Are you looking into the living room from a kitchen?

It is too symmetrical! Is that what you want?

a much larger area rug so the furniture sits on the rug. Fill the room. How about one sofa along the wall under the art and make your space bigger?

Do you need a ceiling fan for ventilation? The temperature of the light bulbs makes your existing light feel cool, rather than warm. Floor lamps to break up the stuffy evenly space lamps for a more casual feel. You don't need pairs of everything, just similar colors and styles.

are the chairs recliners? Are they the chairs you typically use to watch TV from?

I would place a sofa where the chairs are and add a sofa table to separate the spaces. Put the two chairs facing the fireplace to the left of the room. You may be able to add a couple more chairs?

Looking from the open concept kitchen. I do like symmetry. Need ceiling fan and it’s brand new. Did you see the rendered photo? Chairs are recliners and where we usually sit to watch TV

Rug is new as well, and yes, too small for the room.

They both look like a vignette in a furniture store, with the AI rendering having way too much stuff and excessive symmetry. Your individual pieces are nice, but all put together it looks very generic or showroom-like. I don't see anything that is unique or tells me anything about your family's personality.

True but I don’t have the confidence in myself to do that. That’s why I’m asking for help.

You've said the fan and rug are new-is everything new or what could change? You have a lot of brown in the room-is there a color you would like to add? Even the pillows are the same.

Most everything is new, except for the ottoman. The end tables are repurposed from another room and I want to replace them. Floors are grey wood-look tile, sofas are grey-ish/white, rug is shades of blue/grey/white, artwork is light and dark blues, gold, white, and a touch of brown. I think too much blue and want to add another color(s) in there.

Your furniture choices are nice, but a lot of the problem is the lighting is too cool and you need to finish the room with adding in accessories. Try changing bulbs to 3000-3500k to warm it up. Add more accessories to the cabinets and mantle so that the paintings and tv are more grounded. Change out the pillows for ones that have the color of the paintings by fireplace.
Now I love the other painting. It’s a great size and you’ve hung and lit it well, but it just doesn’t play well with the other wall art, so I’d try and find a new home for it and find a replacement for it.

Emily‘s rendering gives you some good suggestions. You don’t need more furniture you need accessories. Pillows, a throw, tray on coffee table with led candles, books stacked with vase, faux plant(S) framed photo(S) etcetc. If you’re not used to arranging things, it will be a challenge, but the AI photograph here gives you some very good ideas. Maybe you have things in your home already that you are fond of that could go in these display areas suggested in the photograph.

The large piece on the wall is a canvas copy of a photo my daughter took of my granddaughters. I could move it to another room but not sure I want to. I guess I could replace the ones by the fireplace.

Lisch I didn’t notice the her rendering. Thank you for pointing that out to me.

Yes, I’m looking to add more color other than blue.

Would a rug like this work?

Maybe not

The blue pillows add to the coolness of the overall color in the room. You might consider looking for something in a warmer color. Maybe this ochre color velvet.

https://www.wayfair.com/home/pdp/sherry-kline-square-velvet-pillow-cover-insert-w002059965.html?piid=940553632%2C940553634

I'd also consider bringing in a wood tone for the end tables. Something to add a little warmth. Perhaps a gold or brass tray on the coffee table as well for just a little shine.

I can understand not wanting to move the canvas as it has sentimental value. That’s important. You might try mirrors in place of the contemporary artwork.

Originally the sofas were supposed to be a deep blue but I was uncomfortable going with so much color on the sofa. I think it would have been gorgeous though. Can I bring more color in on the rug that would tie this all together without clashing with the grey of the sofa?

I don’t know if you can tell much from this photo the exact color

Beverly - I don’t see the adjusted photo

You can definitely bring in more color with the rug. Just bring that color up to the sofa in your accessories.

Looks nice, thank you

My only concern on the mirrors is that those artwork light are over them and they are hard wired in.

Before changing out the artwork, work on the rug and adding warmth there and via cushions on the couches. Getting your lighting to warm rather than cool, will also help. Then you can think about the art and if you want to change.

And the mirrors will reflect the kitchen which is not ideal.

I like that red and blue rug or something else with blue. The colors in the picture of your daughters has a nice red tone. I think you have room for

more art on the other side of the room. Bring in more blue, red, green. Patterned pillows will add interest. Some large colorful

books on the cabinets on both sides of the fireplace under the pictures

adds color and interest. And not expensive. This dumb website - sorry for the spaces.

Yes, I’m looking for new barstools. These were just something I had.

@renner65 ….. I don’t believe that art needs to ” play well” with other pieces of art in the room, actually I think just the reverse, more interesting, less like a hotel lobby. Just glancing at your room I think more interesting pillows would be nice. Some accesories added would be good, but take your time, don’t try to do it all at once.

Agree… I don’t think Art has to “match”… I think it’s more important that it’s work that you like a lot and also that it is sized and framed appropriately for the space.

Would you keep the ottoman or replace? Also, not sure how to mix woods. Thank you all so much for the suggestions and mockups.

It depends upon how much dark you like. To me, the large dark ottoman with the dark chairs and dark cabinets is quite a bit in that space, and I like simply's rendering with the lighter coffee table, but it's what you like. Plus we have only seen one picture of the space with the view from the kitchen and it might not feel that way IRL.

I would want a light color in the coffee table position. That could be the ottoman if you're willing to paint or refinish the base and reupholster the top, or it could be a new piece. (The tables I showed have light wood bases and travertine tops, but AI drew them; I haven't looked for some like them in real life.)

As for mixing woods, to me it's no different than mixing upholstery colors. The room currently has light sofas and dark recliners. There's no reason it can't also have light tables and dark chests flanking the fireplace, is there?

This is the other side of the room.

You have a beautiful home!

I don't think the ottoman needs to change. You can lighten it with a light- colored throw and a light-colored tray with some colorful books, for example.

Also, I would start with choosing art if you see something you love. More colorful art without the dark tones would make a positive difference, in my opinion. The size you have now is fine. If you don't find something you love, then it would be best to wait until you do. Alternatively, look for the rug...

Would you be interested in an area rug that is lighter or brighter, and in a warmer color? I can't really see the colors in your photo on canvas. The color doesn't need to match, but it can be in the same hue to a color in your art. [Example: I chose poppy red to pick up on brick red in my area rug.] I quickly grabbed a couple rugs that may pick up on a color in your art.

A coral color...

A more subtle one...

The mantel in a lighter wood such as oak looks nice, but you may have too much invested in that. You can add it in tables or accent pieces.

Personally, I like the arrangement of your sofas and chairs! A favorite designer here on Houzz used that arrangement in her own home, and that's good affirmation. The placement of your recliners is best for tv viewing. From the sofas, it would be too hard on your necks. [I know this because I sit on the sofa at my brother's home. After a while, I have to lie down on it to avoid the pain. Luckily, they don't mind.]

With any of the suggestions you've received, including mine, you don't have to use them if you don't like them, but you can try something to find out! Good luck shopping for some lighter, more colorful items. And nothing has to be decided in a rush!

Thank you everyone for the ideas you have given me. I’ve started to implement starting with sofa pillows.

You have a good eye for design, and a beautiful room. Tweaking is all you need. Take the advice that works for you, and trust yourself.

I think the rendering is moving in the right direction, but I’d be careful not to solve the “sterile” feeling simply by adding more decor. A stronger overall design direction — especially through lighting, color, texture and one clear focal point — can make a much bigger difference.

I recently experimented with this by transforming the same living room in four completely different ways. You might find some ideas that help you decide which direction to take yours:
https://youtu.be/R-2ZyyBc6EY

Guess I’m just feeling overwhelmed.

The good thing is that you already have a nice room and lovely furnishings. The accessories and rug are just icing on the cake, and while you want to look nice, don’t let it stress you.

Create a mood board with the furnishings you are keeping, and then as you see items you like, add them to it and see how well they work together. If they seem off, it’s probably not the right piece for the room. Don’t be afraid to purchase items to try out, and then return if they don’t work. Buy more accessories than you think you’ll need and play around with them. Again, just return what you don’t use.

Play off the colors in your sentimental print on the right, and let those colors be your guide.