Here are more pics

Can you turn a light on in the living room so we can see better both sides. Is the ceiling as dark as it appears. Take more pictures, please

there are no lights in the living room other than the lamp next to the tv stand

Given your lounge and TV placement, location of dog crates and feed station, I'm not sure there is a place for a dining table as I have a feeling the area adjacent to the kitchen is the nautral location for one. If a table is high on your list, try looking for a table that can reduce it's footprint when not in use- like a fold down (drop side ) table. Drop side was the antique term, but you might find modern examples. A quick shift to even out the lighting would be to relocate the lamp to the other side of the tv. You might need to think about adding some lighting options. If having anything fitted to not quite in your budget yet, check out lighting options which can be fixed but are plugged into wall sockets - say at IKEA.

IMO the first question is do you need the dog crates , we have never crated our dogs since they were puppies. That space in the kitchen IMO is where a ding table might work. I need a to scale floor with all measurements marked clearly. The the next step is lighting all bulbs LEDs 4000K will make all the choices easier. I assume this is a rental so knowing what you can actully do would be a good thing to know. How much seating do you need on a daily basis. IMO the sectional is too big for the space The stand with mirror is just clutter .

Get an overall plan first - before you do anything else (for a unified look). What is your style? To find out, put in top search box - one at a time: casual, transitional, rustic. I don't know if you can or want to, but this is what I would do if it were my place. Sell couch, tv console, and lamp. Put tv over kitchen half wall. Get a loveseat and an upholstered chair (measure area twice, buy once). For the couch and chair, get some with very narrow armrests. You have very little room here. Put loveseat where the tv is now, and chair in front of the stationary slider part. Get rug from overstock.com. They have a wide selection. Make sure the rug fits under the entire seating arrangement. Lighting: Get a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner at chest height. Lighting is often an afterthought, but is actually very important for room atmosphere. Dining table? Get the tiniest you can find. I like the suggestion of the drop down table from prior poster. Again, measure area twice, buy once. Move shoe tray to kitchen. Put wall decor up on all walls including kitchen. Get from local artist, art gallery, or art.com. If getting from art.com, get a print, then get it framed locally (cheaper and less likely to break in transit).

We’ve brought our old furniture from last apartment but we want to get new furniture so I am open to any ideas. I want to have a big rug and I prefer rustic and greys. I’ve seen dog crates DIY’s where they are used as side tables and my husband is open to doing that if it an option I just dont know how to put everything together. I agree and really want a dining table near the kitchen. It is just us two so definitely want a smaller couch or other seating arrangements and our living room is mainly just for us to be cozy watching tv not really for entertaining guests. Curtains or wall decor ideas are welcomed as well. The only problem I have with placing tv on the half wall is that the stove is right behind that wall .

Thanks for the lighting recommendations definitely will look into those suggestions.

We are also thinking on getting a new tv and mounting it on the wall as an option .