Start by removing the ladder shelves which give it a bit of a college dorm feeling, and the swag drapery which is dated and too formal. Go casual with a wool sisal area rug, and fiber roman shades, no drapery and mock romans above the sliders. Put the TV by the FP where the ladder shelf is now and float the sectional out in the center of the room, with the FP/TV corner as the focal point. Colorful pillows and a more colorful casual piece of art above the FP are called for too. Try making those moves and post more pix by commenting here and using the Attach Images button. We might try working with the current rug, but it seems a bit large as it will need one edge to run parallel to the FP.

I'm not sure where all this cord clutter you speak of is. The room looks pretty tidy from here. Deco is right about moving the TV to the wall to the right of the fireplace, I think. One advantage is you'll be able to see it from the kitchen. Then, if you turn the sectional 90 degrees clockwise, you might put a low storage bench (think clutter hider) under the windows.

She's also right about the swags on the windows and the college-dorm-style shelves. Your art over the sofa is also hung too high, but we can worry about that later.

Thank for the input!!!!

The problem with moving the sectional is the wall where the tv sits is small....basically the size of of our entertainment center? And there is another doorway opposite the kitchen entrance....if that makes sense? I can put up one more pic of the view into the living room....

I can definitely remove the swag drape things....

And I can remove the college dorm shelf unit....,but will need something to store the computers and power cords (they are hidden in a pile next to the shelving unit :-)

The rug

I see the door now. Just to the left of the TV, it looks like. So I guess you are locked into this arrangement, in which case how about just replacing the open shelves with a closed cabinet so all the computers and accoutrement can be hidden away?

Actually, Ikea's Billy and Galant systems have some cabinets with doors on the bottom and open shelving on top. Or you could do a narrow armoire like this:

This is a small change, but what if you got new throw pillows to clean the look up?

Here are a few options:

http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/emma-throw-pillow/

http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/green-sprouts-throw-pillow/

FYI: Here is the view from couch .... :-)

and here is the cord issue in more detail

Why isn't some of that gear in the entertainment cabinet, in a closet or cabinet behind the TV or inside a storage piece in front of the sofa? Wifi can be helpful

Seeing the TV wall really helped. I think you do have the best furniture arrangement now.

I suggest you get a dedicated cabinet for the cords and such and insist that it be used. And if it isn't, when you go to clean up after the boys (because I'm guessing those are the culprits), put their stuff away where they'll never find it and make them beg. Better yet, make them mow and paint and do laundry before releasing the hostages. I'll bet they'll learn really fast.

Thanks all. I removed the curtains, the rod, and the shelf unit. I think what would work best is something like that round ottoman b/c we like to put our feet up while watching tv. Also, I still need some sort of storage "unit" next to the sectional....? I have a 4 year old who has toys all over (in that area) now so trying to find something nice and usable but not ugly. ;-0)

OK got rid of curtain rod. Ordered a new coffee table and now truing to figure out what to put next to sectional. right now I have a white toy trunk .... it is nice to have something going to set glasses I need etc. Also should anything go in the blank wall? Family photos or something? I have red blankets on my couch bc. we have two cats who she'd like crazy!!!

The wall between sofa and fireplace could use this-- --Expedit toy storage, with art on the wall above. The pictures on the wall to the right of the window are hung too high and would look better not staggered. Perhaps the two horizontal ones could be stacked with the long one to one side. Hang the whole grouping about 6-8" above the sofa back.

Hi again! Finally got our ottoman & LOVE it! Now, what to do with the area to right of couch. I think instead of another "shelving unit". Would a sir table or console table be okay perhaps with a lamp? Or no?!? I know the clocks too small, I was going to order this new one....

Here is a pic from another angel.

Ottoman looks great. Is it a storage ottoman and are all the cords hidden inside?

The space between sofa and fireplace is problematic. The fireplace is already being ignored due to its placement, and I wouldn't want a console table there to encroach upon it even more.

I think I'd hang curtain panels floor to ceiling just on the ends of the windows and use the curtains and some pillows as a chance to cut down a bit on all the brown.

Thanks Groveraxel. The issue with panels is the sectional is up against window. it's kinda a narrow family room. so would you then suggest to pull couch forward and add ceiling to floor panels?

I added some blue to your room, taken from the tiny bit of blue or blue-gray in the art over the fireplace. Curtains are from West Elm (on sale), pillow from World Market, blue table from here: http://www.wayfair.com/Safavieh-American-Home-Rhodes-End-Table-AMH6617-FV43348.html

If you use the clock, center it in the space and hang it low.

If you can pull the sofa forward just a couple of inches, and hang panels on the ends only, I think you can do it.

Would a chair AND a clock work?

No. A chair in that space will unbalance the room. Besides, you would have to angle it so that its back would be toward the fireplace, a great big NO-NO!

Ok thanks for that tip!!

Here is the clock. It's too low now but we and a hole in the wall already so I'm resting it :)

So then perhaps that little table you had placed earlier or the like,would go nicely under clock

A little table would be perfect.

Still need help?

What size should th rug be? We are now looking at a new rug!!

We are going thru the same dilemma in our den/office. We found a pair of low cabinets with doors and shelving and we are hiding things behind doors and using the cabinets as end tables on either side of our sofa and putting sconces on the wall for lighting.

You can get an adaptor that runs the VHF (very high frequency) on your computer items that run TV thru your remote control...cabinets stay closed and no clutter!

Your old rug is a good size. I'd get the same size for the new one.

Not sure if you've solved your cord-hiding challenge. There are a bunch of small cabinets out there that cleverly hide charging stations. Might be worth a look.

I have a great ottoman now gat hide stuff .... Struggling with a new rug. The one I have now is 8/10. Hubby days it's too big? We have a long narrow room and a weirdly placed fire place!! I got a 5/7 rug but I but I think it's too small?