nice room. I think your mirror is a little too small for the fireplace

I'd prob do a nice piece of art. and a chandelier would be nice.

(BTW, above the sofa, pictures should be hung 4-6" above the back. look at examples of gallery walls behind sofas )

Have you considered doing something on your ceiling in here? maybe a darker color? wood beams?

.

similar room set up to yours

lighter sofa, artwork, two-tone walls, ceiling accent

notice the rug placements in these two photos

have you thought about redoing the surround? maybe do a tile or paint the brick? I like the two tone here. and the chandelier.

There is no reason you can't use drapery panels if you like You maybe have to use a corner connector for the rods, but it's doable.

Posting in case it helps with upholstery thoughts -

Newport Multi Rug, 9'x12' · More Info

HAND TUFTED WOOL ECO-FRIENDLY AREA RUGS ECO-FRIENDLY AREA RUGS - Blue, Floral · More Info

Not huge or small -- but mix and lively, like tiles?

Nourison Vivid Area Rug, Ivory,ivory, 8'x10'6" · More Info

Too bad you can't cover sofa to a toasty color - can be great with soft warms -

say you had to keep sofa - using your seagrass type baskets, this 'global' they call it could work? and with rug's color/s for accessories, which strong colors might 'match the strength' of large brown.

Kaleen Hand-Tufted Global Inspiration Wool Rug, Multi, 8'x10' · More Info

Dense Peony Tree Of Life Area Rug, Blue, 8'x10' · More Info

Beth H - thank you for all your input. I LOVE the rooms you sent as examples. The ceilings are amazing and the chandeliers. We just don’t want to put forth that much money right now. Still have to put 2 kids thru college in the next 8 years.

I’ve thought about light colored thin curtains but at the same time I don’t mind the wall plain, either.

I’ve debated on hanging big wall art over the entertainment center as in the photo w the 2 toned paint. Just wasn’t sure if that was going to make the room feel too closed in at 17x15.

My husband insists on keeping the entertainment center as is.

thinking a cream colored couch with sea foam colored pillows/accents.

Large sectional, throw a large, very textured item on it.

Leon Throw, Ivory · More Info

Leon Throw, Aqua · More Info

Parkland Collection Nagar Transitional Red 52"x67" Woven Handloom Throw · More Info

Hi..can you remove just one section of that sectional?

One more, and a good 'luck' to u.

Cover kitty, give access though!

6' Tall Window Pane Shoji Screen, Honey, 6 Panels · More Info

I would remove the entire upper portion of the entertainment wall unit…just keep lower low portion…it would make a huge difference!! Is tv on a stand?

So I understand..will you need to work with the sectional you have? Or are you replacing it…helps you you would like me to make up an idea-board…please talk to your husband about only using lower half of the wall unit…

College is expensive! [agree that mirror too small - canvas art is nice, and lightweight too] Why do you have to paint?

is the ceiling already wired? if so, putting in a light shouldn't be that expensive. (and as long as you're getting the room painted, now is the time since they will have scaffolding in place to reach up that high!

you can paint the brick yourselves. Or even tile over it and get a new wood beam mantle. not that expensive to tackle on your own.

You are painting, but may I offer my multi-metallic thought? that this could work on current paint... or not can't be sure.

Renwil Dreamview Wall Art · More Info

From houzz, I saw 2 or 3 of this type placed vertically overr tall fp like yours -

A & B Home 3"D x 25"W x 16"H Metal Wall Decor. in Multi Finish KIH41967 · More Info

You all are amazing w your help!

I hate the current wall color. We had our whole main level painted in the Coventry Gray so I want it all to stay cohesive.

We have family over a lot so I thought the extra big couch was good. Plus, when we watch family movies everyone has a place to lay down this way.

Re fireplace - I would love to put tiles on the brick. Didn’t know that could be done. I’m not a fan of white washing the brick.

Re the ceiling light fixture - it is not prewired.

As for kitty tower - I hate the look of it but they love it, so don’t want to take that away from them. I think adding the sogi screen would be too much in the room.

Throw blankets - love the blue one!

If you don't like white washing, then paint the brick a dark charcoal or black (you don't have that much of it)

**lots of pics/photoshops!**

the dark color next to the white mantle, and the gray on the walls would look very pretty. Yours would look just like this.

maybe find a large, vintage looking mirror to set on the mantle? larger than what you currently have

And if you want, switch out the horizontal mantle piece for a wood beam like this one!

otherwise, it would prob look just like this.

Wait, I have a lot more photoshops!

black brick, with black mantle surround.....wood logs in the box.

you have to imagine all of these w/your gray paint on the wall!

this one is black brick, very dark charcoal mantle surround.

This one I did w/wood beam mantle, marble tile surround and hearth

Painting it is prob the easiest and the cheapest thing to try first (I really don't think leaving the brick as is, is going to make a diff in the overall look. it's just 'there'. nothing special. What you want to do is highlight the millwork above it. so do some contrast. Try this Black Satin color on the brick. or try one of these darker grays first and see how it looks.)

It's going to take a few coats. Prime the brick with a GRAY primer, not white. Or get a few sample pots of Behr paint that match any of these dark gray colors above. see how it looks in the gray shade. don't like it? then go over it w/the Black Satin color.

want tile? you can mortar/tile right over those bricks.

try a black marble chevron mosaic

here it is on a photoshop

a plain gray subway tile (2.5X 10" size)

or go for a calacatta gold marble (hearth too. you could also get a solid piece and inset it into the floor) the calacatta oro, like this picture, has warmer tones compared to the bluer carrara marble.

See? looks nice w/your wood tones. (although, once your walls are painted gray, not sure how this one would look. it works currently w/your colors in your room.)

This is super easy to have done. YOu may not have to remove the mantle surround.

Tons of options you could do.

maybe look at stone remnants. you only need thin pieces. (they usually throw away those thin leftovers, so go by a stone place or fabricators shop and see what they have

take the measurements here in red for the stone pieces.

for the hearth, paint it, or use a solid piece, trim out the border surround w/wood that matches your floor.

would basically look like this. these are solid pieces cut to fit where I have those red lines.

this hearth is lower. you could break up your break to remove it, or just tile over it.

a better way to have a gallery wall behind your sofa. You have tall walls. please, no small pictures!

and lower them to 6=8" bove the top of the sofa

I personally love hardwood floors, but with brown furniture, you would want lighter-toned wood flooring. Your area rug would look good centered on the fireplace, and having the front feet of the sofa ON the rug does help keep the rug in place. A rug mat under the rug would also help keep the rug in place. The rug doesn’t HAVE to be under the entertainment center. Place the sofa against the wall or where you want it and measure from the front edge of the entertainment center to six inches under the sofa to give you an idea of how wide the rug should be. The rug will be longer than that in the other direction, so measure from the front edge of the hearth to at least six inches under the loveseat or chairs which will face the fireplace to determine an approximate length. Those front feet will also help help the rug in place.

Beth H - you are amazing! I love the idea of the big photos above the couch. Seeing our room in the gray is so neat! I’m nervous to paint the brick as I can’t go back. The black paint is an interesting idea but I want to keep the colors lighter. Not crazy about the wood beam look. And the fireplace is gas so we can’t put anything inside. I do like the light colored checkered tile, though. 😊

Curious as to why the mirror is too small…

The wall with the pictures is a small wall…(excuse the mess in the kitchen)

I think the contrast of the brick and the white mantle surround would look awesome w/the gray. You'll have to trust me. right now you're used to all the 'autumn' tones in that room.

Switch it up! eventually maybe you'll like to tile.

as for the photos, oh yes. what you ahve now is, well, just not working! baby is adorable! put the photos in alike frames (like that one shot) and do a gallery wall on that portion of the wall.

is the sofa staying?

i like this look

once that floor lamp is out of there (and hurry, lol) you could do a nice chair, a tall plant, a potted plant, a basket w/pillows/throws, a little bench, whatever, in that corner.

We are getting a new sectional. Thinking this (and another example for the color choice)…

And the baby is now 9 and the little girl is now turning 14!

How do you do all the changes to the existing photo? Is there a program I can use? And I Like what you did w the couch. Just thinking not to get gray…am afraid that’s too much gray.

LMAO. well maybe it's time for some updated photos?? or, try something diff for that wall. normally family photos should be hung elsewhere. maybe a hallway, the bedroom ?

I like that color of that sofa. See how these are hung above? and the little table in the corner?

I love this idea. bring the sofa slightly forward and do a sofa table behind. style as pictured

You break up all the gray w/accessories, texture, diff colors in art, the rug, pillows, etc

you could also do a slightly darker gray sofa, bring in some wood side chairs w/lighter fabric

what is the flooring? were you getting a diff carpet or just a rug?

you doing any side chairs? a darker gray would be nice.

here's a nice sectional. to help warm up all the gray tones, bring in some camel leather pillows, maybe a pouf, or textures w/baskets, sisal or jute, a tall plant, a wooly throw, etc

(and if you can swing a light, do it!)

I cut and paste on my Mac. using Preview

I would consider not doing another sectional

Look closely at all the elements in the photos Beth posted. See how the sofas have narrow straight arms and are tailored rather than bulky, and some are sitting up off the floor on legs? See how the pair of chairs in each picture are slim and lightweight looking? See in the one photo the sofa table is behind the sofa so the sofa edge is even with the window edge? See how the photos use round tables to break up the straight lines of the sofa? For ceilings as tall as yours see how large-scale the art is in the photos? Those are very important details to help balance the huge entertainment center and make the room feel spacious and airy.

Beth - thx for all the input. I love how light and airy all those rooms look. The flooring will be wood with an area rug. Was thinking a cream/sea foam color. Wood will be gunstock (or something like that)

Marylut - the reason the couch I’m picking is so low to the floor is bc we have cats and I do t want them hiding under the couch or clawing at the underside. We also foster kittens and we can’t have them hiding (pic for cuteness overload)

Adorable keycats, we love our 4 rescues, even the rascal that made a hammock inside the chair lining and the other one that keeps hiding toys under the sofa! New couch doesn’t have to sit up on legs to be “visually lightweight” just avoid thick arms and overly plump cushions - looks can be deceptive in huge showroom or warehouse.

Because you 'liked' the rugs I posted, I can leave them there. Want me to delete them?

Everdebz- not sure what you mean

Not a big deal, except that it slows a houzzer's 'read' of your discussion. If really not needed, I delete the posts.

Love the ideas Beth posted making the fireplace surround gray or black!
The sofa you picked out is beautiful but that light color probably isn’t best with kids?

TIP: Get major furniture selected the. determine rug size. Figure rug should sit under main seating by about 6”. You don’t need to center on fireplace. More important to work with sectional or sofa and chairs. Probably a 9 x 12’ rug would work. But depends on your final major furniture decisions. If you post your room total measurements, I can do a scale layout for you so you can get properly scaled new furniture. Start with that.

Thx for the input! Room measurements: 17x16

I love the idea of a cream colored sofa in that room. (With the kids and kittens, will it survive? ) Having a proper sized sectional in a lighter color will get you to the photos Beth posted. @Flo Mangan can do the furniture placement for you in seconds!
@marylut makes important points about the sofa elements that make up the beautiful rooms from Beth.

Rugs are last. Get the furniture done first. Change the brick on the fireplace (and the mantle if you liked the thicker look). Slowly, but surely, your room will get closer to what you want.

Deep brown wood floors with cream colored couches always look classic.

RedRyder - re fireplace - you agree w Beth: black or dark gray or white?

Jennifer. Here is scale drawing. It shows a sofa/sectional which is 120” on long side and the chase extends 4’. It is Approx 38” deep. Behind it to create separation from wall and half wall, I put narrow and long sofa table. A few lamps work on that for ambient light in evening for watching movie. I put two comfortable guest chairs beside TV unit. These need to be Approx 30” wide and 33” deep. A small drink table beside one chair and a garden stool by the other chair. Your floor lamp on window end of sectional. A kidney shaped coffee table makes getting in and out of the seating easier. I think a “cat walk” on wall behind the sectional for cute interest. I will put a sample board together next.

Oh, the rug is 9 x 12 long shown by dotted lines.

Just some ideas.

Flo - I’ve wanted those cat octagons for a long time! Where would you hang them? We really don’t have much wall space for hanging stuff

I would wait on painting the fireplace until you have all the design elements in the room. Black is very dramatic and I like a lot of the photos @Beth H posted. But a charcoal might be better. Let’s see how the new sofa looks, the rug, etc.
I am glad Flo Mangan did her magic on your furniture layout!

I would start in corner and create a pathway from right wall of corner over to above window or even in front of window and insert hexagons every so often. Kitties love it. It’s a “kitty wall sculpture”! You just have to make sure they can get from point to point.

This is rough but I think you get the idea.

Why under sofa? Why hardwood? Pergo Laminate is great and if covering save money.
I would get a great looking round rug bypass fireplace and see some wood under sofa.
Show off the wood 
Center options.
Round glass coffee table on wheels to see carpet.
Or small c tables on wheels to go under sofa or float.

We have hard wood in the rest of the main level so we want it to match. We have vinyl in the basement and in our master bath and love it

Ok so Beth and others - you convinced me to downsize the couch and add an accent chair in the corner by the window. I’d really like a cozy “light and airy” chair that reclines. Any recs? Been scouring the web but what I like is more expensive than the couch!

Recliners are pretty expensive and do take up space so mark of sizes with blue painter tape on the floor to be sure of size including when fully reclined. Here is a pretty nice one for the price. Although it is manual. You get to the $1,000-1,500 price range fast when you have electronic controls. 10-12 week is not unusual for delivery. You might get lucky with a floor sample on sale but any special order takes months to get these days. Just something to keep in mind.

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