Your original room had a lot of personality in it. Be careful not to lose that. Your couch is quite a modern turn from what you had and I think it's great in the room but if you add solid accessories everywhere you may have a real disconnect between the other pieces and, instead of a great eclectic blend, wind up with half the room in one style and half in another.

You initially said you were a warm color lover and it seems that you're focusing more on the blue of your carpet than the warmer tones. The solid blue (even with the solid red) of the pillows have no offset to keep them from further cooling your grey couch. Using several printed pillows that allude to the blue without focusing on it could be a good solution.

Also, and this is perhaps a small thing but your throws are losing their oomph by folding them so tightly across the arm (also adding to the modern feel). Take a look at this site for some other ways to show off your throws.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/to-drape-a-throw-or-fold-it-stsetivw-vs~3909698
I personally think that striped curtains would be great but with more subtle stripes and picking up more of the warm shades of the carpet. For example:

Those curtains actually do have a slightly grey stripe in them that doesn't show well apparently in the picture. Here is the link:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Signature-Stripe-Spice-Faux-Silk-Taffeta-Curtain-Panel/3845442/product.html

PAINT!!!!!!!!! Keep it monochromatic and a darker version of the rug burnt orange color or a darker version of the sofa grey....again darker but the same value as the grey....greenish or blueish. The chair does not work too well and you might think of an ottoman (low) instead. Maybe a cool eclectic bench small and narrow that can be moved without too much effort eclectic in style...even a garden bench. I would keep the pillows the same color as the the painted wall ...shades of orange or shades of grey

I'd go for a throw over the back of the rug, it would keep with the theme of the room and blend the colours of the room and the sofa well.

I love the new sofa! You just need to keep looking for some patterned pillows that will blend with what you already got. I would go with Kilim pillows too- try Pier 1. The Indian throw would look great draped over the couch and group those pillows, don't spread them out over the couch. It looks sparse and cheap. Grouping always works better, and the more pillows the merrier. You need a couple more pillows for the other chairs. I like the dark blue drape, but maybe not over the window (you will wreck that great view). Why don't you hang that beginning behind the apex of the sofa, maybe 3-4 feet wide in behind the couch, hung from a fantastic carved rod holders, and sweep it dramatically to the side with a pull-back, rehanging the picture a little lower and more to the left so it looks bigger and more dramatic? You might need to have one more picture above it to balance the height of the curtain. Now, though, here is what I would do for your next purchase: switch the Sheridan sideboard across from the sofa with the curved console you have against the wall- is that in your hallway? Snug that console up against your couch as an end table. Since it is high, go with a low-profile lamp if you want one there. Splurge on a TV armoire for your wall opposite the couch and hide that equipment! If the bookcase looks funny when you get those changes done move it further center between the Sheridan sideboard and the console or where the cat condo is now.

I'm liking the artwork all together you have propped on the couch. A gallery wall there is an excellent idea. I love your idea for the curtain wall as well... stacked on the left of the door, it will look as if the entire wall is windowed. I like the navy curtain you have on the cat tree to pick up the darker blue in the rug. Looking past the couch toward the windowed wall, the curtain wall will look great! The dark grey cats look amazing on your lighter grey couch! :) I think you just need a lovely wood coffee table, (round shape to echo the cat tree? ha!) and maybe a tan/gray/red/dark cobalt blue pottery bowl on it to bring all the colors and textures together.

I only read a few of the comments, so if I'm repeating something already mentioned, ignore me! :) Have you thought about using some of the pieces you have, i.e., the red chairs, and reupholstering them? The coffee table could be sanded and painted also. I think you'll find that reupholstering the chairs and painting the legs is pretty easy.

What do yall think of this color blue in a curtain: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Solid-Faux-Silk-Taffeta-Mediterranean-Curtain-Panel/5624136/product.html?refccid=OAYFF3M4FET2FCCKFYYEAHPCZE&searchidx=248

or http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Provencial-Blue-Vintage-Faux-Dupioni-Silk-Curtain-Panel/6710672/product.html?refccid=6EP3UTEZDU22KVSG2EWP5ZVTXY&searchidx=150

or even http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Serenade-Grommet-84-inch-Blackout-Curtain-Panel-Pair/7913222/product.html?refccid=KYCBRS34N5TI5J2GTJCVZBKKQY&searchidx=350

I'm a little worried that the dark blue I chose above might be too dark and might make the room seem smaller...?

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Wide-Width-Fire-Retardant-Grommet-Style-84-Inch-Blackout-Curtain-Panel/6267371/product.html?refccid=EQ7ZTTA6UVX2URKNCXNB7NG3B4&searchidx=383
or
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Azul-Faux-Silk-Taffeta-Pole-Top-Curtain-Panel/8494363/product.html?refccid=X623EORZ2BP3UECNXMDQEMMLBU&searchidx=496
or
a blue grey pattern: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Romanian-Iridescent-Blue-Embroidered-Faux-Silk-Curtain-Panel/8486778/product.html?refccid=UJ4XPZRTBCVJAQ2JUA4HEXS55Y&searchidx=525

I think the blue curtains would add a lovely touch, they go with the sofa wonderfully and really make the rug stand out.

In my previous comment I meant sofa not rug- how would adding a throw to a rug work?? Haha. Now I've seen the curtains I think a lovely deep/forest green throw over the back of the sofa with some lighter green patterned cushions would complete the room.

I like both the first two overstock curtain panels. Have you decided about painting?

No patterns in the drapes, please. You want to emphasize that gorgeous rug, not compete with it.

That said, I really do like "Azul Faux Silk Taffeta...." - the color is dark enough to emphasize the darker blue in your rug, but isn't too dark or inky. IMO, the other colors are too light or not quite the right blue at least on my monitor. Hang the drapes as close to the ceiling as you can for a generous, tall flow of color. If you hang it on rings on the curtain pole it will add an inch or two to the length. And although I love the puddled length as shown, with multiple kitties, you should probably have an inch or two space above the floor so they can move behind the drapes without digging at them. (I know, I currently have a couple kitties, too.)

You mentioned that you wanted to run the drapes all the way across that back wall - where the door and the kitty condo is now? I think that would be elegant to have all that softly shimmery fabric as your "wall of color" at night when the drape is pulled all the way across. During the day that lush fabric would provide a dramatic column of color against that short wall next to the door - Lovely!

Your certainly are creating a sumptuous new look in the space. I, too love the idea of a gallery or grouping of pictures above the sofa.

Remember, you do have a good eye - that sofa and rug IS a good combo - the whole thing is a work in progress. Work with what you have now - after the curtains are installed - and relax and enjoy your new surroundings. As you discover other pieces in the time ahead of you - a new coffee table, kilim pillows, etc, - you will know if it is right (or not!) and feel more comfortable including the new pieces a little bit at a time.

OK, yes, I really like that Azul faux taffeta one too. I prefer it to the dark blue I chose (in my pics above)...it has that extra bit of bright blue hue in it and I just like a bolder color. It's not a huge amount of different, but just a bit bluer and I am gravitating towards that one over the blue I got from BBB.

Green throws and pillows? Hmm...I will have to wait on that, very interesting suggestion. As for that and for painting, those will be on hold. Painting is a humongous ordeal I just don't have time for right now and so it just isn't a priority. My landlord said I could completely renovate my old kitchen--which I'm dying to do--but I also do not have time for all that upheaval (he OK'd it a year ago but after just trying to get quotes and that was tedious and time consuming, I realized that I had to be ina work place where I could deal with the time wasting and hassle involveD!

My current dilemma is the length of my curtains. I just held the rod up and realized that I don't think I can nail it to the back of the wall because basically both the window and door panels go up to the celing so there is no 'wall' and I guess that would be drilling thru whatever that metal in the window frame is...plus the side white wall juts out so even though the rod holder extends, I doubt it would be exactly the right length...SOOOO that means I must nail the rod holders to the ceiling. The rod holders do turn to allow either option. BUT, this means that the curtains hang down to almost below the window frame edge...rather than above it....I guess I could get one of those valance thingies..

Other thing is length. The curtains I got are all 84" and it appears that with the rod, need 88"...to get to the floor. If I were to use those round things instead of scrunching the curtains up it would be longer, but then window is probably going to show at the top rail...And 96 inche curtains are too long? Yikes...I guess this means hemming the 96 ones? Not sure what to do...

How tall to the soffit? Can you screw the rod into it?

Does the curtain rod you got expand?

W-a-y back in the very first photo you posted - we can see the door and window, and over on the left side there is a short wall where you had a gilt framed picture with the small oval table below.

Can you hang/install your new curtain rod/rail on the wall adjacent to that short wall and run the rod all the way over to the kitchen wall - sort of like a shower curtain rod. Install it as close to the bottom of that bulkhead as possible? So that the curtain hangs in front of that short wall - yes, there will be a large-ish space "behind" the curtain on the door/window side.

Maybe gray curtains would pull the sofa color to the other side of the room, the shiny fabric seems not quite the right thing for the room, maybe a cotton for a more natural look . And I understand about the feather pillows..... have you checked Etsy.com ? many people make pillow covers that you can use your own insert and the prices are good. http://www.etsy.com/listing/102447183/blue-ikat-pillow-cover-one-20-inch?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=blue+ikat+pillows&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

What is a 'soffit'? I have no idea if I can screw the rod into the metal part of the window or door, my guess is probably not.

Elyn, my plan all along has been to have the curtains go from wall to wall--across the entire back wall (and so when they are open I can pull them to the left wall space if I need max light. But since that left wall protrudes, I basically still have to use the ceiling mount at the very least from the right and middle (and yes, these rods are retractable but at their shortest they are still quite long and those are my shortest dimensions listed above...)

Bygeorgi, thanks for the pillow suggetions. I will have a look. I understand that I will need some patterned pillows and will keep a lookout. For now, I do like these blue and red ones so they'll do until I find more interesting ones.

I thought gray curtains would be good, and thought silver might be especially nice, but as you can see in my photos above, I think they look very drab and didn't do much. What about the shiny do you not like? Someone else said that earlier..I do like it...so confused...

Btw ... Ikea has several different gray curtain panels , but you would have to hem them, they are 98". I have used the Vivan style they are super inexpensive but look surprisingly nice put up.

Dunno what happened to my post - must have hit the wrong button somewhere.

fredsmommy - sounds like you have the right idea with the curtain rods and the "Azul Blue..." curtains. I think if you go with the rings (a can of spray paint so they match the curtain rod will help.) the rings will add at least 1" to 1.5" to the length which will bring the curtains closer to the floor rather than trying to hem drapes that are way too long. And the kitties will still be able to easily explore behind the curtains.

I am really not sure why you thought the dark brown sofa worked and the gray doesn't ! Th ark brown sofa had no connection to the rug at all. The blue/ gray of the new sofa is much more neutral. I like the idea of adding pillows, but those alternating red and blue pillows look cheap and are a too obvious need to match the rug. As has been said a pattern with some reds, blues, and possibly grays would be much more effective.

@sbrustein - the pecan colored sofa reflected all the wood tones in the room which is what I think helped to make it work. Fredsmommy has mentioned that she liked warm colors so changing to the blue/grey sectional has taken some getting used to. I have not commented in a bit because everyone is pushing her to the cooler tones and I have finally given up on making cool tones work in my own home so I know that the adjustment is going to be difficult for her. It's hard to tell from the pictures but there appears to be some shade of orange along with the red and blue that helps to bring the pecan of the old sofa along with the other woods in the room into play.

Hi, well I think the pecan sofa matched a bunch of my furniture and felt more 'neutral'. And so yes it seemed to blend--red and brown a bit more than that cool grey... Thanks RNGP about the cool vs. warm tones! Yes, something about the grey has felt a bit weird--who knows why we are drawn to certain colors and certain tones of those colors. I know that with clothing, for example, there are some thing that on a store rack I would pass right by even though they could look good, etc. But certain colors and combos don't click. Not that I can't make them work but it's an internal struggle!

I'm still wondering why some of you think that the shiny blue won't work. Maybe it's for a bigger grander room? This is a small not impressive NYC apartment. I seem to like the shiny when I see it, although also it's that shade of blue with a bit of a warmer blue as opposed to straight navy.

Thanks for the feedback on the pillows. The thing is, those pillows are going to take some time if I'm getting patterns and I'm feeling like I might need to see them in person rather than online...and I'm not a big shopper and really have very little time. I love the kilim idea and actually have a different 5x9 oriental rug that has a bit more geometrical and indian-type looking patterns (in the same red and cornflower blue!)

fredsmommy...my daughter and I have discussed extensively the differences of liking cool vs warm tones. She loves the cooler shades and feels much calmer with them. We both respect each others choices and can appreciate them but neither of us would be comfortable with the color combinations of the other on a daily basis.

Several years ago I bought a large print of Van Gogh's "Almond Blossoms" for a guest bedroom. I love that print and I actually love the shade of blue as well. However, I could never make the room "feel" warm enough for me. It always had a cold feeling that I couldn't overcome. I finally broke down this year and bought a Klimt print that changed the room the second I hung it. It just "feels" right for me now.

My only concern for you is that the blues may be the same for you. As a design element, the colors will be appropriate but how you react to them "internally" may be different. I would suggest you try out several blues along with some of the other warmer colors in the rugs on your windows and/or your sofa before you make your final decision. Just from looking at the before pictures, I also think that you would enjoy a little more print in your room than using so many solid elements. Since you have limited time, rushing a decision may result in a mistake that could cost you more time and money in the long run so take your time and live with the choices a few days before you take the final leap.

first, 3m (the command hook people) makes all sorts of hanging helpers for pictures, At my house I use the nail to hold the weight at the top and a couple of the 'velcro-ish' picture hangers at the bottom to keep the picture stable, and to level...

second, the pillows are a good start, and we all seem to agree you need some pattern... or trim? a hot glue gun can make majic if you're crafty. we won't tell.

third, I personally really dislike the shininess of the curtains, but you neeeed curtains. If all you have time for is off the rack, make the outer and inner different colors with unifying trim or subtle pattern.

fredsmommy... The shiny is not right to me because it just should be in a different style room. If decor could talk ( haha) the area rug says" worldly or traveled "and the sofa says "chic/ modern." I think a kilm or any large scale print pillow would be great on the sofa. like designers always repeat a pattern or color that's why I suggest the addition of gray curtains same for pillows so your eye travels around the room.

Forgive if this is redundant.
- woven/bamboo shades on window to lighten the room, add texture and play up the exotic feel of the rug
- definitely patterned pillows; several patterns and lots of them
- new coffee table
- maybe one of those small faux sheepskin-like rugs from Ikea to go under the coffee table and break up the expanse of red and blue with the rug (which is gorgeous). And that could offset if reds and blues on couch vary from rug.
- throw up some art, maybe get a plant for the corner ( oh, cats might mistake it for new litter box!), a floor lamp and you're set
Good call on that couch. It will go with everything. And maybe an ivory throw to add some lightness.

Caveat: haven't slept in days so take above with a grain of salt, so to speak. Or a giant Ambien!
-

Hi everyone, thanks for the comments. OK so today I went by TJ Maxx and found some curtains that were a slightly bluer blue...a bit shiny but not a lot. I liked these...could even try a slightly bluer blue...I didn't take pics this time.

Stonezgirl, great suggestions, thank you. I definitely cannot do the faux sheepskin rug--1) I'm a radical vegan and no real dead, or no fake dead animals in my place! But also back in my 20s I bought a Greek Flocati rug--fluffy and white--and wow was it impossible to vacuum, keep clean. Looked nice at first but not realistic unless it's in a room you never use, I think.

I have given up on plants. Many are poisonous to cats and I have 2 cats specifically who will eat and throw up any 'safe' plant I have. I did have palms but I got tired of trying to keep them from eating them. All I have now is kitty grass or fresh catnip, both on the ground where you can't see!

ByGeorgi, yes, I understand that about the shiny, thanks for explaining. RNGP, yes, I understand what you mean about colors that feel right or not. I'm actually ok with blues, it's more the cool grey that was weird...but I def. like a warmer blue I think. And yes, you're right about taking my time. The sofa replacement wasn't actually meant to become a whole new to-do item on my giant list, but I guess it's there now...easier to procrastinate on the stuff I really need to focus on (which is not home decorating)

anyway, I finally stuffed all those curtains sort of neatly back into their packets and need to return them BBB and still figure out what I"m going to do. I've decided on the 96" and take a hem. They are simply too short at 84 or whatever they are...and I figure that I will want these curtains in some other place so I should keep them longer just in case...

fredsmommy--I've been following this thread because your taste and mine are very similar. Just wanted to say there is nothing wrong with buying things with a future home in mind...ie buying curtains long, or plain throw pillows that can go in other rooms, etc. I do think your "impulse" couch was actually a good investment! It was affordable, stylish and will be a nice anchor piece in your current, and perhaps future, living rooms. The accessories that bring the couch and the rest of your room together can be added when you have time, inclination and energy. Based on the discussion here, and your responses, you have a good start on things to look for. (I'd vote yes to the azul blue curtains...and I like the shiny!) You need not have the buyers' remorse you expressed earlier... you have a nice place with nice things already. I wish you best of luck in 2014! :)

Delighted to see you've found curtains you like - Excellent! Once you get them installed to your satisfaction, I think it's time for you to relax, pour yourself a cup of tea or glass of favorite beverage. Then sit down on that lovely new sofa with a pillow tucked behind your back, put your feet up, gather a kitty or two by your side and enjoy the sumptuous new space you are creating. Hope you have a fabulous 2014 and beyond!

I did not see if you got pillows but I was thinking blue and white like some others were too. I like that sofa.

http://www.pier1.com/Suzani-Embroidered-Pillow/2659434,default,pd.html
http://www.pier1.com/Embroidered-Medallion-Pillow---Indigo/2659421,default,pd.html

Rug and couch are great! Drop the existing coffee table, find an espresso coffee table and accent it with white items. Pull your red and blue from your rug with throw pillows on your couch. Finding artwork to tie all of this together will finish your look!

Looking forward to some pics! when you are done that is ..or satisfied for now. If you are like most of us decorating is a process... dream, buy, return, buy, relax.. repeat lol

Okay..it can work.Couch is actually very cool.Paint some of that brown furniture black.Not all of it..just the stuff that wont break your heart.Then do a salon hang behind that couch.Fill up the space with Art.go to the sally-Ann.Get your fave photos printed in b&w.Frame them up cheap.don't be boring with the ikat trend...yaaawn.Buy some great vintage drapes and chop them up for pillows.Have fun.Put your stamp on it.Do not order stuff from stores.

I realize Ikat is a trend, but I find that I love ikat. I am worried that anything I get is going to look dated in a few years, but most of them are better than the ugly prints available everywhere. The world is filled with a lot of ugly prints.

I agree, Ramona. Design is like most everything else today. Here today, changed tomorrow, back again next week. The real trick is making sure you love what you get because even though trends change, people usually don't. So, unless you feel you have to have whatever the latest trend is in your home, it's usually best to please yourself.

@arthaus...not sure that you read everything that fredsmommy posted but one of the recurring themes has been her lack of time to get things done. Not sure she has the time to "chop" up vintage drapes much less hunt for them. Many of your suggestions are going to take a great deal of time even though they would definitely be something she could "put [her] stamp on."

thanks, mgp

I suspect a good print is both hard to design and relatively expensive to produce. At least Ikat has stood the test of time. Thousands of years there and all over the world. Somehow I got the idea that Ikat was Eskimo related. I have no idea how I got that impression. When I researched, I found that the style goes back thousands of years and all over the world.

Now some of those 60s paisleys also went back a long time, but I am embarrassed to say I wore a lot of paisley in the 60s. I also wore pink and orange. I wouldn't go near pink and orange today.

I should turn to texture. Texture, except for shag, can't go out of style, can it?

Oh everything can go out of style but it usually comes back again. It used to take a little longer for things to "come back" but seems now that we see resurgences every 5-10 years. I typically only worry about what's in style when I can't find something I'm specifically looking for. With the return of the 60s-70s prints, I find myself wishing the trends would change again but then we recycle minimalism and I'm stuck in an eclectic world where color and textures and prints are screaming to be heard. But, never fear, it shall return and when it does, I'll be right on trend again. As my father used to say, even a stopped watch is right twice a day.

I'm a real fan of Kilim pillows rather than the Ikat. The textural quality and color combinations are great. Sometimes just one will give you an entire palette from which to work beyond your beautiful!!! rug. This is only one just in case you aren't familiar with them. This one is from Etsy and the pillow covers are very reasonable.

Thanks Karen, yes, I really like the Kilim patterns...those Ikat are a little blurry/fuzzy and I"m not crazy about that for some reason. OK, so I've been procrastinating on my real work a bit more and have made some progress on my living room! But I still need help, esp with my paintings.

1. CURTAINS. We had a blizzard here in NYC and so it got very cold. I realized a 2nd bonus for curtains after decor--and that's keeping the cold out of the drafty windows. So after having decided that I liked blue, I got 2 more types from BBB and today hung my curtain rail up. I got the 95/96" curtains and because of wall/ceiling issues, I had to hang the rail from the ceiling but the good news is that the curtains 'just' grace the floor--so I don't need to do a hem! woo hoo (no time to do hems!)

The pictures I"m posting have 2 curtains of one type (on either side) and in the middle I stuffed a 3rd of the other type in the rail--basically just to block out the cold. When both panels are fully stretched/opened, I have a big gap, so I either need 1 more panel of 2 more. I guess curtains, even when open are supposed to look a little crinkled, right? (And not like a flat sheet? If so, then I need 2 panels. I like the curtains. I don't think my iphone camera/flash properly captured the color but they are slightly darker than the blue pillows on the couch, but basically the same shade. And as you can see, I stretched it all out to cover the entire wall.

2. PAINTINGS.
I had all these paintings balanced on my sofa and only one hook on the wall and was worried about my cats tipping one over. So I went ahead and hung the paintings without giving much consideration to which should go where. I was going for a top-to-down slanted ladded arrangement, but as you can see, it doesn't work. The way I had them in an earlier picture on my sofa sort of stacked in a group looked good, but my question is, how hi up towards the ceiling can they go without looking ridicullous.

What my bad phone camera doesn't really show is that the 2 darker non colorful paintins have pretty vivid gold frames, as does the smaller colorful painting. So I know there needs to be some interesting juxtapositions of the gold frames and the colors, but I"m just not sure what. It's hard to do this alone and not sure when I can grab a friend to come over...I had to go ahead and hang them up but I can change things. Any specific ideas on arrangements welcome!

3. COFFEE TABLE
Again, the camera seems to have really missed the coffeetable--or else it's just extremely neutral. It's a walnut wood and you can see the pretty floral pattern on the top. It's been restored a bit, hence the bumpiness you might see. It is antique and was my Grandmothers and is French.

One of the legs broke up (in a very unclean tear) In the pics, the table is balancing on that leg.

Someone suggested a black coffee table. I don't feel like anything black will work for me. Feels way to modern and I also have nothing black so doesn't feel right.

I probably won't get a new coffee table, although I'm open to suggestions. This one does go with the rest of my furniture (which you can't really see well in the pics). But I have mahogany and/or walnut with medium to dark brown stains. Would like to know yall's thoughts on this coffee table.

3. And I will check out ETSY, have never been on that site before, for pillows..

thank you!

Wow, my walls look yellow now that I posted these! They are not! And they are not yellow in the original jpgs either! Weird. ALSO, thank you for all your arts and crafts suggesitons. As fun and cheap and interesting as that might be, there is no way at all that I can do any arts and crafts in any way shape or form! First keep in mind that I"m in NYC. The floor space you see is pretty much my available floor space (there is a little more in the entrance and hallway but one of the huge downsides of very expensive, but very crammed NYC living is that you can't do anythign that requires space and makes your place messy. Even cleaning out a closet which requires that you empty the closet and dump stuff somewhere is almost impossible. You have to finish your clean out that same day otherwise you are walking around piles of crap. It's very unfortunately. So, for me to paint, stain, s
ew, chop, build, whatever--not even remotely possible. Plus, I have no idea how to do anything like that. I wish I could reupholster my own chairs as I bet I'd save money but anyway, not an option.

I might have to retake these photos as the colors don't show up at all..

I looked thru about 100 pages of kilim stuff on ETSY. I pinned it on my Pinterest page. I'm not sure if I can share that but here is the link...lots of pillow options that I like..

http://www.pinterest.com/fredsm/gray-sofa-living-room/

Just saw that you had updated the thread and WOW you have made progress! I like the curtains going across the whole wall. I think it adds some pizzazz to the room, and yay for the added draft protection! Do take a daylight photo... whenever the light inside is best. I'd love to see the curtains in their full real-color glory. Also, how do they look all pulled to the side to the left of the door? I bet it looks great!

The artwork you have is gorgeous, and adds personality and character to the space. It all goes pretty well in your room. Some things to try: 1) You can make paper mockups of the pictures and tape them up until the arrangement is pleasing and balanced to you. It's easy to move around paper mockups. 2) Keep the artwork low enough to visually anchor the couch. 3) Maybe stick to three, instead of four, paintings. It's that "rule of three" thing designers like to invoke. There is something about odd numbers that is more pleasing to look at... Experiment and maybe even rotate them in and out until you find what you like.

The pillows on Pinterest you posted are perfect! (yes we can get to it--that is what Pinterest is for!) You found THE solution to your dilemma there... you can stay in you PJ's and shop from home, and find much more personalized items than from a time-consuming, impersonal store. I say find the few that speak to you most and take it from there. Ordering from Etsy is nice. You can message the artist personally with questions (such as washability, how to set the dye, etc) and maybe even get a backstory on things that make pieces much more interesting. Go for it! :)

Here's a hint someone gave me years ago. Turn your back to your room and view it in a handmirror. Gives you a different perspective, kind of like what you found in looking at pictures instead of direct view. You have a good thing going here and I love all the suggestions.

What a great idea mhteb! I am going to try that on my rooms! :)

So far, very good, fredsmommy! You could move that painting to the far left in the photos to another, smaller wall, and it might work the way it is, with the three remaining--but you may have to move the couch over a touch.

That fourth painting, which really has great color and punch, could stand by itself, I think.

I really like the 16x16 pillows with the double x's on them. Of all the ones you've chosen, they do the best of bringing in the blue curtains also.

It's beautiful, especially your cat! Add some colorful pillows and throw blanket and you'll be all set!