MY advice always in these cases is remove everything except the main pieces of furniture then decide what has to be added back like tables and lighting add those . I see lots of little cabinet ttype pieces none of which seem to be great for storage . Kids do not have to have evey toy they own in the living space so store that stuff in the bedroom and bring out what is reasonable for the day for play. Have a nice low cabinet where you can use it for a coffee table and those toys can all go in there at the end of the day.So all you need in the space is what should stay and decluttering is how you get there. The kitchen looks like another spot where the same process is needed Too many little things in space just make it not comfortable .Teach your child now how to put toys away when the day is over .it is a good lesson to learn. I had 3 boys we lived in married student space for 3 yrs tiny ,and I am a neat freak so toys were not part of my LR at the end of the day . I find kitchens have tons of stuff not used daily put those things out of the space even in the garage or basement honestly a good declutter will make your life simpler

Do the kids naturally play near the kitchen? Or near the window? Take a cue from them and design the TV area on the other side of the room. How many people live here? Are the curtains for warmth? Are they room dividers?

A quick sketch is needed of your space(s). On paper is fine with openings, windows, etc..

The area nearest the kitchen, shown in the first photo, is the best place for keeping an eye on the kids. It can be seen and heard from the kitchen.

How old and how many kids in the play area?

Grand parents, myself (mom) my son (4) and my uncle. My mom is severely vision impaired so nothing can really be in the walkway. I would like to use the fireplace in the winter.

It’s a nice room with great wood floors and those french doors are lovely

Agree to start with a clean out/ organizing — I think small storage pieces often keep getting added - they don’t hold everything they need and end up looking cluttery. If it were me, I’d organize the room by function - the pros can help you with a furniture layout that facilitates that but I’d also focus on having larger & fewer storage pieces

I think replacing or removing the dark curtain panels would also brighten up the room - maybe add them back in the winter when you want more coziness?

I forgot to add the panels are to control the flow of light so my mom can see sometimes. She needs specific lighting to focus her eyes or she just sees blurs and swirls. We are building an add on for my parents and uncle but that takes a while.

Has the construction of the add-on started already or is it in planning/permit stage?

It could be easier to make the living room more comfortably spacious if you store some furniture and decor items for a few months (in a garage or shed, not an expensive rented storage unit) while the add-on is being built.

On the vision accommodation, spending an hour walking around and reviewing what works well can be done every few months or so, such as the day after the grandmother's ophthalmologist appointments. It may be time to replace the two black torch lights in the corners with swagged non-glare overhead lights, for example, with frosted glass shades like your fan lights.

The construction hasn't started. I moved here last week :) we are still trying to find builders and see what the wait lists are. There are a few really good builders in the area but they have so much business sometimes they don't even return calls. So, I'm a wee bit worried.

I agree that starting with a good declutter would help a lot. When my home gets overwhelming, it's usually because my closets, cabinets, and drawers are full of things I don't need, and there's nowhere to store things I use everyday, so they end up just sitting out all the time. So think about where it would be most helpful for you to store the things you actually use, and then consider relocating or getting rid of whatever is taking up that storage space.

As for furniture arrangement... Does your family use the dining room table or is it just in the space because you think you might someday? Same question about the exercise bike. If you eat at the table, it makes sense to keep it in the dining area. If not, maybe you'd like it as a nice, bright workspace near the French doors. I'd probably try the play area at the window end of the long room to keep it corralled and away from walkways. Keep the sofa across from the television, and try grouping the other two chairs into a seating area on one or both sides of it. Don't be afraid to move things around just to see how it feels.

I also have a long living room with very little wall space, but we don't have a TV so are able to use the length of the room differently. You're balancing a lot of people's needs, and it's tricky. Good luck!

I'd put the play area at the end in picture #2. Focus on storage for toys, a table and some chairs. Make it bright and cheerful, get a rug. Let your kids help with choices so they will love it when it's done. What you want to do is offer some limited choices, which is easy to do on-line. Don't let them imagine a pink and purple, rainbow unicorn space, if you will hate it. If the kids have a lot of toys, you can put some away to pull out later when they will be new and interesting.

You might try voice-controlled lights, so your mother doesn't have to find a light switch. They aren't that expensive, nor is something like an Alexa to control them.

Yes! I plan to make the lights (and the house) mostly smart. Here is the decluttering I did so far.

To all who are helping and following this project. Yes, it's going to take several months lol. I was thinking since I don't want to lose any width. This wall close to the front door I could make a built in almost like full storage wall with small seat/chest in front of the window. I was thinking about using one of ikea's easy design systems. Any thoughts? Does this sound like a horrible idea??

I was also thinking it would be nice to paint the fireplace, black and mount the tv and get rid of that storage unit. And paint all of the room and the ceiling in a sage green. Does it sound insane?And should I keep the white trim?