You need an oversized piece of artwork then over the couch maybe a metal free form sculpture

hang your tv & get a bigger stand for under it---put a cool vase or coffee table books on it.

First, can the sofa move away from the window? I don’t like it on that raised area. You will have to move the rug; center the t v across from the sofa and move the chair to the left of the t v.

Now, as suggested get some art for over the entire width of the sofa. Get some great pillows and pick up the tones in the painting.




Lower your pendant…36” off the table top.

Hi Stacy!
You have some really great pieces of furniture!! Is there a view? I personally would have the sectional facing the windows and show off the table that is currently hidden and place a floral arrangement or small sculpture. Then angle your flat screen towards the sectional for better viewing!

Are you allowed to paint? If so, perhaps paint an accent color or create a gallery wall for visual interest and help break up the gray. Accent pillows is an inexpensive way to introduce color. Add an end table for additional lighting with a fun lamp with color, pattern or mixed materials.

You have so much potential! I want you to enjoy your place, you have such a great source of natural light!

Hope this helps!

Michelle C., IIDA
Purehome.com

gallery wall:

Really like the foundation pieces you have to build on, and the grey mixed with a little pop of plum and your cream or white light fixture. Nice job! Now add some of YOU into the space...maybe a few more pillows in a pattern that makes you smile, framed black and white photographs of places or things that reflect your hobbies interests travels? If budget permits, a cool vintage mid century low storage console for your TV, maybe some tall art glass in purples to the side, an arrangement of black, gold or silver framed photographs on the wall across from your dining table, an orchid on the dining room table (yellow? Pink? White?). Large scale modern art or completely opposite, like architectural fragment or some mid century modern funky enamel wall art mounted behind the sofa. If you go to Overstock.com and search 'purple accessories' there might be some pillow ideas there. Add in things that you love or have happy memories attached to, and I think it will feel more like home to you.

If you put the sofa on the wall where the TV currently is, you can just push it against the wall and it when you enter the room you're welcomed by a comfy sofa in stead of by a TV.
A longer, low TV cabinet would be good. Even an Expedit unit from Ikea turned on its side will probably do the job.


Art will bring colour in your home. I like the grey base that you have and absolutely love your rug!

Oh... forgot to say, white and yellow will make it more lively than the plum/burgundy colour..

Sorry, it's late here (in Europe), teal, lilac will also be lovely with your greys.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Carolins - I did consider putting the sofa on the other side. The problem is - the view. I have the empire state building and chrysler building outside of my window and if I put the sofa on the opposite wall, they dissapear from view.

Ah... no, we wouldn't want that :-D You lucky person!

dynamic accent pillows in red/cobalt blue would add some punch as well you need some large art pieces and/or mirrors on the wall. Also buy and place a dual purpose console table for the tv and center it a little closer to the dining table. (watch those unsightly electrical cords) A large plant was also add life and texture. Have fun!

I think that bare wall needs some attention, artwork or floating shelves to display photos and decorative items would be nice. Depending on the circulation you could add a sideboard. It would anchor the space and create extra storage. I like these pieces from Bryght www.bryght.com

Thank you - I love all of these ideas! What are your thoughts on the carpet color under the sofa ? I am now thinking maybe a brighter / more colorful rug would add more life into the room.

I love that rug. And I'm thinking that with your neutral grey base, you can add colour with art and pillows, funky ottoman and whathaveyou to liven the space up. But the rug wouldn't be the first thing I'd change if I were you. Another TV console, longer and low would be the first thing. And a good sized floor lamp. I'll see if I can find some ideas for you.

Someone suggested to turn the sectional around so it faces the window. Would that ruin the view for you too? Because it would solve the problem you have with the space behind the sectional now.
Or maybe we can find a console table that has closed sides at the end so it closes off that space.

Okay, this is hugely expensive but I was thinking 'wouldn't it be great to have something like this behind the sofa with a light under it. So it creates all kinds of interesting shadows on the wall/floor/ceiling. How cool would that be? Aaanyway.... I'll continue thinking :-)

Some floor lamp ideas:

You could keep to your neutral colours too. Let's say you go for large paintings like these gorgeous ones from Khsoa and pick up the colours from it in pillows

Or a more colourful painting and pick up the colours from that in other accents:

Carolins - i love kevin o'brien! My husband could never understand!

:-D
Have you seen this?
http://www.wayfair.com/Kevin-OBrien-Studio-New-York-Library-Double-Sided-Decorative-Pillow-NYLP-20-OVB1150.html

Look into large colourful art painted on canvas -- original if you can afford it, otherwise prints from big box retailers! http://www.orangeartgallery.ca/artists.htm#.Ukh8QBZeHzI

You really need some large art on those walls and livin the place up with some color. Maybe a bulky lamp on an end table...

Stacy, colorful art would certainly bring more interest to your room. Decide on colors you enjoy and show off some colorful art. You can visit our Houzz page for art and color ideas. To see more you can visit our main page at:
http://ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.artistwebsites.com/galleries.html
Enjoy!
Raisa

You have great bones to start with which a huge plus. I would hang a large colorful print over the couch after u move it as has been suggested. Someone suggested a metal wall hanging but that may look cold. You need a wow factor! Although it is wise to pick your art and then pick up colors from that for accent pieces, keep in mind that grays are fabulous with coral, pink, lavender, plum and turquoise or sea green. Pick up the appropriate colors in pillows, a cozy throw, a vase, book covers. These things are cheap and u can change them out easily when you want to refresh. If you feel rowdy you could try a different rug in a geometric pattern...maybe gray and cream. Have a blast but loosen up and you will find that WOW. Sometimes you get it almost by mistake. Best wishes.

You may also want to consider using reclaimed wood furniture as statement piece in your home, perhaps behind the dining table.

Bright pops of art on the wall keep it cheery & don't require a repaint when you want something new, you just move them to change the feel of the space :)

www.etsy.com/shop/laurenelysefineart

So, the consensus seems to be to get rid of the plum pillows and go with something lighter. I've never been a huge fan of yellow but did find an oversized art that has yellows in it. In this case, what other colors would go with yellow? I'm really more into blues and purples, but I guess it all depends on the hue. I plan on getting a low lying, long tv stand, like someone above has recommended, hanging the tv over it - either in the middle or to one side and then hanging the art next to it.

@carolins, thanks for posting my art! :)

Stacy, check out my artwork for ideas. I have many originals, and hundreds of configurations of canvas prints that I can print to the size you choose. The color schemes go well with what you already have. (and of course I can take commissions)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/katshoa

Enjoy decorating!

Hi again, Stacy! You are right, it does depend on the hue. It also depends on how bright you want your yellows to be. Any color combination can look good if done right. To give you a better idea, we have quite a few pieces with various amounts and shades of yellow, including in combination with other colors. Enjoy!
Raisa
http://ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.artistwebsites.com/featured/marsh-landscape-ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.html http://ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.artistwebsites.com/featured/city-gold-ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.html http://ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.artistwebsites.com/featured/white-tulips-ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.html http://ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.artistwebsites.com/featured/joshua-tree-national-park-ben-and-raisa-gertsberg.html

@KShoa, sorry for misspelling your name though ;-( But I do love your paintings :-)

Stacy, yellow and teal, yellow and silver, yellow and orange, yellow and black (gorgeous), yellow and lime green, yellow and blue, yellow and white (very fresh looking).... did I forget something? Yellow and olive...

But if you choose a painting, go for something that makes your heart jump a little. No matter what colour it has.

Speaking of yellow however, Ikea (gotta love Ikea) have new chairs that are surprisingly comfortable. I tried them out in the store last week. Couldn't believe my... ehm... posterior :-)
And available in a funky green too.

I was thinking that you could add the section to the sectional again and put one (or maybe two) of these funky accent chairs in your room?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90239672/

Stacy K you have very nice furniture a wonderful apartment and an enviable view! Since purple is one of your favorite colors please see the below image with a solid purple rug would be stunning with your grey upholstered furniture.

You can use your other favorite color blue as an accent color along with the purple pillows or with only the purple.

Should you be interested my images come in many sizes. This one can be printed in reverse and joined end to end with it's mirror image creating a very large chandelier effect. It also comes in blue.

The acrylic prints are dazzling. It is printed on the back of a clear acrylic panel and hung on a framing so it sits out from the wall several inches. If you pass your curser over the print it will show all of the image.

Hi again,
Now, I do know that you're not too fond of yellow. That's fine of course. Maybe this will help you to visualize how yellow would look in your room. You may hate it, or maybe you'll start to like it :-) Who knows... And if you hate it, we'll try something different.
http://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/paisley-haze-ii,1007897/
http://www.pier1.com/Petals-Pillow---Lemon/2670629,default,pd.html?cgid=pillows
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/industrial-wood-finish-cog-floor-lamp__2v755.html