CUTE dog! It seems like you already have some blues and yellows in your art. A blue rug would really make those wood floors pop... I love the Amy Butler collection of rugs, but they can get pricey. You could always buy a big natural jute rug and paint it or dye it in a pattern....as seen on apartment therapy!

criagslist

What about going to a carpet store and ordering a piece for your dimensions and having the edges bound? Not sure about prices but you can buy find decent carpet for $2.50/sqft or cheaper if you can find a remnant - check on CraigsList. If you're crafty, you can do the edge binding yourself - just google how to bind a rug.

Curtains with a smart box pleat would sing.

I have had good success in price, quality and service through Overstock.com and they have a ton of jute rugs and solids.

I would do sheer curtains for the windows because they look so cool and the light is great. I think some IKEA curtains with a pattern could spice up the room a bit.

Good luck...I love your space!

if you're worried about dirt and stains, a pattern is a much better choice than a solid; it is much more likely to hide any mess.

A jute or sisal rug from overstock..a nice pair of linen curtains might be nice...either from restoration hardware or pottery barn.

agree ewith k1tsun3- a pattern would be a much more practical choice in terms of hiding stains. It would also add some personality to an otherwise pretty neutral space. But if you're hellbent on a solid, I'd do a solid blue like the others suggested. And check Craigslist, there are always a ton of rugs there.

Hi there, i just thought I would jump in about the carpeting as an NYC law. There actually isn't any regulation governing carpeting in the city. Many lease agreements will have a carpet clause in which case, if you signed it, you'd be responsible for complying but if there's no clause in your lease, keep those beautiful floors bare (or use a cute area rug). Good luck!

Gah! No, no, no. There is no law about carpeting in NYC.
Do you still have a copy of your lease? Read it. It might have some stipulation about putting down a rug, but my past four leases in NYC have strictly forbidden installing carpet.

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/16/realestate/q-a-660850.html

I suggest using Flor carpet tiles! They have a million different styles, and you won't be bound to having a huge rug that you may not use in your next living arrangement. You split up the individual tiles in your next place and use for bathroom mats, put them in a long line for a runner, etc. The possibilities are endless!!

http://www.flor.com/

must second the Flor recommendation. I have cats and they are fabulous for clean up (remove tile, clean, wait till dry, put back - or store with my spares). These cats aren't too bad, but the dearly departed had a tummy problem. FLOR is wonderful for pets

Most NYC leases say 80% of floor to be carpeted. The best way to do this is to put area rugs where you walk. Add an area rug in front of the couch and runners everywhere else. This way it might not be 80% but your neighbor won't hear you. I would do a pattern as others have said. And yes, curtain panels to add a pop of color.

flor carpet tiles are the bes!, they're easy to move, reconfigure, custom size, use as runners. And they're easy to move when you do.

The LAW says it has to be covered? That sucks, I can't imagine finding a great apartment with nice wood floor and being forced to cover it up :(
It's not super fancy, but I liked the last rug I had, from Target --http://www.target.com/p/Room-Essentials-Basic-Modern-Rug/-/A-11559604#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

it's showing like a square pattern, but it's really all one color and debossed (or whatever you'd call that)... I have a pug who sheds mercilessly and those were easy to keep clean and inexpensive.

One more vote for Flor tiles! When I moved into my current apartment, I bought one large area rug from Dash and Albert and one set of Flor tiles. I have two cats. The Flor tiles are doing fine; the Dash and Albert rug, not so much.

I haven't used Flor, but have long considered it due to the many recommendations of it by AT commenters over the years. I should mention that their web site shows some very pretty colors and patterns in case your preference for neutrals weakens. Would you please send after photos of what you decide?

PS You may want to search the FLOR site using "high traffic tiles" for practical reasons.

Being a good neighbor is as important as good design... if you've never lived under a flat with bare floors (unless residentsremove shoes inside), you may not appreciate what a disturbance that overhead traffic can be...

I echo others suggestion of FLOR tiles. I live in a three-flat that is over a hundred years old and I was facing the same acoustical issues. Additionally, I too I have a dog and the FLOR tiles look great. The great thing is that you can create a pattern and change your mind whenever. I think thick stripes in tonal colors (light and dark blue-greys) could help to widen the room. Also, The curtain would be great in a cool color as well. Please no vertical blinds. I think some bright accent pillows would be a nice addition too! Enjoy your new place!

Oops, I should have said to filter by "traffic: high."

Happy FLOR customers here. And no, it's not by law, it's by lease, but believe me: nothing makes your home more miserable than all out war with the neighbors. If carpets mean happy neighbors, by all means, install the carpet asap. Personally, I am so sick and tired of the color we chose, but FLOR is pretty budget-friendly so I hope to make a change in 2012.

I really dislike vertical blinds. If they aren't all facing the same way they won't open and close properly, and my cats running through them to sit on the window always puts them out of order. Your dog might do the same. Plus... blah. Not a fan. So... another vote for sheer curtains, maybe linen.

Some buildings are noisy no matter what you do - it is how they were constructed. Some neighbors are very sensitive to noise or just cranky.

I had downstairs neighbors who complained that I walked very heavily in my boots - except I didn't wear boots - and my apartment had thick rugs.

That being possibility, I would consider something thicker than jute or Flor - and get thicker rug pads.

There is no law forcing you to have carpet, what would the people who have asthma have to do if you had to get a carpet?

It looks like you live in the same apartment building that my son lives in in NYC. The space looks absolutely identical. And he has a neighbor down below who is constantly complaining about noise even when nobody is even moving around whatsoever.

For the windows he used a tension rod and put up some curtains that block out the light when closed, but allow for free use of the nice deep window sills. Currently he has pots of herbs that are growing well on the sills. He found the curtains on clearance at IKEA.

Not sure what part of NYC you live in. In brooklyn on atlantic ave there is a store called "the better carpet warehouse" and we had amazing luck in their remmenant section. It is the scraps of large jobs and they are priced to sell. If you have a larger budget I believe ABC carpets has the same thing but with more designer carpets.

Oh yea... and if you buy a remmenant that is larger than you need they will vut and bind the edges for free. Very nice.

Noticed the wall art on one of your walls and I think it will perfectly match this carpet:
http://www.everythingturquoise.com/2011/11/stacked-medallion-rug.html

Add a breezy curtain like this :
http://www.everythingturquoise.com/2011/12/tie-top-voile-curtain.html

.. or if you wish to be more matchy-matchy here are curtains with the same pattern as the carpet:
http://www.everythingturquoise.com/2011/10/stacked-medallion-curtain.html