Hanging some art (above the sofa and on the wall to the right of the TV) would help enormously. A side table next to the sofa and a table lamp or floor lamp would be an opportunity to add some contrast, maybe black or dark wood for the table. Whatever you add, resist gravitating to the same mid-tone neutrals you already have too many of. Black, white, o(non-neutral) color, or even warm-toned woods would break up what what you have.

I don't think the current area rug is enhancing the room. It's too close in color to the carpet, and it's really too small for the furniture layout. With the wall-to-wall carpet you could go without, but if you want an area rug to add interest, this one isn't really doing the job.

Maybe a rug to bring in some contrast and or color.

Larger than this rug - this is just a quick example. And I also added a bit of greenery in terracotta pot (at least that is what it is supposed to be... 😂)

You could maybe also add an interesting throw to the chair, maybe something with a pop of color. Or black and ivory with geometric pattern. I can’t see your pillow fronts, so don’t know your color scheme/preferences there.

Art next to sliding door, collage over couch, rethink accessories in bookcase and on mantle, add warmer wood side table(s) and lamp. Could add a bamboo blind. If you want more color, a new rug. Room basically really just needs some personality. Ideas per above suggestions.

Please post a picture of the couch wall. I don't like rugs on carpet but yours gives some life to the space. I would pull it over so the front legs of the couch are on it. Too much gray. What is your favorite color? Gray is a neutral so pick a color for new pillows. Hang art over the FP.

You need large artwork on all the walls, a wood end table, table lamp and floor lamp. I wouldn't put a rug over carpet. Instead, change out your ottoman for a wood or stone coffee table, or a leather or patterned ottoman. It's right in the middle of the room and is the dullest thing in the space.

Made some adjustments, painted the wall behind the couch and found some art at a garage sale for now. Still looking for a nice side table and a lamp. Next weekend we are painting the built ins white and building a new mantle. Should I paint brick?

I have a few rug ideas saved online but not sure what to pick

I love a fireplace surrounded with built ins!! Very pretty room. Your 3 pictures are hung a bit too high, they are supposed to be hung so the middle is at eye level. I have a terrible memory, but I THINK the middle is at 60 inches. We need someone to verify that though!! 🤪 I am definitely not a pro, but I have fun working on my house.

Thank you Karen! Good to know! I will move them down a bit

The art over the fireplace was a great find. It would be a great size to use over the sofa instead, and then look for something smaller above the fireplace. Do not paint the brick. It gives you some needed contrast and is a neutral color. You don't need a rug. Focus on finding end tables and lamps.

I would go with this art to the wall above the sofa and get smaller one on mantle.

I wonder if built ins are painted white, you could paint the brick black (not sure if the brick inside the book shelves should be white to match or black if you paint the main part black? Then use brass accents that match the fireplace grill. I agree to get rid of the gray ottoman and get a new coffee table prob out of wood, with some matching end tables. Art from mantle over couch, and mantle could have smaller or a few things of contrast and variety. Also, a quick way to spruce it up (and this will pop more if the brick is painted white inside the bookshelves) is organizing the built in books by color, stagger the layout some flat, some leaning. And some nice bright pieces to bring the eye over there, a colorful bowl or something. I don’t know if I can do photoshop like everyone else but I’ll try and find some things online!!

Here are some things I found from a quick search (I’m sure there are cheaper versions or use Fb marketplace for local things) and on second look at the room I think new curtains that add dimension and color as they are gray again. Maybe blue velvet? I see pops of blue around the room.
So pics attached are brass nesting tables
Two different wooden coffee table ideas

And huge fan of Maureen’s examples! If you go with a wood coffee table, you could tie that in with wooden frames and neutral pieces of art like the black and white ones to pop on the gray wall !!

That picture above your fireplace is perfect for above the sofa. It's a bit large for the fireplace, but I like it. You have a beautiful home!! Good luck with your decorating, it takes a lot of time and patience. My wonderful husband decided he wanted to build a coffee table, how do you say no! It turned out okay, but he decided to burn the wood it's quite different!🙂

That picture above your fireplace is perfect for above the sofa. It's a bit large for the fireplace, but I like it. You have a beautiful home!! Good luck with your decorating, it takes a lot of time and patience. My wonderful husband decided he wanted to build a coffee table, how do you say no! It turned out okay, but he decided to burn the wood it's quite different!🙂

That picture above your fireplace is perfect for above the sofa. It's a bit large for the fireplace, but I like it. You have a beautiful home!! Good luck with your decorating, it takes a lot of time and patience. My wonderful husband decided he wanted to build a coffee table, how do you say no! It turned out okay, but he decided to burn the wood it's quite different!🙂

I vote no to painting the fireplace, i like the texture it adds.

What about blue curtains to coordinate with the blue pillows on the sofa?

i dont kniw the dimensions but can the sofa face the fireplace? may with a console table behind it? put he chair diagonal by built in on left? Id play off all the pretty colors of the books in the bulit ins... return the atea rug (if possible) and just do some colorful pillows.

Recent improvements… still doesn’t feel done. Maybe the furniture looks old? I don’t know I keep trying to make the room feel fresh and new and still feeling a little 1990s to me!? Just looked at photo and kids moved ottoman and messed up rug but you still get the point. I need to find different art above the couch. Considering painting the entire fireplace white, husband is building a new mantle soon.

I’m considering dying the sofa slip covers, maybe that’s what is not feeling fresh to me? If so color suggestions?

It’s looking really nice! I don’t recommend dying the slip covers as I would be super concerned about color fastness. You have a nice beach vibe in the space with the tans, creams, and blues. The red from the bookcase really pops. Would you consider getting a few different throw pillows that has a warm tone? They would pop and look nice. Plus, easy to return if you don’t like it!

I think it’s a lot of fabric, the couch, the ottoman, the seat. If you replaced the seat with two fun/trendy chairs it will really change the space. Maybe wood? I’ll try and find pics. Also, before painting fireplace I would consider paint the entire room white?

Move your vertical art from the darker wall to the shiplap wall on the left side of the fireplace. It will make that area look finished and balance the shelving on the other side. Where is your large horizontal art piece? It would look great over the sofa.

We had the large horizontal piece up but it was clashing… there is a lot of yellow in it and for some reason it just wasnt working.

I also plan to hang something above the new bench just havent found that right thing yet

You didn’t ask for this advice but I think you should have the couch facing the TV. I like two trendy comfortable chairs would be great.

It’s a very comfy room! IMHO, you have a lot of safe, neutral colours (gray, brown, white) with very stable, solid materials (brick, wood). Pick one or two bright accent colours to draw the eyes. You can do it with a statement vase, large throw cushions, a bright rug, window treament, a painting, etc. Reflective materials will also bring some contrast to all the grounded heavy materials and colours—a metallic base side table, mirrors, mirrored/metallic candle holders, etc. Textures like airy sheers, a potted orchid, lighter fabrics will also add interest. Have some fun decorating with things that will make you want to take a moment to admire everytime you enter the room!

One more thing…you need more lamps. You can kill two birds with one stone and get decorative lamps! Designer Maria Killam has lots of articles about lighting so give her a google for blog articles. Overhead ambient recessed lights are not sufficient. It’s not a matter of just having enough light so you don’t bump into things. Lamps cast a warm glow at eye level without all the shadows that overhead lights create. You’ll also have more control over the mood of your room by layering your light. Best of all, lamps are such a decorative style item, you’ll be able to add colour, texture and material contrast with just a single lamp (although you should have more than a single lamp!). Good luck!

No offense meant at all - but I chuckle at pictures of gray furniture, rugs, art, or walls, etc. and the homeowner asks why it looks so dull.

no offense taken, i want to do more color but i think i get intimidated and just go neutral but yes then it ends up boring! :) I want to dye the sofa covers because I am really tired of the cream… also going to replace the drapes with something blue or teal.

I'd stick with the cream slipcovers and paint your walls a very pale blue instead of the muddy gray. It would instantly freshen the space.

Or paint the walls cream and use blue in your accents.