Let's start with getting the furniture right. Post a plan showing the size of the room and size of the furniture that is there. That table in the center isn't right with the furniture and the orientation of everything needs shuffling around. Do this first and then we can focus on the fireplace wall.

Those chairs looks very close together, how do you get by to sit? The picture looks distorted are they armchairs or loveseats or a mix of both? That looks like a dining table height? You need to post more pictures showing all 4 walls for a better perspective.

Agree about the furniture arrangement needing some clarification - and room to move. To the question asked about how to decorate the lonely & bare FP - My first thought was to move the cabinet out & place one of the chairs at each corner of the rug on the side that’s closest to FP. The loveseat (?) with its back to FP could sit in front of window at right angle to the FP. It does look like all of the sitting furniture is pulled completely onto the rug & needs to be pulled back to front feet only on rug. That would open up the room. China cabinet looks like it might be a vintage piece? Maybe it stays in room but is placed on wall facing window. Art over the FP. The table? IDK - it does look like a dining table height…

ETA - that green color is really interesting - striking. For art over FP I’d want some of that color in it to tie the color to room.

The seating needs to be rearranged so the fireplace wall is the focal point of the room. See plan below.

I would select a different rug for the room.

A lower coffee table is required for this space.

More views. I appreciate the comments on my furniture layout, but we use this to play games, do homework, virtual school days, etc… I’d love to hear suggestions about the fireplace.

If the cabinet sitting between the windows will fit, I’d place it to right side of FP with one of the lamps on it towards the corner of the top. I’d hang one of the two arts that are sitting on floor over the FP - whichever fits FP width best. Hang the other piece on wall between 2 windows where the chest was & hang the heart on the wall where the art was leaning against the wall.

It’s great that this room has a defined function & the colorful art & furniture are great together. I wouldn’t have guessed that functionality from the first picture though as the seating pieces don’t look back friendly for leaning over a table for games or devices.

Does it work ?? A piece of art above it no mantel might be a start .How does anyone get into any seating there ? the cabinet does not work there unless it has something to balance it on the other side . Maybe the idea of a chair on each side is a good one since that whole space looks cramped . I understand the height of the table now you say you play board games there. I will say that you are asking designers to not comment on the space we just cannot do thta without pointing out other issues in the space it is our nature , So take what we have offered and use what works.

Again, if you post the dimensions of the room you may be surprised how creative this site can be - for instance you may have room to break the room into two sitting areas - one for table height work and one for lounging. The furniture layout directly impacts how the fireplace wall is treated.

It’s 19ft 9in x 14ft 8in.

There are a number of shapes you can use over your fireplace.

Your home is colonial and a wood surround could replace the marble surround, but a slab of wood to act as a mantle is too casual a detail for your home. Plus it will simply decrease the space between the marble and the line of the ceiling and it's a small space currently.

This would have been more appropriate for your home for starters.

Adding a wood mantle beam is too casual for your room.

This would look good in your room if you ever opt for built-ins.

If you are not going to use the fireplace as a focal point, you should have it blend in to the surroundings better. Replace the tile with something beige and traditional, and get a new decorative screen to cover it.

The decor of this room is odd yet pleasing - craftsman, boho, colonial glam. You have your own thing going on here and it kind of works. Just make this black fireplace a part of the mix.

Remove the screen. Remove the cabinet on the left. Don't add shelves - you don't need them.

Put a large mirror or piece of art above the fireplace. Large floor plants to the left of the fireplace. (The green of the plants will tie in with the green chairs. The black fireplace ties in with your rug.) .

Add a large arc arm lamp coming from one of these corners to help light the room.

You need to get the size and scale of the artwork correct throughout this room.

Great that you are using this room. So many people have no idea what to do with a living room these days.

I would paint the wall above the firebox like this and add art You may not NEED shelves or storage, but you do need something tall at the sides of the fireplace. You could do an extensive gallery arrangement with console tables under.

Shelf arrangement without full shelf units:

You don't need to install shelves, but a paneled wall around the fireplace is very attractive and works with the colonial style of your home. When we bought our house there was a white brick fireplace with a nondescript mantel, and we had a carpenter build paneling around it up to the ceiling.

Something like this, but obviously without the doors:

Day-Dodge Residence, ca. 1737 · More Info

New Country House, Chester County, PA · More Info

CCH - Interiors Gallery · More Info

Do you use the fireplace? Consider getting rid of it.

Great ideas @Maureen !

The real issue is the layout first - no floor plan - no solid ideas to really stick.

She's happy with the furniture arrangement and is only asking for ideas to improve the fireplace wall. Some good ideas have been posted for her about the fireplace, maybe some others will make suggestions.

I like @Maureen's suggestions just above. Seems the OP likes her furniture layout but perhaps if she turned it around clockwise when facing the fireplace she's have a club chair instead of a loveseat in front of the fireplace and would have a better view of it. However I don't know if that's possible because she gave the measurements of the room without a floor plan (nor dimensions of her furniture) so I don't know which way the measurements go in the room.

Exactly lisedv

Breaking up the clump of heavy furniture will not only give you more functional multi use spaces but it will highlight your furniture and room better. I’d treat the higher table like a banquette (maybe do an arc lamp over it). It’s worth rearranging furniture to see if this would work. Only then can you determine what to do with the fireplace. Custom Millwork around it? Just art or a mirror? Maybe you’d want to splurge on picture lights over art on each side of the fireplace instead of your floor lamps that I am showing here….

Your existing rug may not work with this suggested layout. But again, I'm not really sure what to suggest without all the information requested.

We have a fish tank on the right side of our fireplace and a small table on the left side.

Wow! Your couches are beautiful. I am so jealous.

Thank you so much to everyone for your thoughts & suggestions. I really appreciate the time & effort. You’ve given me lots to think about and play around with.

@ElevateDesignStudio- the couches are from Wayfair and I put the acrylic legs on.