10 blinds from them and have never been disappointed. if you need to see samples, go to HomeDepot and look at their sample books. blinds.com is run by home depot.

similar to the Silhouettes, but cheaper.

https://www.blinds.com/p/blindscom-manhattan-2-sheer-shadings/500979

here's one of their less expensive cellular shades. this sale is a great deal but monday is the last day.

https://www.blinds.com/p/bali-light-filtering-cellular-shade/51

I love seagrass blinds..........just tossing that out.

I think these sites always have a sale. Looking at rugs, they're heavily discounted today, thinking of something like the ones below or maybe something with a pattern instead of abstract design

I wouldn't buy anything until you have an integrated plan - another sale will come up.

You're husband mentioned a couch maybe you should get the couch 1st if you're gonna replace that 1 and maybe you could sell the one you have and then you'll be able to get the rug to but it's best to pick the furniture really 1st before the rug

We don't have any plans to replace the couch, that would be too many things to do at the same time plus this one is so comfortable and being able to lay down on both sides of the "L" is great.

@happyleg I'm the husband (but my wife is following this thread I believe), I just tell her what you all say anyway lol

Agree on the rug, don't need one right now probably, it's rushing things.

@RL Relocation LLC Funny thing happened, we moved the couch in the middle and we didn't really like it for the first day and a half, but left there anyway. This morning I pushed it back against the wall on the left. Didn't like it at all anymore so now it's back in the middle and we like it haha

HAHAHA! yes that is the way it goes we are creatures of habit so sometimes change is shocking, but then........lol.

If rug needs bigger; get it! My inlaws had a built in cabinet that is narrow & nice.

Sharing some progress, so much better now! (we also got rid of the kids haha j/k)

Shades/shutter guy coming next week for an estimate

that looks great! nice job. I like how you moved the shelves over to the fireplace wall. just think how great it would look if you do the built ins next!

suggestion,,,lower your sunset pic next to the window. it's too high. place it middle of the window. from floor to the MIDDLE of the pic, should be about 56-60" from the floor.

Wow, that is so good! It looks cozy & agree above.

That other rug worked!! looks really good The plant and DVD look really good too! Try the sunset picture just leaning on the mantel and remove the little wreath. otherwise lower and center as suggested. PS love your little soft light filter lol.

thanks! the sunset painting is temp, had a nail there already from some Halloween decoration, but good point centering it. Glad this rug works because the other one was a wool rug and it was a pain to clean and would shed so much.

One thing I wanted to ask, I hate the way the ceiling beams connect to the wall, it looks like Lego and cheap looking. I want to add a triangular piece of wood that screws into the beam and the wall (painted the same for as the beams). Is there a name for this? Looked up wood beam wall connection but nothing (English is not my first language). I feel like I might have to customer make this thing myself. I'll try to post a photo of what I mean.

Something like this sketch (maybe the long flat side could have a rounder shape to it)

to get something more like this

My beams look like that like yours and once my husband wanted to put metal rap on each end of them and I didn't want too.