Definitely add a rug with some pattern and texture to break up the conglomerate of dark colours both with the tiled floor and chocolate modular lounge. The rug you choose will then dictate what scatter cushions to select for your lounge. You may want to consider asking your landlord if a art hanging track can be installed this way you could hang a lovely print or artwork behind sofa. With an art track it is usually powder coated white and installed just below cornice and looks like part of the cornice. You are then given by the installer acrylic hanging wires that slot into this track making it versatile to hang either a series of smaller prints or one large one and you can change as often as you like without any damage to the walls. Your artwork can also be the basis for selecting a rug and scatters. You will be amazed how by adding the rug, scatters and artwork will give instant warmth and personality to your room. You may also want to add a coffee table too. If it is a particularly beautifully patterned rug that is a real feature think of a glass coffee table so the rug can be seen. This may also keep heaviness out of the room that is happening with dark floor dark lounge. All the best! Camille Interior Designer Australia

Hi everyone, I'd like to thank you all for your input. Have been a busy spring and summer, but now I'm back and able to focus on the living room. Couple of things have been done/removed since lately: 1. Leather lounge set: I've (luckily) sold the leather lounge set - absolutely great piece with great quality, but not my taste at all. It made a world difference to the living room and even dear hubby, who liked the set, did acknowledge that the difference of less furnitures is great. 2. The rug 3. The white cabinet 4. New curtains with pelmet I love the pelmet although it's old style and yes, the curtains are too short! Will amend this at later stage :) These changes have made a huge impact on the room. Also, I'm also open to change the dining table with chairs for another nice option in an attempt to make this more interesting/cozy/inviting. So, these are the only things that I won't be able to change (we may (note on may) also move house by the end of this year/early next year) # Blinds # Colour of trims and built-in bookcase # Camel back sofa - I'm happy to reupholster it though and change the fabric. This will cost $2000 but I think it's worth it since they are really comfortable and are of good quality. I'd like to integrate the white frame with the gold poster in the design - an idea is to place 3x posters on the biggest wall of the air conditioner. I'm aware that a brown frame may suit the gold poster better, but I'm so tired of the colour brown at this moment. --------- So, I now feel I'm able to adjust as per your suggestions and recommendations much easier now. Appreciate every response and idea (And sorry for the mess of papers on the desk and floor! We're busy professionals and sometimes I have to let my husband have his creative space despite my OCD when it comes to decluttering and keeping it tidy)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Comfort is rule 1 of any couch so if you like the comfort that's all that matter. Also note that spaces filled with furniture can often make the room look bigger so oversized is fine. You just need to get a good balance. Once you get a rug, coffee table and maybe lamp or other accessories or indoor plants the sofa won't appear so large. Just remember to think about scale and proportion as these are important when pairing furniture. Compare a coffee table with open base on legs to a solid block for looks. The block type might disguise the scale of the couch. Some colour or warmer tones will also bring the space to life. Stick with your choice and dress the rest of it.... and forget what others think. If they're rude enough to comment so unkindly then make them sit on the floor

Paint the walls to a fresher (but still warm white eg Dulux natural white), run natural linen sheers all the way across the wall that the window is on with the track above the window close to the ceiling. This will trick the eye into thinking the whole wall is a window and the natural colour & texture will complement the couch. You could still keep a block out blind behind the sheers to control the light. Linen and in winter wool cushions and throws will work with leather. I would go texture over colour or prints- cream, oatmeal etc for linen cushions & perhaps adding slightly darker to chocolate tones for winter. If you use feather inserts for cushions that will look and feel much softer against the structured style of the sofa. You could then add a large artwork if you wanted to add colour to the space.