Help Me Decorate My Living Room

[jerickson100]

I need help decorating my living room! I mostly like the furniture in there (more on that in a minute), but I have no clue how to accessorize or pull it all together.

Here is how it looks right now:





The room is challenging because (1) the ceiling is crazy high -- all the way to the second story, so I need a way to ground it a bit, (2) we have two kids and two dogs, so the room needs to be very family-friendly, and (3) there isn't much wall or floor space for artwork, accessories, etc.

A couple of random notes:

1. Ideally, I would use red and turquoise or turquoise and blues to decorate.

2. I know I need window treatments, but the windows run all along the back of the house (and some are big!), so I probably need something that will work in all of the windows (i.e., not a bright pattern).

3. The big piece of furniture behind the couch is a new addition, and I am not sure if it is staying. It is a wine cabinet, and it has been near our front living room, but I thought a console table behind the couch might help and I had this cabinet just sitting around. I am willing to get a different one though. The rest of the furniture is probably staying (we are in the market for a new kitchen table for the breakfast nook next to the kitchen).

Thanks for any advice you have!

[Red'sGirl]

First, are you willing to paint? And while you like your furniture, would you buy and item or two, if needed?

[Red'sGirl]

Also, what's your style- contemporary, earthy, lots of color or understated? Is there a room in the house that you think is decorated just as you'd like, to give us an idea of your aesthetic (I know I sound like I'm really jumping in to this, but I'm just asking the questions. There are a slew of posters that are far better at decorating than I).

[jerickson100]

Thanks for responding!

I probably will not repaint. I like the color (a neutral grayish green), and it goes throughout the first floor, so it would be a major project to change. I would be open to painting in small areas (i.e., behind the shelves or something like that) or buying other pieces of furniture. I would describe my style as contemporary with a rustic, more personal touch. I love old, beat-up pieces of furniture, and I like splashes of bright color and/or slightly quirky touches. Country and/or uber-modern are not my thing.

Here are some images (from Houzz.com, not my house) that I love:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/505466/E...ng-room-austin

http://www.houzz.com/photos/173998/S...ng-room-boston

http://www.houzz.com/photos/83195/Th...ly-room-hawaii

(Not sure why these links are not showing up as photos!)

[looch]

I'd change out the coffee table and do something in wood instead of glass, or do a tufted ottoman. I'd add an area rug and I'd paint the area behind the TV. If possible, I'd also put that tall cabinet that's behind the couch on the wall opposite the loveseat, if it doesn't obstruct traffic.