Hi Megan - what about some shelving and overheads with matching colors? It would look beautiful - and it is quite useful in a living room.

Wow, this looks like a very tough room to layout...... Can you post a floor plan with dimensions and locations of doors and windows ? You might consider using 4 chairs with a coffee table in the center instead of a couch........

Changing the curtains to a white or cream that matches the rug would look great, then match the cushions on your lounge to your curtains, and add in a splash of colour on the walls. If you want to keep the curtains that's fine. The rug is gorgeous but you need to flatten it out with piles of books so you can't see where it's been folded. Use cushions with a circle on them to match the curtains. If you hang a painting it needs to have the colours of the cushions, curtains in it. Try to find cushions with a circle pattern with at least one colour the same as your curtains. Buy a cheap canvas from the reject shop, Use the same colours of your cushions and curtains to paint circles on the painting. Draw the circles with a compass. Then paint circles on the canvas that match the curtains and the colours you have decided to use as the cushions. I think the curtains have restricted your colour use so if you don't want to replace them with something plain use the curtain and cushion colours. The rule is either 3, 5 or 7 colours. Cheap and easy . Remember to prime the canvas with white paint before you start. Another way is to cover the canvas with a wall paper that has circles the same colour as your curtains or cushions. You don't need to paper the edges just the front. Laura Ashley has some gorgeous wall papers and so does Hauzz. It's not difficult and would match the colours you have alraedy in your home.

I would place the sofa in front of the fireplace and armchairs either side. Pur a colourful throw over the back of the sofa or add a console at the back of the sofa to add interest. While the sofa loses some of the open plan look, you need to be functional unless you have a TV room. The bookcase will add a real warmth. If you use swivel armchairs, you can swivel to watch TV or swivel to face the sofa when just talking. We have these and they are very functional.