You will hear different opinions on showcasing family photos..pro and con. I lean toward the con. I like personal photos in bedrooms and hallways, but not in a public area, like a living room.

But, your question is how should you do it? I like this arrangement for the large wall next to your fireplace...same size and same color frame (IKEA has good ones).

You could add a long bench under or a long console...

What would you recommend instead?

that little white table really doesn't work in that spot. It's too small, too low, and to white (there is nothing else that is white around it)

can you bring in a runner?

these are just two small examples of a wall decor option right next to the front door.

bench or a taller, more suitable console table.

find a runner you like, maybe a diff light, and look at other entryway designs to get some ideas.

Since the wall is black, what if you tried something like this, with a black/white base color runner? or even a natural texture like jute or sisal?

read lower for the picture set up, but you could do a gallery of black/white photos in similar frames

imagine all of that, w/this bench, pillows, plant, maybe a wall hanging, and your pics. (and a new flush mount light!)

here's a nice runner, light, wood bench w/pillows, a plant, some textured baskets. they have a mirror, but this is where you could do a gallery wall. maybe 6 photos, same size, frame, colors. arranged over the bench.

here are a few diff ways to display. but notice how the photos are all similar color, subject matter and have the same types of frames.

if you put up small photos, large photos, diff frames, mats, colors, it just looks chaotic and jumbled. don't do that

You could try ditching the white table, get some kind of bench, a plant, and arrange the photos like this

The wood would look great against the black, and work w/the stone on your fireplace

or, try something like these next two on just the wall, nothing else.

If you want something there, how about a darker color or a style like this?

Wow, this is amazing! Thank you everyone. These are all beautiful. I couldn’t even think of this!

Kayla, can you stand some advice for the fireplace decor? Too many little objects and things that don't go together just end up making it look jumbled.

Can you paint your front door? is it wood right now? what do you think about painting it a diff color?

you can also easily paint your metal insert, or just remove it and stack it w/wood (see 2rd to last photo)

let me show you some alternatives

just look at the items and the way they're all arrranged.

This is prob one of my favorite mantle stylings. (no metal insert either!) everything is proportional and highlights the fireplace.

against your black wall, this would actually look nice. except if you don't have anything good to reflect, don't use a mirror. get a nice framed art piece.

maybe something this size: 2/3rd the length of mantle.

do you have some artwork? (btw, if you like this framed out wall trim above the mantle, you could do that in black too)

What is that recessed part where the blue tarp is? can you stand back by the sofa and take a picture straight on?

If it's a niche like this, you could decorate it like shown:

here's a similar stone w/diff decor items. it's not overdone.

with yours, too many little objects. Remove everything and start over. (the rainbow pillows, save for a couch or chair, or a bedroom) the little macame would be better suited on a smaller wall space, not the large focal point above a mantle!

a nice potted plant that sits up a bit higher, like the one in the picture would look nice on the one side.

do you have a piece of art that's close to this size? either hang it, or set it on the mantle like shown here.

Instead of just leaning pillows against the stone, remove that little table and get a textured basket, put the pillows in it

you could even do a mirror, a vase w/stems, or a basket w/some cut wood. see how they have one pillow w/a neutral throw draped on the hearth?

if you remove the firebox metal insert, you can do something like this. bring in an area rug and coffee table. (do you have a photo of the room?)

you could do the black mantle and molding above like shown here. in that niche, you could add some shelving and do books or even wood. notice the mirror is reflecting a nice pendant light. also notice how the items are arranged on the mantle.

Textured fp, and upholstery has the rustic/ transitional look? how distressed for any wood pieces do you consider? or art frame - do you have any yet? Showing more photos is always helpful....Beth's ideas yes - do you want a practical runner?

Jute/poly, casual like the stone fp? and pretty too?

Safavieh Evoke Polyproplyene & Jute EVK230S 3'x5' Blue, Orange Rug · More Info

Just side thought, that a blue that matches the wall [but is it blue?] could go with sofa -

Safavieh Evoke Evk230A Damask Rug, Royal/Light Blue, 9'0"x12'0" · More Info

Or more subtle -

Safavieh Vintage Collection VTG135 Rug, Cream/Blue, 8' X 11'2" · More Info

your entryway is almost like this. what do you think of what they've done here? paint your door? new light? the bench w/shelf and hooks? I'd like a runner, but they did a smaller rug.

diff light. nice runner. nice wall table and decor

I like this rug everdebz posted

or, a jute w/border trim runner like this one.

seems to work w/everything. maybe if you painted the front door one of the colors from the stone, and bring in a diff flush mount light.

I like this runner too. Ruggable.

If mantel is a bit high, you might want only items you like.

Then 3 little pieces over the white table, if that's staying.... maybe with a bit of white around the room???

Madison Park 3-Piece Blue Print Botanicals Framed Printed Canvas On Linen · More Info

All of these ideas are simply amazing!! You can’t understand the excitement. I’ve been having the hardest time with this space. The over centered fireplace and the huge sectional makes it hard for me. (Sectional must stay. It’s my wife’s only request for living room). The tarp area is for our Guinea pigs, I know it looks ugly now but it’s a work in progress. Coffee table isn’t staying just using it for now

The front door was previously painted so I don’t mind what color! I was honestly going to just do black.

I was just posting some suggestions for the light/runner in the entryway, along w/some console table or bench options.

(I see a perfect wall area for some other art over that sofa! You don't have anything or any ideas on what to hang?

Notice the art and the pillows. you could use a bit of color over there!

simple shelft w/art and other items.

or, do something like this w/the framed photos. just like they have here.

so over by the front door, see what size light you can do

I think if you painted the front door, and did a nice wood bench or table, w/some accents like all of the pics show, it would look perfect against you wall

I like this one because the of the neutral textured elements (that go w/your stone) and the lighter tones that will stand out against the black wall. the gold will also go w/the stone/black.

all diff ights you could try

I notice you have a tray ceiling. have you thought about doing anything w/that?

I noticed you have the tray.

If youre sticking w/the black, do it up there too. You could pick BM Wrought Iron. it's not as black as black, but will still give you a nice contrast. I would do a diff light fixture though.

Do you like this look? Then you could bring in some pictures/art behind your sofa, and a larger ottoman/coffee table with a nice rug.

a little more rustic,,,do a wood in black to match your wall, maybe trim it out w/a wood molding, or try a beam, bring in a light like this one

the fans are ok, if you MUST have a fan, but a light would look better

you could also do some recessed lighting

all diff ways to highlight them. wood, (notice the art and the diff color pillows. the wood makes a nice accent)

reclaimed wood

molding, paint it a contrast color or the wall color

I definitely appreciate all this advice! So the couch wall. Yes, we would like to do more of the shelf look with art, maybe a plant. Someone else recommended builts in by the tv with a chest/bench under window with white shutters and book shelf, really loved that idea.

I would definitely prefer the fan! But I’m loving the idea to make the tray black! I wasn’t sure what to do. We do have popcorn ceilings and I’m not sure if I wanna take the time to remove it or put something over it

maybe a more updated looking fan? The one you have has had it's day in the sun!

it's not difficult to scrape off yourselves. just get giant plastic sheets to cover everything. (if it's later than 1977 there should be no asbestos) lots of videos on how to do it. or you can pay a company to come in and do it. that room should be about 500 or so?

They also have tutorials on how to cover the popcorn ceiling w/other alternatives.

btw, if you're in the market for another sofa soon, get something a tad smaller.

or, what's on the wall across from where the sofa is now?

Great suggestions so far. Understand the desire to decorate for Pride (with Pride?) but the items on the fireplace really don't look as if they belong there. Maybe the pillows on the sectional instead. Perhaps look for a piece of Pride art to hang above the mantel - don't go too small. I searched for original Pride art and found some great things, but don't know your taste. There are also posters, but some are not that artful:

Original Pride art

A couple more that didn't post:
If you're kitty lovers

yes olychick, that's exactly what I meant.

It's only because the wall is black and the stones are neutral shades of tan, that I think bringing in bright rainbow colors wouldn't work.

You could do some art like this over the mantle. frame it in a dark wood, or black frame/white mat. be subtle w/other items around it. maybe do one or two white vases w/some stem/leaves (like in that other photo I showed you)

But, over the sofa where everything is monochromatic and the sofa is blue, would look better. move your two other pride pillows to your large soa. add in some other pillows to brighten up that spot.

something like this might look better on the black wall

Oh, those lips are FABULOUS!!

Not ugly. Seems poorly lit. The black doesn't help - do you have color choices?

Color!

valances, cornices boards, bedding, pillow, curtains and light upholstery. This contemporary floral suzani is made up of reds, pinks, blues, and black.

Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower · More Info

Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower Decorative Pillow · More Info

How do you guys like this as a runner? Would it look okay to have an area rug this same pattern under the couch?

Or something more mild like this for under the couch? My couch is kind of a dark grey

If you want to do colorful Pride/rainbow type art, the last, more neutral rug would be a better choice. That green would be very difficult to work around if you want art that uses the primary colors.

I definitely struggle the most with color matching.

bright colorful art? then go neutral w/the rugs. It just depends on what all you want to use on the wall, the sofa, the entryway, etc. You don't want a circus atmosphere!

get your main pieces that you have to have, and work around those. I think that runner is fine, but for the sofa go neutral.