When people walk into the house i think it would be nice if they saw a full wall of staggered art pueces in the same tone as the silvery photo you have, but different sizes and lengths maybe mix in the framed mirror you have. pull that chair and table further into the room but not so much it blocks traffi. Maybe switch positions of the chair and table.

Bring the sofa into the room away from the wall. Bring the loveseat away from the wall To form an L with the sofa. Just for now move the bookcases to the wall where the loveseat is, but ultimately I would create an inexpensive full wall open shelving unit to cover that wall.

I would put drapes on either side of the window but i would also use the inser shelf of the bay window and the area behind the sofa to grow many plants, using plant stands..

i would add end tables and lighting as needed.

What can you and are you willing to get new of?
I would ideally love to see light colored furniture. Better shades with curtains on top. And color and textured accents for detail.

Good suggestions above. Right now your furniture is smooshed up against the walls. Bring it into the room. Your bookcases are not corner units, so move them flat along the walls. Also, a coffee table would help anchor a seating arrangement

I am also curious if you are planning to replace or add furniture. When our kids were young, we didn't have a coffee table either. Eventually adding one elevated the space from a storage and play area to an inviting living room.

I think scale is an issue. Curtains, shorter but wider side tables, taller lamps, and larger art on the back wall would help envelop the space. I would suggest an armoire on the back wall, but it might just feel like a repeat of the China cabinet in the dining room. A chandelier would be fun. Have you tried swapping the sofa and love seat? Maybe that doesn’t work as well with the rug orientation.

Can you humor us by moving things around and taking new photos? Try centering the rug and pulling all the pieces of furniture closer to the center of the room making sure the front legs of the love seat are on the rug and the sofa is shifted forward a bit. You could even pull the chair in so the legs at least straddle the corner of the rug. Then put the two shelving units side by side somewhere against the back wall. Not sure yet exactly where. They might look better with the larger sofa back there. Do you have a tall plant you could also put back there?

Put the wine colored throw that is on the grey chair onto the brown loveseat Instead.

Have you ever tried putting the horizontal artwork that is behind the loveseat over the gray chair? Then switch around that chair and that table and put one of your table lamps on the table. Just an experiment.

Oh, another reason I asked if you were replacing any furniture is that you could move the sofa to the back wall and put matching chairs in front of the window with a table between them. This would eliminate the love seat, though. Then you could put a console table with mirror and lamp by the pony wall.

We aren’t planning on getting new furniture. We have 1 small child and have a new baby on the way.

Since you aren't planning on getting new furniture, maybe consider painting the bookcases once you have moved them to the "back" wall (color TBD). Maybe this extremely inexpensive table could go between the bookcases, underneath the long horizontal artwork. (You can can put your exercise balls on either side of the table on the floor if you have a sense of humor, and some baskets for kids' stuff underneath.)

Baxton Studio Wendy Walnut Wood Console Table · More Info

I was able to zoom in close enough on the artwork over the chair to see what it is, and also to see that there are 2 framed pieces on the round table. Are they eventually meant for the wall? If not, if this is remotely appealing to you, then you might have room for this to the left of the photo-piece that is on the wall above the gray chair. If you used this, then maybe it would make sense to paint your bookcases black. Or if you decide to move the long artwork to over the gray chair, maybe this cities poster has some other place in your space -- or maybe not!

Cities of Europe Subway Sign, Subway Art Print, 12x36 · More Info

The long art work is too long for the wall with the chair. I switched the couches around and put the bookcases flush to the wall.
I do like the table and chair switches. Not sure how I feel about the couches.

Also yes those pictures on the small round table where up on the wall before the names. Now that we are expecting, I will most likely put the 2 pictures back ip

I feel bad asking you to move furniture when you’re pregnant! Hope you’re getting help. The sofa is better in front of the window like you had it. That’s your focal point, and it will look even better with curtains. When you switch them back, make sure the love seat legs are fully on the rug. It just brings it in to the conversation area better. Love the step down from the dining room. Still trying to figure out how to bring those bookshelves together.

Yes my husband is doing the moving for me! Yeah I painted those bookshelves from brown to the color they are now when we moved in... they are stumping me too!

Nicer.

Still think you should move the gray chair further out, closer to the rug and step downs, then move the table as well accordingly. Make the arrangement comfortable so someone sitting in that chair would at least have a chance to turn around a bit and see into the dining area.

About the bookcases

I figure you are going to get some drapes to go on either side of the bay window, and they will need to look good with the sofas and the design of the rug with its red, plus the wall coloR. Once you have picked the curtains, maybe you will decide to paint the bookcases a new color, or get peel and stick wallpaper and have this fab project of turning the bookcases into something wowy.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/add-wallpaper-to-your-bookcase-for-an-instant-style-upgrade-241766

Im thinking now that once you get drapes up, you should angle the bookcases back into the corners and put the exercise balls on top of them. :)

to start, just remember that small changes can make really big differences:)

* center the rug to the whole room, then either have all furniture on the rug (partially I mean) or all of it off.

* bring the couch into the room more, a sofa height console table would look pretty behind it .

* floor to ceiling drapes on the bay window, place the rod much higher, almost to the ceiling if you can. Have the rod at least 6 inches wider than the window on both sides. It will really make that wall look huge, especially. Pottery barn has panels that are 96” also longer that would work great

What color drapes do you suggest???

Do you likke the wine color of your throw in your roo?. These drapes come in 40 different colors if you don’t

LA Linen Polyester Poplin Backdrop Drape 96"x58", 2 Pack, Burgundy · More Info

If you were thinking of something airy, plain light panels with a trim like pompoms or a band might be nice. These are navy, but you get the idea

Pom Pom Window Curtain Panel Navy Single 50X84+2 · More Info

Any feeling about these?

Navara Medallion Room Darkening Window Curtain, Gray, 52"x84" · More Info

Tend to think you should go with silvery curtain rod no matter the color of drapes you choose (almost)

Essentials Bristol Chenille Jacquard Leaf Toss Pillow, Burgundy - Set of 2 · More Info

Maybe a touch of blue or black

Woodblock Prism Blue Oversized Rectangular Throw Pillow, Set of 2, 24.5x16.5x5 · More Info

Essence Black|Beige Oversized Rectangle Throw Pillow Set of 2 · More Info

depending on final choices...

I might even just do white linen floor length ones with a black rod and rings. it will look open and fresh, and then you can bring some color/patterns in with some accent pillows and not worry so much about coordinating them with the drapes:)

And what would look pretty on that wall by the accent chair is a gallery wall of family photos...I like to do square frames in groups of 4, 6, even 9.

Bookcases might need to be safely anchored onto a wall.... anyone? cause I haven't had children.

Seems lilac like rug color ?

One panel - 55% Linen and 45% Viscose for living room or bedroom. 3-in-1 construction with 3 hanging options: pole pocket, hanging loops, ring top. Rod Pocket/ Back tab Diameter: 1.5"

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Poly / linen machine wash.

Alma 84" Window Curtain With Rod Pocket, Single Panel, Inspired Sur, Sienna · More Info

$70 for one panel measuring 114" wide. Casual indoors or outdoors with stainless steel grommets and 3" x 20" Velcro-like tieback. Machine wash poly.

Ok, normally don’t comment on others’ suggestions, although I certainly don’t mind when mine are commeted upon but if the driving motivation for redecorating is to make guests feel welcomed, those mulberry print curtains make it look to me like there was a bloody massacre in the room. Just fyi....

I was going to post earlier about yours ital mover, and how they were good suggestion, and that OP you might've missed it. They come in a rose color also.

LA Linen Polyester Poplin Backdrop Drape 96"x58", 2 Pack, Rose · More Info

sheer tulle lace alone to fill your room with natural light -- add 1 solid panel underneath for added drama and dimension. Each panel measures W 80" / H 96" / 100% Polyester. More colors, styles, sizes.

Wide Width Tulle Sheer Lace Blackout 2-Piece Curtain Set, Burgundy · More Info

ital, I am 'sorry' because I said 'no' to curtains, and thought it was OP asking... I wouldn't usually respond about another houzzer's...

Someone said the chair might fit on rug, with just enough room to walk behind it to get to dining room. It might require moving other things. I know you're not buying new... later who knows...

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No problem @everdebz, i wasnt offended and i didn’t take it personally in the slightest. Was just trying to explain why i was weighing in on those mulberry curtain. Not every guest would have my reactio!

one thing that might narrow the choices is if the OP told us what are her 2 favorite things in the room.

What do you use this room for? TV? Play? Exercise?

We do occasionally use for exercise. My daughter also loves the open space to run and put on shows with her karaoke machine.

So to me various individual elements of the current decor point in 2 different directionS. One direction is relaxed boho multi purpose family space, the other direction is touch of glam share with guests space. I don’t think you need to throw half your stuff away and make it all one thing, but i am trying to figure out if you want to glam up the sofa snd bookcases a bit to bring them to level of the gray chair and dreamy artwork, or if you want to make the glam gray chair corner and dreamy artwork more down to earth and kick back for everyone. That’s why i asked to pick out the pieces of furniture you would most hate to part with, whether for reasons of function or looks. Would become easier to pull the room together using accessories to emphasize one direction.

I think your start on houzz is the time to brainstorm and be "all over the place"... so another option, though possibly said already: pull seating away from wall with art, and place table/ lamps behind it, or not - store karoake and items.

2 bookcases flanking, against the wall, squished, but ok? would lessen open middle a little, but could add 'interest' -- try it?