Can we see the painting you are planning on hanging over the sofa?

I plan on putting it above the tv, and getting something else to put over the sofa later, but maybe it makes more sense to put it over the sofa. Also ideas on layout and stuff to add to this room?

I would put your beautiful Hong Kong painting over the sofa instead of the television.
You might want to purchase a small 30" round table with two chairs to place over near your kitchen.
Add some more colorful pillows to your sofa and chair. The blues and oranges and yellows from the painting would be colors to use.

It would add a lot to the apartment if you could add curtain panels to either side of your window and a valence across the top. I am not sure if this is in your budget, but it would dress the room up.....

I don't think there's a lot of room unfortunately over by the kitchen for a table and chairs. The room becomes very cluttered. Would a bookshelf over there work?

If you're tall enough, I suggest putting your microwave on top of your fridge. I did that during college to free up counter space :) you have room for a little two person table and chairs it looks like in the corner by the stove.

As you can see I finally got the painting framed and hung it over the sofa as was suggested. I also put my microwave over the fridge. Great idea! Now I need to figure out what to do with the wall on the other side. Also I need to put something over there in the corner by the stove. Let me know what you think!

The Hong Kong painting looks great....

The corner over by the kitchen is a good place to put a small table and two chairs. The table can be 24" wide, like a "French sidewalk cafe table". I would suggest a dark wood table and chairs to go with your decor.....Try IKEA first.

Above the table in each corner on the wall you can hang two paintings (one on each wall)
They will need to be tall and narrow to fit. Maybe 18" x 36" or perhaps 15" wide.....
You could stay with the Hong Kong theme or at least include similar colors with the deep blues and some red........

More colorful bigger pillows too..........Throw one on the beige chair to brighten up that side of the room..........

Just hang some stuff on walls that don't damage the wall besides nail hole. Then when you move away just spackle the holes and the landlord will never know

if you use those 3m command hooks to hang things, you won't need to put holes in the walls.

Two more ideas that I would like to share......

You might add curtains to the window wall......

and instead of art on the corner walls by the stove, you could do two dark wood framed mirrors, or one mirrow and one dark framed colorful art..........

I have attached some images of curtains on window walls..........

soften it up with some wall art - botanical artwork is super popular right now -

http://oldnewhouse.com/collections/wall-art/botanical

how about some pot plants, would add life to the room

Pot plants add life to the party too! ;)

I would recommend adding plants and colorful pillows and accents. Here are some suggestions at http://www.houzz.com/photos/users/vintagemaya.

I have a small update. I've listened to some of your advice. Specifically the one about adding some potted plants. They're fake, but they definitely do the trick.

I also did some stuff on my own. I'm not entirely sure if they're good ideas, but I think it has overall improved the look of my place. The biggest new feature is that I bought one of those glossy red storage shelves from ikea that double as room dividers. I was sick at looking at my boring kitchen and wanted to divide the rooms a bit. I think this kills two birds with one stone. It also allows me to put some nick knacks on shelves that show off my interests.

You can also see I added a lamp in the corner since my place needed some more light. I also found a tiny red carpet square and put it under my coffee table to match with the shelves.

I'm right now considering some curtains and in desperate need to add stuff to the walls behind my television. Any colors in paintings should I go for?

I also recently got a record player as you can see on the floor. Should I get a small table for it? And if so where should I put it?

Please let me know if my new additions are ill-conceived and if you have any other advice!

Thanks!

Here another picture

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Put beige chair over by red bookcase and add red throw pillow to it. Red rug too small, doesn't add anything to room. Painting over couch too high, lower it to 8" above couch. For art by tv, consider using 2 pieces on either side of tv, portrait style. Definitely add drapery from just below ceiling to floor and cover the wall on either side, consider bold geometric printed fabric. You're doing a great job. Add table lamp to end table, try table on other side of couch.

Thanks Rosemary, great advice!

My problem with moving the chair over to the bookshelf is that no one will ever sit there. Unless it's to the left side of the bookcase(closer to the fridge) it won't have a decent view of the tv or potential conversation centers. It also sort of blocks the bookshelf. I did lower the painting, but now it seems too low or maybe it's just me? I don't know if you saw, but I already have a lamp on my end table.

A large contemporary rug would make a world of difference

Any recommendations on types of rugs, colors, etc? Maybe some examples?

I agree that a larger, brighter area rug could pull your room together. Right now, all the pieces look very square or rectangular. What about a round end table at the far end of the sofa in a material other than those you've already used. Full wall red curtains and throw pillows with reds might liven the décor. You have a lot of white space on your walls. You could hang a couple of shelves above the desk and a piece on the wall by the fridge. BTW, full length curtains can be expensive. I recommend that you shop on-line.

Suggestions:
1. Rug
2. End table
3. Couch cushions
4. Shelves above desk

Suggestions:
1. Plate rack -- use for storage or
2. Collection of colorful pottery plates (i.e. Pier1)
3. Red drapes (easiest to hang are full panels on a dowel rod)

P.S. You're doing great! I appreciate your feeling that you've hung your picture too low, but I do think it looks better. A good rule of thumb for picture hanging is "eye level when it's being viewed." So in a sitting area, the art work is hung lower. In a hallway, the center of the picture might be five feet. If you're really tall or really short, adjust for an average 5'7" person.

Sorry! Another thought. You might want to consider hanging a round or oval mirror over your kitchen sink. It will multiply the light in your work area, and bring some added interest to the cabinet wall.

I would soften the lighting. The corner lamp is casting shadows. This lamp is lighting the ceiling not complimenting the room. Add softness by drawing light down. Not the wattage but the direction of the light.

Which corner light? Also I'm not sure what you mean by changing the direction of the light outside of changing the lamps I have.

Perhaps, since paint is not allowed, pick one wall and use fabric as the "paint" floor to ceiling of course. You might even want to add some LED lights behind the fabric wall covering for extra ambiance and lighting. If you can sew just fold over the fabric and pin/sew across to form a pocket use dowels to place into the pockets and removable or pin-hole products like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/250815123253?lpid=82

These will leave the slightest pin hole no even that noticeable. Ask the landlord if they approve. You might even be able to talk to them into letting you add pin-prick holes especially if you offer to repair any damages (aka Spackle and a damp cloth) and promise not to go to wild!

Might get something similar to a theater's wall (also great for keeping the temperature stable and outdoor noise lower.)

Wall with LED lights and fabric: http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/6a/7a/bedroom,christmas,curtains,lights,sheer-6a7abdd56e494c5cf927c714a8073b84_h.jpg --from tumbr

(Optional) You can even find some lower cost room dividers or decorative folding screens:

There are so many fabulous options :D

Small Update. I added a custom triptych canvas and I framed some japanese hanafuda cards. I also moved some stuff around. Let me know what you think, or any suggestions!

Thanks!

Here's one more angle

The biggest thing I'd like to add is a contemporary rug. Any suggestions on style, ones to stay away from?