What colors do you want to bring in to the space? Here is a rug idea using the blue from the art above the fireplace:

Your biggest problem is the harsh lighting from ceiling bulbs. There should be three sources of warm light from table lamps and/or floor lams in the living room. Your rug is also too small which also makes the space appear more stark than cozy. Find a new or vintage Oriental rub on e-bay in a larger size with red and blue tones to liven up and warm your color scheme. Rather than the disjointed shelves over the sofa find a very large and beautiful piece of art that you love which should be one half to two thirds the length of the sofa. What you have over the fireplace is too long in relation to the mantel. You need harmony in scale of your objects and I'd look for two easy chairs instead of the one you have in lighter colors so that the contrast of your furniture and the wall color is not so jarring. New pillows in lighter colors and with patterns will look much better than what you have on the couch right now. Your room has a lot of potential that is not being realized right now.

Love this rug. Thoughts? Also any thoughts on lamps I know I need some but I just don’t know what to get

Put the ceiling can lights on a dimmer. Remove the shelves and put your TV on the wall opposite the fireplace, flanked by two floor lamps. Put your sofa with the back to the sliding doors and add a pair of swivel chairs on the kitchen end of that rug you like. Flank the fireplace with two more armchairs. Be careful with scale. Your puffy recliner sofa will turn this room into a man cave really quickly if you don't reduce the oversize scale somewhat. Lighter colors can help reduce the visual volume of the pieces too. I like the rug you love; suits the style of sofa and coffee table a bit better. I don't know what the furniture pieces are in the right hand corner of your photo. Do those need to stay?

Your rug choice is a bit too dark. You have very dark furniture so I would look for something with more ivory in it - or lighter colors.

There are a lot of well-priced rugs available now. Keep looking. The room needs brightening up so keep that in mind regarding the color of the rug.

And yes, pull the furniture off the walls. It’s counter to what you think, but the room does “look bigger” with the main pieces placed closer together as Beverly said.

I would definitely recommend a single color OR 2 color and simple pattern rug. For more furniture, check mh designs' Christmas sale as there are a lot of exciting pieces of furniture that could really improve your setup.

hello,

Have you tried the tv across from the fireplace? sofa facing the kitchen chairs facing doors.

other thoughts.

1. maybe try that other coffee table next to the sofa as a tv stand for now, the one you have its just out of scale and style.

2. what is it the R hand corner? Stereo ?

3. What about painting the room, also the light bulbs I DO NOT CARE what other say but this 4k ultra blue light is not cozy, warm up those bulbs!

4. you have these really cool windows but they cannot be seen because of the "clutter" on the walls.

5. the art over the fireplace is not correct. Its pretty but its doing nothing for the space here.

6. I get that you like the vintage smoking room feel but you need a lighter rug

The current focal point in the room is a long, white wall of doors and windows. Reorient the room by wall mounting the TV across from the fireplace and floating the sofa in front of the doors but closer to the fireplace, then placing two lounge chairs across from the sofa. You may have to turn your rug.

Add more seating by getting comfortable adjustable height swivel counter stools that can either be turned or pulled into the lounge area for overflow seating. If you wall mount the TV with a floating console underneath, you can also tuck in a couple of low profile chairs or cubes. Cubes can also be moved over to the lounge chairs if someone wants to put their feet up.

An observation - your Ideabooks include some blue, mostly texture instead of pattern, and sharper contrast. IMO, the rug you favor and the art above the fireplace read a bit muddy and dated. Be sure to take the colors of the fixed elements like the fireplace, floor, countertops, cabinets, etc into consideration when selecting your rug, pillows, artwork etc. so everything stays cohesive. Also, think about a small cocktail table between the chairs for drinks, an end table and lamp for the sofa, and a console with a lamp for the right side of the fireplace.

Julie, I like your red and blue rug option if you don’t mind changing your art above fireplace. However, you might search for a similar colored rug without the central medallion because the medallion can limit you to centering furniture pieces around it, and can look “off” if that doesn’t happen. I also like the fourth option by RL Relocation in the blue and rust tones. Can you post a photo of your bar seating area from the opposite side of the living room? That might help with bar stool suggestions.

You should be able to fit a sofa and at least two chairs in the space. Here are just a few layout ideas from various designs we have done.

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