Add whitish crown molding with a contrasting wall paint color. Move your sectional away from the walls into the middle of this lovely large room and create a seating area, further defined by a larger lighter color area rug that contrasts with your dark furniture, but also picks up on the other tones in the room. Stay in the beige / tan tones. A couple of pictures on the walls strategically placed and perhaps a large plant would create visual interest. Lovely room, just needs some additions to it.

Take a cue from your artwork--pick a color from that for your walls.

Thanks for your feedback priscillawernick!

I'm a renter so I can't add molding but I can paint. Trust me, I would love to add molding for more character and definition. I've done Palms in the past but both have past on so I wanted to try it again later in the spring and see if I can keep them alive. I do like the neutral color tone suggestion but I'm trying to change the seating furniture completely and add occasional tables. You're right about moving the furniture in the center, I like that.

Hi. We can make this work. Comments:

-your idea books show lux modern/nuetral tones
-I would not use the art you currently have, as it is in the wrong direction
-I would not buy a sectional, as they are difficult to arrange in current and future locations.

What is on the wall to the left of the front door? More windows? I am wondering if you could put the tv there.

Do you like any of these couches? If so, which one?

[houzz=][houzz=[houzz=[houzz=]

I'm adding some additional photos from requests

Hopefully this captures all angles

Hi cdrdesign
Is there any way to keep the art??? I am in love with that piece. I look at your seating suggestions and my eye was on the last one - Lenox but I'm not 100% in love with what I see but in that direction is close.

Thank you. I would

-place tv on far wall (wall to left of windows where one leg of couch is now)
-float couch to face tv (just beyond the middle window).

To play with the arrangement, take apart your sectional and use one leg of it as a "couch". See how you like it. (please post photos). Thanks.

I would put the TV between the windows, so you don't get glare on the screen. That way, you will have two long walls to define your seating. Then you could put your art above the sofa and get a smaller artwork for your entry.

Can you remove the corner part of the sectional and have the side with the arm on the wall, with the entry art behind it? Place the armless part across from it, with the ottoman between as the coffee table. Then the windows are open and the entry is not a part of the room, as such. You could even just prop the art on the back of the sofa to see what it looks like, as long as it seems safe to try that. Then maybe find a mirror for the entry instead.

Sure, keep the artwork if you love it. It will be fine. Just not the piece I would recommend if you were starting from scratch. But, we will make it work.

The first thing we have to do is to determine what your new arrangement will be. Then you will be able to decide what size couch you need.

Would you mind rearranging the furniture in one or more of the suggested ways? Plese then take photos and we will help you choose the best arrangement.

From there, we can help you choose the best size and style of couch.

I think you would like this website to suit your style.

https://www.jossandmain.com

If your looking for a nice modern look, a light grey L couch is always nice. This way you can decorate it with any type of cushions you want. An art work or something above the couch is quite good too. You have a lovely living area; but at the moment it looks a little dull and small. Having a modern, light couch will brighten up the room (with the contrast with coloured cushions and hopefully make the room look a little bigger. And also id get rid of the thing in the middle. It makes the area smaller. Id replace it with maybe a light wood coffee table. Hope your room turns out the way you want it too :). Sorry if i sound rude in any way, im just 12 :D (logged on in dads account)

A sofa and two chairs will be so much more flexible for you in this rental and in the future.

For sofas, check thrivefurniture.com They have nice sofas and armchairs. I would do a larger sofa facing the TV and two armchairs facing each other. A coffee table and then side tables for each chair.

Just FYI, I'm not looking to rearrange my present furniture. My plan is to get rid of it all together. I'm looking for suggestions of pieces to purchase to fill up my living space to make it look chic and cooler than it's current state. I want to make a small bar area where my Christmas tree is standing. I would like to move my painting directly across the front door entrance and place a decorative mirror where the painting is hung to follow Feng Shui standards. I'm really open to layout and furniture suggestions.

Please never again buy a over size brown sectional. Color is your friend use it. Rug way to small. Fan dated replace with a drum style chandelier. In black 36" drop so 7 ft from floor. Never push furn into corner. Furn in a large room like this, should gloat in room. if going more contemporary get a cream colored sectional. With a right sided chaise. (Meaning when facing sofa chaise would be on your right). Then get 2 swivel chairs in a fabric print. Pick a accent color. Your walls look latte, with a cream sect you can go almost any color for accent. Red is good. But only use in small amts. rug go 8 x10 in a Contemporary print , with some red. Overstock.com carries. But I think you should buy in person. To get right color. Usually furn stores also carry rugs. Get a glass or metal round 36" coffee table. A arc light in stainless would give the very modern look you want. Google for looks.

What color are walls. Hard to tell on computer. In entry add a small chest under pic. Lower pic to 7" above top. Remove sticks. Add a small round rug. Go color from picture. Same for living room instead of red. Keep rugs in same color tones but don't match. Wall with TV looks lonely. I would wallpaper that wall with a contemporary design going dark background like black with silver and brown design like circles metallic. For a modern look. Get a longer higher media like a buffet style chest for TV. Center on wall. Add big palm to corner of TV wall. What's on other end of room where tree is? On big wall where sofa was. Remember you are facing TV with chaise coming out towards TV on right, then 2 chairs on that big wall float. On wall a very big 5 ft by 6 ft long painting oil. Would be nice bold colors. Hang very low. 30" from floor. When going modern. Go minimal and big art hang low. Also a shag rug would work, I saw one in shades of brown with leather woven in. Looks for something nice and big. Shop around. Your wood floors are great.

On windows. Panels on ends and cover middle area too. Go a woven fabric in a dark cream. If painting. Which would help warm it up with bagel by Benjamin Moore.

Move all furn down towards tree. Add faux palms to dead corners. You can take chandelier if moving. And also window covers. Just makes for a more finished room. Have landlord pay for paint, as you are improving their prop. I agree pic in foyer is not modern if that is yr look. Get bolder color and bigger over chest. The blue greens are easy to work with may be a accent color. Then use around room to try together.

If keeping current Media for TV could work between windows still put panels up but only on ends not middle. Float sofa out slightly from now TV wall. With big art above and chairs as I said. Then change to left facing chaise. Then put a mural on that big wall. Try trees. Many to choice from. Any paint store has wallpaper and mural books.

Nancy post great art piece above. Love the blues.

I agree with Nancy. Put your TV between the windows and position a corner sofa in the opposite corner. If you go for new sofa get a colour that is easy to work with such as soft grey. Positioning sofa that way will give you plenty of space to put up few canvases above it. The artwork which Nancy posted have beautiful colours in them. You could pick couple (blue/teal, yellow) for your scatter cushions and throw.

That's a great foyer space, the vase you have there now is great, a modern entry way table would look great with mirror above + accessories/decor.

jodream. Yes, I understand you want to buy new furniture. Before you buy new furniture, you have to decide if you would like the placement. That is why I suggested playing with your old furniture to see if you would like it. Please see my repeated suggestion below.

-place tv on far wall (wall to left of windows where one leg of couch is now)
-float couch to face tv (just beyond the middle window).

To play with the arrangement, take apart your sectional and use one leg of it as a "couch". See how you like it. (please post photos). Thanks.

For your front hall, I would suggest moving the art to the other wall in the front hall, so it is viewed as soon as you enter. A console table, such as Myrone suggested should go underneath.

For the other wall, you might consider a mirror.

An accent wall color, some accessories, rugs, and window treatments would really pull your space together. I am attaching some ideas that would work great with what you already have in your room- you've got a great neutral palette to work with!

Hope this helps-

Andie P., ASID
Interior Designer
Purehome.com

Here are some pillows from Joss and Main that would work with your art. A couple are bolder and a couple are more subtle.

You might like the soho sofa from galleries

seconding inabunker and cdrdesigns suggestions. Also we have modern couches over at instylemodern that you might like

jodream, I think you should consider a new sectional (as opposed to a sofa and one or more chairs) - it's a large room and it appears that the main purpose is watching tv. You can't beat a sectional for this. For the modern luxe and timeless style, I suggest a sectional with special details, like button tufts or nailhead trim.

Hi Myron Delacruz
Thank you for those pics! You understand exactly the look I'm going for. I've been toying with the idea if doing a translucent console to float in the space since it's small and maybe a garden seat or cube. What do you think?

Yes, love the photos Myron posted. They would fit in with the style you seek. You could put some lux ottomans under the console.

[houzz=]houzz=[houzz=]

Cjohnston
I was looking at the Bernhardt sectional you attached earlier this week and I love it, but everyone is steering me to not purchase a sectional again and stick with separates. I absolutely love that particular piece because it's modern and has lux appeal

jodream, if I can put in my 2 cents on the sectional vs. separates. You are drawn to the Bernhardt sectional, and that speaks volumes. It is luxurious and timeless and gorgeous! I understand a lot of people don't like sectionals, but maybe they just don't like bad sectionals. I don't like bad sectionals either, but I found that good separates don't work for my family. I made the change from sectional to separates a few years back and I regret it. My family loved to pile up on the sectional, which was in the room we use for watching tv/movies. I thought I wanted more flexibility with separates, so when the sectional started showing age, I decided to go with a sofa, chair, and recliner. It turns out that I really don't rearrange the furniture like I thought I would, and now everyone is in a separate seat. We do try to cram onto the sofa, but it isn't the same. So I encourage you to go with your gut, even if others are steering you in another direction.

Cjohnston
I absolutely agree, that's what my family and I do as well. We group up and watch movies and games. My daughter also loves the room it gives to cuddle up. I'm trying to get a photo of the room bare and make a 3d type layout to put in the pics of furniture I like and see what works.

Cjohnston
I like your 2 cents because it makes sense. Thanks for telling me about your situation with the change because that was exactly what I was afraid of if I decided to switch. I'm going to see if doing a smaller sectional and maybe a chair w ottoman will look

jodream, so glad that you can benefit from my mistake...or learning experience, as my son would say. =) that's the great thing about houzz.

I like the berhardt one when you can do it. I like a sectional also. We had one in our basement it was a little to big I had purchased it from our last home. I sold it and we will get a smaller one that fits better. Same reason we have five kids and we love to lounge and watch movies together.

jodream, there is no right or wrong furniture to buy. Buy what fits best for you!! What I can give you are advantages and disadvantages of buying a sectional

Advantages

-you love the Bernhardt sectional and see it as fitting your style (maybe this gets the most weight!)
-you like one large piece that you can all sit together on
-it fits nicely int the space

Disadvantages

-you have limited furniture arrangement options
-it likely will not fit like a glove in your next place (may not fit at all)
-generally guests don't like sectionals. there are few "escape" seats.


So, maybe you are not moving soon, maybe you rarely have guests over. Only you can weigh what is best.

jodream, should we start with the Bernhardt sectional and go from there? Is that a definite?

Cjohnston
I'm keeping the Bernhardt in my scheme of design ideas at this point. I'm not moving from my apartment, I've already been here for 6 years. I'm not moving because purchasing a home in my state is too expensive and won't happen until I become a multi millionaire...

Sounds like, in your case, a sectional is a good option. What about furniture arrangement? Do you like how it is or would you be willing to try the tv on the back wall, so that the window is not blocked?

Armless end of your sectional seem to work really well. Consider similar configuration for your new sectional to make your space look roomy. Pretty much any custom made sectional can be built armless or with one arm. Here is a few ideas of the sectionals that will work for you.

Matteo Sectional @ Your Space Furniture - From $1599.00
http://yourspacefurniture.com/item/802-matteo-sectional#.UrJFrI2sAdQ

Odessey Sectional at www.yourspacefurniture.com

Crdesign
I am going to play around with the arrangement. I originally had the tv on the center wall between the window and where the tv is current located but my sister thought it was not inviting having backs facing you when you entered the living space.

Your sister probably right. If the room is not too big, having sectional by the wall will make it a lot more roomy.

I admire you for giving different arrangements a try. Keep in mind, that especially with lower, boxy furniture like a sectional, people don't see the entire room when they enter. Also, you can buy a different sized sectional to suit your needs.

One of the hugest misconceptions I find clients have is that placing furniture up against the walls will make a room seem larger or that a couch cannot be floated in a room.

You have a huge advantage here in that you can use your existing sectional for mock-ups.