I like it! But if it really bothers you, maybe an easy fix would be brown fabric paint and paint the skirt solid brown. I've never done it before, so maybe someone else can offer some thoughts on this?

You can staple or glue over the trim. I like the stud finish that Genevieve mentioned. I would get the same type of fabric and close in color.

I would leave it alone and work with it.
I would start with a print pillow or drapes to choose other colors for the room. Then add some solid color pillows on the sofa taken from the pillow colors. Maybe a couple more movie posters for the other walls. Black/brown coffee table and end tables. Add solid color drapes to bring it together. Add some colorful accessories on tables that are in the pillow. This will bring more life into the room.

Genevieve, I did not know there were studs who can fix sofas. Do you know where I can find one in Toronto.?

condomary :)) I have one that you can borrow for a very short short time :)

Won't go there or this discussion will end up like Margo's house LOL

It's not that bad. Add end tables and a big chest type coffee table. Add pillows the color in trim.

All ottomans should go. Hang picture. But I don't know if that is best wall. A much bigger lamp taller on sofa table. Go a Hollywood Glam. Lamp a art decor look. Google.

Remove sheers and add cream velvet panels on window.

Ikea has some great stuff. You need a couple chairs. In fabric. A print would work.

Wow I didn't realize this thread was still going! I'm glad though :) I like the idea of the grosgrain ribbon (that link is brilliant! Thank you!), I will go to the store tonight and see what I can find. The trim is brown, not black. I will look for a coffee table on craisglist (see pics-just a few I found- and remember I am ok painting furniture or refinishing). And better curtains is a brilliant idea! I will work on that. Side table I'm not sure about since there really isnt room for one on either side of the couch- one side has the wall, the other the door. The entryway needs the hooks/mirror/etc, although I could move the bench. And I can try to rearrange the furniture, but the room is tiny (11x11) with teh front door, the hallway, and a doorway to the kitchen so there aren't a lot of options. The ottomans/ottomen? can go. Also I am not sure about the Gone with the Wind painting...it needs a frame (which is why it isnt up yet) and maybe it could go in another room? Or that room, just maybe I'll wait til the rest of the room gets sorted.

Oh teh pics are weird...

Pics #1 and #3 , are a bit more simple in style. No on #2, # 3 is traditional if that is your direction. However, painting traditional can update somewhat.

If you are open to a new sofa on craigslist, a smaller one will fit the room better and maybe you can get two chairs later. It would be more seating options in this small room.

I think the couch is unique and could be a focal point of the room. I would go to Homegoods and find some interesting inexpensive pillows, hang the picture, and find some inexpensive decorative pieces to pull it all together. The couch looks very comfy!

It is very comfy! And actually pretty small. I'm not sure anything smaller is out there that could seat 3. Although we are saving for a smallish couch-with-chaise that fits in the space. And the problem with doing chairs across the way is they'd get in the way of the tv.

Also, once upon a time someone asked about the legs. We actually had to replace the legs when we got it so it has nice wooden ones, but that trim looks pretty difficult to get off

Janelle, then do what it takes to tuck the skirt up and under, as Sigrid suggested, and show the legs. I bet with some cutting and stapling you could get the skirt to disappear. Just wrap it under like this bed frame.

I can do that, but the edge of the frame ends just before the trim. So you will still see the trim, just about 3/4 of it instead of all of it

Update! I made new curtains and got a proper coffee table... Still hate the trim but I'm planning to cover it with some ribbon like the ribbon trim sofas someone posted as soon as I have time. What now? I didn't hang the painting yet because I'm planning on painting the room- maybe a light grey color? Any other ideas?

Nice changes...I'd go a lighter gray...something like Pratt & Lambert Winter's Gate

Looks nice. Nice work on the drapes. I would leave the sofa trim and works with the new coffee table. For paint, I would choose a light tone in one of the colors in the fabric.

Can you post a close-up pic of the drape fabric?

I like the coffee table that you chose from the selections above.

Love the curtains. I don't notice the trim on the couch as much. My eyes are drawn to the curtains and throw pillows. The wall color looks nice. Definitely keep your new color light.

Update! I made new curtains and got a proper coffee table... Still hate the trim but I'm planning to cover it with some ribbon like the ribbon trim sofas someone posted as soon as I have time. What now? I didn't hang the painting yet because I'm planning on painting the room- maybe a light grey color? Any other ideas?

Hi Janelle, there are comments above the one you just posted, not sure if you know that you posted these already : ) Can you post a close-up of the drape fabric?

Yea weird that it double posted... Here's the fabric close up...

Thanks for the pic. I think I would paint a very pale aqua color.
This is seems an aqua gray tone.

Is it possible to cut the bottom trim off. Maybe not, depending on underneath.

Maybe add some raspberry and navy pillows on the sofa.

The room next to it is pale aqua, we could possibly do the same or a tad lighter, although this room is continuous will the hallway that I kind of thought should be more neutral...

I think I would get some ruffle fabric and glue it to the bottom of the couch.

If the walls are connected, they should be the same paint. You can go lighter which would be nice. If the hall walls are not connected to any of these walls, the hall can have a different paint color. Can you post a pic standing as far back as poosible to capture the relationship of all three rooms? Small amount of hall in pic is fine.

I love the aqua room : ))

Oh and you can't tell because the window is so bright in that pic, but the pillows there are raspberry ish and blue...don't mind the kitty!

Just looked again at the photos. if the rooms are small, I would do the same color or a shade or two lighter than the aqua room. If a room's walls is the same wall in the hall, you need to continue the same color.

Love the pillows, they seem a tad more purple. l love them. Add a stronger pink raspberry color, more like the raspberry red in the drape fabric. Love kitty too.

Yea here's the view from walking in the front door, the doorway to the left is the aqua room, the hall is on the right, as seen in the second photo, taken from sitting on the couch

Thank You! The hall and this room have to be the same color. The TV wall and one hall wall is all one connected wall. I would not make the TV wall a different color from the other walls in this room. It will break the room apart. I kinda like the color that is there now.

I tied to draw the layout...

Correct. Yea i guess I'm not opposed to leaving the tan color, but I wish it was lighter, and not so beige pink- i wanted a cooler feeling color if that makes sense. Abd the hallway is super dark so I thought grey might open it up more.

Would it be too busy/ full to put a small chair where that ottoman is? More seating would be nice, and I'm envisioning a raspberry colored small armchair...

One or two small raspberry chairs would be very nice. The small bent cane arm chair in the original post ... do you have two of these? Maybe spray paint the wood, raspberry. Maybe two chairs that size will fit? Or........ reupholster in new raspberry fabirc.

No I wish I had two, found that one for $3 at a yard sale. Anyway hubby stole it for his office. But I will look around at thrift shops ad Craigslist abd see what I can find. I hope two will fit, problem is I think they will block either the tv, the entryway, or the path to the other rooms.

Janelle, I like the idea already posted of looking under the skirt to see if you can take it off and see the legs. Remember too if the legs are scratched, you can rub a wood stain on them to refresh them. Or you can purchase new legs rather cheaply from a lumber yard, stain them and replace the legs you have if needed.
I am a fan of fabric glue- it works really good! So maybe you could glue a neutral trim over the pattern that is on the skirt if that is your choice or if you can take off the skirt and do tear some of the fabric, get an inexpensive gimp and glue it on to the sofa.
Hope that helps, best wishes!

Also, I cannot tell for sure but it looks like you could use some new foam in those three cushions. There are different densities from soft to extra firm and it would give you support and nice even filling out of the cushions to the front of the sofa. They are a little costly but you could buy direct from a foam supplier to cut costs.

I actually added new legs already, they are very nice. But the trim cannot fold under because the trim is several inches higher than the base. Cutting it off is an option, but I think I'm going to try gluing trim onto it first...

I think you should not change the trim. Once you add another trim, it may cheapen the sofa and look like you added a trim. It may be too obvious.

If you still feel like you need to change the trim, the only thing that may look original to the sofa is, if you add a brown velvet or ivory velvet band between the original borders. Either of the colors in the sofa.

I know I'm commenting late to this...but maybe you still need suggestions. I have a couch and loveseat very similar to this. Got it in 1986 and still have it. It's undergone several changes. The biggest and my favorite one was to take a very sharp utility knife and we cut off the skirt! It didn't hurt anything (be careful where you cut) and because ours have welting right above the skirt, that was where we cut off the skirts. It exposed the legs and I like them so much better. Plus it made it look more modern and not so grandma-y ;-) Also I made simple "fake slipcovers" by simply tucking fabric over the back (to cover up the button tufting which I was tired of). I also replaced the 3 seat cushions (2 on the loveseat size) with one single cushion which is also covered with 'faux' slipcovers of simple fabric. It looks more modern and is very easy to take care of.

The throw pillows are always changing depending on the seasons. I sew my own so it's very easy and simple. Then I accessorize the room differently too :-)