You need a bigger, neutral rug to put under the one you have. The patterned one is too small for the room.

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks,

I agree the rug is too small for the space.

Can you pull the sofa forward? Is it up against the wall? More pics from other angles would help us.

If my husband would move I can get more pics. Ha. It is up against a wall.

Okay 3 more pics.

Send him out of the room to get something for you, lol! Then take the pics! :)

Truly though - ignore the sofas - a sectional with chaise is going there, so the space is sort of what will be there but we just haven't been able to make that purchase yet.

Well I'd still move the sofas until you get your new setup! and move that rug closer!

Hmmm - if I move the love seat out to be along the short edge of the rug, what do I do with the dead space in the corner behind it? I may play with all these ideas this weekend. Thanks everyone.

Can you float the love seat at the opposite side of the room from where it is now, and slide the sofa down more in the direction of where the love seat now is? Then pull rug in closer to sofa and center coffee table.

I could try that for sure. I always felt that closed off the room, but worth a shot for sure. We just bought the house a few months ago, so I haven't played with the space very much.

Try everything this weekend, take pics of all arrangements and repost. You will get plenty of suggestions. :)

You might want to make a place for toy storage in any dead space that results. Covered baskets or boxes, not plastic bins. Something that doesn't scream toys.

Will do.

My kids are old enough that their toys are not in the shared space any more. Thank goodness!!!! I do have a spare desk in the garage. - but that is 2 desks in the one room.

Or maybe I could put some bean back chairs for a reading corner for them.
Hmmmm. Hubby is not going to like where this is going. Ha!

Well, don't feel like you need to fill every space. How could he object to an area that encourages reading, lol?

When is the new sofa coming?

Hopefully by summer 2014 we will have bought it.

Oh ok that is a long time to wait for changes then.

Like the direction you are going:)

Okay - couldn't wait

Excuse the mess - the kids brought out a bunch of toys this am. And that last one is blurry. But we are going to try it like this for the weekend. I like the look, but not a fan of the hallway it creates but the computer desk area. But that will go away when we buy new furniture as I'm planning in a sofa with chaise and a wedge or accent chair on the corner, but not a full love seat on that end.

I totally agree - the rug is too small.

fabulous ! you have removed the awkwardness of this space ~

I think that looks better! :) the rug looks like it is not so small as before. I think the table can be moved out more on the rug, but perhaps you have it pushed over to allow your kids room to play.

No - I think you are right about pulling the table out a bit more. That was just where I ended up leaving it after moving it around this am before work.
Will see how it does this weekend with TV and other things.

The dog was pouting though. That loveseat is his ;) And my hubby is trying to convince me a piano is what we need in the back corner instead of the chaise.

I would place the table over the rug so it is directly placed right in the center of the rug.

Looks great with the new arrangement.

I do t think there is a new arrangement.

This looks a million times better--this arrangement actually looks inviting. Before it was furniture just thrown in. I would remove the pillows for now, the patterns clash with everything else. The rug and the painting work, but keep everything else simple.

Your art over the couch should be the focal point, but the portrait is throwing it off. The empty space could call for a interesting console table with a mirror.

Also, you have circles and zig zags and stripes and florals and....the arrangement is good, now fabric selection needs to be made. A larger, solid rug would calm things down and balance out the size of the room

Thanks everyone. I think we are digging this layout a lot.

I did store the floor pillows in the back corner. We use them a lot when we play games with the kids - so they are not going anywhere.

And yeah - of we decide to keep things this way I will have to move the art. But with a new sofa in a few months I will wait before buying any temporary pieces.

I haven't quite figured out the patterns and colors - I'm trying to work in a modern-bohemian-industrial eccletctic aesthetic for this room. I know I don't want it to look too professional if that makes sense - probably push back from living in a perfectly staged house for months! Ha - that's not to say that I'm not taking all your comments in.

Which brings me to my next question - large neutral rug as a layer underneath my circle rug, or in place of?

The rug is to busy for the table
It also needs to be bigger as it is a big space. Consider a neutral colour possibly nude

I like the rug a lot actually. I think it adds pattern without overwhelming the room.

Your desire for casual and not staged is understandable.

Thanks - that makes me feel better. I was beginning to wonder if I was a bit crazy. Apart from under the dining table I can't ever see myself owning a solid beige rug. But to each his own right?!

I do love hearing all the different opinions - it makes me really stop and think about my choices, which I like to be a bit unconventional without being all cray-cray.

I like the new room arrangement with the sofa and loveseat in the 'L' arrangement. It looks very cozy! You might want to consider an end table and table lamp in the empty corner of the "L". I don't know the size of the space, but if it's large enough for a 24" square table, I'd do it. If you don't want to spend the money on new - look for something at a flea market -- paint the table and if you're lucky enough to find a neat lamp, you may have to buy a new lampshade -- be sure you get a lamp that's large enough -- I've bought several old lamps on ebay and after finding the right shades, they are my favorites!

Regarding square table, check out good will stores , rummage sales, and check out the dining tables. there are many square ones that may be the right size, and cut down the legs and paint in needed. I really think your new L shaped arrangement looks good.