Initially, in that case, I'm liking the idea of playing with silver. But first, the main difficulty is that there is a mix of styles -- quite pared-down and functional on the one side of the room, then on the other side the mirror and all, which are ornate. My first suggestion is to move the TV to where the mirror is, as Mark was provisionally suggesting above. Would your TV console fit there? Then we might be able to bring the mirror and that pretty chest of drawers into the sitting area, which would give you a better balance. Separate the mirror and the chest; they're fighting each other. The mirror could go over the brown couch so that it reflects the view from the window that's currently blocked by the TV. Would the chest fit where the small table currently is? The small table could then act as a side table to the black couch, in the corner where you have I-know-not-what ... that big black board. I'd suggest you take everything off it except the white statuette. I have other thoughts but I'll leave it at that for now; very interested to see what Mark suggests.

Thanks for the great thoughts asquithoatley and Damien. I especially like the suggestions that I add a bit of colour and texture with cushions and lamps. I really favour a natural and organic palette, but having largely achieved that, the room just didn't seem to 'pop' in quite the way I'd hoped. Asquithoatley - are you able to give me a source for the red lamp? I really like it. It is funny you mention knitted pillows, as I just took up knitting for the first time in years and I did some for upstairs. They look really good. Maybe I'll get the knitting needles out again! And I'll start looking around at coffee tables. I think you are right. Thanks again to both of you. Isn't this site fantastic?

Other colours that work with red are turquoise, apricot, peach, any blues, yellow, even some pinks and greens. (Look to gardens for inspiration, or Old Masters paintings). I'd find patterns with combinations of those, or Vys colours, in a rug, and chairs or cushions.

Hi Kelly You have lovely colours and finishes in your home, makes for a great starting point. If your dining table fits in the lounge room with plenty of room then it might be an option. You could consider then making the front room a nice sitting area. If you are thinking of updating your main sofa to a corner type then maybe go for single chairs in the front room which you can anchor with a rug and round coffee table. See images below. Then to create a more formal entry way, separate the area with a bench seat that can (so it would sit opposite your built in at front door) then lay a hall runner between the two. A plant next to the bench would help screen between also. You could then replace the photograph with a mirror (possibly round to contrast with cabinets) and add catch all bowl for keys, sunnies, etc... Hope this helps and we'd love to see what you decide to do.