If you have some furniture to start with, I would just use the basics for now and live in your home for at least 6 months - 12 is better - and get the feel of the house, the lighting, how the rooms are affected by heat and cold, decide how you are going to live in each room and what your needs will be. This will also help you determine traffic flow, which ultimately affects how your arrange your furniture. It is amazing how many times you can change your mind during this initial period. Most importantly, create your home for YOU, not to impress others, you are the one living in it and happiness comes from the peace and contentment you feel in your surroundings. In the meantime, look through photos on Houzz for ideas, save them in your ideas book for reference and use this to build your decorating.

Even though that is a fairly small space you could put some decorative trellises just in front of the fence with some ever flowering vines on them. Install a paver patio between them and the windows you hope to transform into doors.. You could also have the wisteria trained onto a pergola that would create a little shade for the patio as well. Some beautiful potted specimens/flowers and a couple of attractive outdoor chairs and you would have created a beautiful "picture" to act as a focus to the room. Additionally you have extra space for entertaining. Obviously the reason the previous owner obscured the window was because there wasn't much to look at. By creating a "view," you change the dynamic of the room as well as getting the light you want. Actual light will brighten the room like no change of floor would.

Use a olive green on the home with a red orange front door to match the roof..Lee could help best if you post pics

I agree, too many neutrals. Pare it right back, e.g. Remove brown cushions and add some colour. Even the bowl is neutral where a splash of colour would help in the bowl or replace with bright coffee tablebook etc.. How do you get behind the couch? Could it be moved forward? Can you replace the black blinds as I agree they do dominate, otherwise could try adding some black cushions to support the small bolster on couch and to pick up the black theme, lift it all with a bright graphic cushion and print on wall. Cheap way to play with colors is to grab some wrapping paper in your favourite colors . The hall landing again take something out, how do you sit on the chair with a book on it? What is the purpose of extra sheepskin? While the items all go together they appear to clash with the floor, although that could be the photo, and I am not sure what the hero is? The throw on the chair or the mirror or rug? Good luck and post some updated photos