What would you do with this room?

[Barrenfieldoffucks]

I can't figure out how to make this room look/feel better.

What would you do to it? Move furniture etc?

What’s your budget - are you talking new furniture, a complete repaint, or simply moving things around?

I can do new furniture and moving stuff around, no to painting or floors really, they're in good nick.

Tidy up?

I'm genuinely not being nasty (it's a lovely room), but there are cushions and throws all over the place, plus 3 random pictures which aren't on the wall and a broom handle leaning against the wall by the door.

Not sure what the white thing on the floor is? do you live near Portmeirion?

Leaving all that aside, I'd probably go for a lighter/brighter colour on the walls, move the chair to the bay window to give more of an impression of space, get some vibrant curtains and new lampshades.

There's a log burner in a fireplace on the wall to the right, and a TV in the corner next to it.

Ha, no, the furniture has just been moved and the paintings came out of storage. I'm good at tidying, less so with 'overall vision'.

White thing is a balloon, birthday party

I'd replace blinds with curtains, bigger, brighter rug, replace coffee table, probably new lampshades, big pot plant
If I could afford it probably new sofas

I would have some curtains to frame the window and I would go for brighter walls, either something nice and bold like a navy blue or even a light creamy white. Then I would add plants and different rug. Also more of a statement light fitting.

How much seating do you need - how many people in house?

have nothing under the window - it blocks the airy feeling. Switch to a pale fabric sofa and smaller? Plus a small occasional chair if needed? Brown leather is gloomy.

First instance - definitely some better window dressing - either curtains or lighter blinds.

Then I'd move the furniture around - try the chair in the window further forward and the sofas facing each other? It does all look very brown though - I'd be thinking about new sofas and how I could lighten it up overall.

honestly OP, it’s a bit depressing looking, the sofas are quite big and saggy looking and the rug is too small. So the properties done work.

Also to me, the wall colour is a bit meh. But, Do you love that wall colour? What about wall paper?

imagine it painted a nicer colour, with smaller neater sofas, a big rug in beautiful colours, lots of really interesting prints or photos on the walls, a couple of lovely floor lamps, some plants?

really nice quality Roman blinds as well, it would unrecognisable.

I can't decide if 2 sofas facing each other are Doctors waiting room esque? There are 5 of us, but in honesty, this room is barely used other than by teens, sometimes we sit in there in the winter if we light the burner.

In the past we have had all sorts of layouts...the funny footstool thing in the middle is often under the window, with a sofa either side. DH prefers it that way.

The floorboards have just been stripped throughout the downstairs (old part of the house at least) and I think we need a big rug with some colour?

What sort of colour curtains and sofas would you go for? DH is anti curtain, but I am very pro. I tend to do the DIY so I will probably get the casting vote by just doing it. 😬

The sofas are good quality, but yes, brown leather can look quite dated and dark.

I'd also like a tall kind of bookcase or display cabinet in the left corner, with a normal lamp instead of a standard one. Add a bit more interest?

This is it from the corner by the plant looking inwards. Rug isn't intended for there, it was just a spare put in to experiment with. It is zoomed out slightly to help get it all in.

It’s all too brown. I would change the colour on the wall before changing the leather sofas - I think a leather sofa and wood floors can be a great foil to plants, colour and pattern, but currently there isn’t any of that!

You could take the blues from your lampshade as a starting point - one of these as a wall colour would be good, and then build your scheme out from there: indigo, mid blue, sky blue, white or cream, sand and brown leather. I’d hang curtains with a blue and crean pattern, and blankets and cushions of various textures and patterns from across the colour palette. You need a new light fitting - it should be bigger and sit lower in the room, even if you tend to generally use lamps, this will help with making things feel pulled together.

In terms of layout, I’d move the chair to the window, with a floor lamp and big plant next to it. Put the sofas facing each other and add a big cream rug. You need a coffee table that functions or a nicely upholstered ottoman to sit between them. Add three or four substantial plants and I think the room would feel brighter and much more comfortable.

All of this could be done relatively cheaply - the only painful bit is the painting.

That colour doesn’t work at all. I’d go for something warmer. A mustard perhaps or a richer colour. The sofas look well past their best, I’d get rid. The chair doesn’t match. The light fitting looks totally lost and the blinds don’t go. Your lamp is devine and the bones of the room look really good.
I think leather sofas could work but your current ones look very saggy. Alternatively, you could look at a velvet sofa. They have beautiful ones at Loaf. I’d be inclined to choose curtains or fabric Roman blinds. It could be a beautiful room.

I’d definitely choose a much bigger light fitting that pulls the room together. Maybe brass or a natural material.

Can I ask where you got your bobbin lamp stand from? I love it!

I wouldn't have a bookcase because I think your room will look cluttered plus you have shelves above the tv. I was thinking sofas would be better facing each other but can see one would block the radiator. Depends if that also blocks the heat. I don't mind your sofas. Cheaper and easier to repaint the walls. I think your pictures on walls aren't right - out of proportion with the space and the placement is a bit off. Get a bigger bolder central light shade. And yes to curtains.

Loaf sofas are very uncomfortable and enormous. I don't think your room is big enough for them.

I think getting a larger lighter rug would make the biggest difference OP! The lamp is lovely.

I would hang a tv on the wall across from the sofa. You will need to measure from the wall to the sofa to figure out the appropriate size. Move the chair to the window. Get rid of one of the sofas and replace with a stack of poofs for the teens to use as needed.

I also think the sofas are perfectly fine -they just need some lovely cushions.

1. Lighting:

• Swap the tall standard lamp on the right for a warm-toned table lamp with a fabric or amber glass shade.
• Add string lights, a floor lantern, or a fireplace glow effect (if not using the stove often).
• Consider a dimmer switch for overhead lighting or swap the bulb to a softer, warm white (around 2700K).

2. Textiles:

• Replace the experimental rug with a larger, thicker one—a Persian-style or chunky knit rug would work great and define the space.
• Add more cushions in various textures (velvet, knit, faux fur) and a throw blanket draped over the arm of the sofa.
• Consider a window treatment with thicker curtains, perhaps in a rich warm tone (terracotta, ochre, or rust).

3. Color Accents:

• Introduce warm earth tones through accessories: burnt orange, deep olive, gold, or burgundy.
• Add art or framed photos with wooden or gold frames to the wall with the radiator—it feels a bit bare.

4. Furniture & Decor:

• A tall bookcase or glass-front display cabinet in the left corner would look great. You could style it with:
• Books (some stacked horizontally)
• Warm-toned ceramics
• Small plants or trailing ivy
• Candles or fairy lights
• A basket with rolled-up blankets near the stove or chair could add charm and function.

5. Plants:

• You already have one plant in the corner—adding 1–2 more in varying heights (a hanging plant or tall floor plant) can soften the lines and make it more lived-in.

Photo

Oh, yes, you could try ChatGPT for suggestions