Keep the orange couch - I like the bright colour with all that grey. Get some inexpensive artwork - with white frames. That should break up all the grey for you!

I think it feels so steril because it's lacking elements of your personality; it's just basic furniture.

I would start by adding some throw pillows and/or a blanket to the couch, then go with your idea of art on the walls. Esty is always a good place for interesting, innexpensive art. So is Deviant Art.

Also, adding some of your personal photos to the space will bring life into it.

Good luck!!

Agreed. I like the sofa. It gives you a nice bit of colour. Get some art, and a couple of bright pillows on that sofa. The orchid is nice, but I'd add another green-leafed non-flowering plant, on the floor beside the tv stand.

I like the orange couch..but yes, definitely get some artwork and I agree with with Lorna23, get the white frames - go large and in multiples to make a sort of gallery display. You can diy your own artwork and place in the frames, try splashes of watercolour paint in oranges, yellows, reds, to warm up the space, or even frame found photos / things.

Also add some cushions to soften the lines of the couch, or maybe a throw blanket, and maybe a little upholstered ottoman to put your feet up on when watching tv, or triple as a coffee table / extra seating when guests come over.

Agree with cushions and throw blanket.. perhaps vertical planter if you have enough light? also hanging textile art on a wall will instantly make the room cozy.. even a textured patterned blanket will do.

A large green plant that can handle low levels of light would do wonders for the space. I agree with the rest of the posters – orange couch stays, add pillows and art on the walls.

Don't get rid of the orange couch. It's the personality of the room right now. Definitely get some artwork and pillows. Maybe even mount the tv to wall and hang some art around it. The walls are just too sterile right now.

Try hitting up Craigslist for inexpensive mirrors to put on those butting walls. It'll move some of that light around. I like the white frame idea from above. You've got a fun look already going on in there. A couple more elements and it'll sing.

The orange - I'm sorry - should definitely go. Its overly stimulating in that it is bright orange and seems to be made of some unfortunate shiny pleather (?) material.
Get a neutral loveseat and add punches of color with soft pillows and throws and artwork. These are simple and easy to change out while adding the "cozy factor".
My personal favorite for cozy is adding candles and fresh flowers! Good luck!

Hannah McCoy
hannahmccoyinteriors.com

A great way to do cheap impactful art is going to your art supply store (in Canada we have deserres) buying some craft paper, each of these retailed for less than $5. You can get frames from second hand stores or ikea.

http://juliadiditherself.blogspot.com/2011/08/pretty-papers.html

If you don't love it, I would get another sofa. The shiny/leather material and orange just aren't "cozy." If you do love it, find a throw to go over it or some great pillows. I would add more white to the walls (white framed art, or mirrors) - or some canvas art.

I think lighting is a big part of it. I'd suggest getting a table lamp, or a floor lamp, with a warm white bulb.

And get some fluffy pillows - maybe white - to make the couch look cozier and break up all that orange.

I like the orange, grey, and white color scheme you've started. Before we start on color, I think you should angle the rug. It will break up the cell-like right angles.

I agree with other posters, some pillows or a throw would be good on the couch. I would look for something with same simple graphic feel as the rug with a white background.

I would put a narrow white shelf on the empty wall, then put a mix personal photos and prints just resting on it, with some small vases, plants, and/or candles. If you buy prints, something by Gauguin would be good from a color perspective. Good luck!

Maybe it's the fact that the TV screen is mostly navy blue in this picture, but I think bringing blue into the space would look awesome with the orange.

I think an artwork gallery wall on the big blank wall or the tv wall - ooh, or on both walls spreading out from the corner - would look awesome.

I see how the couch might not be the coziest, but obviously trying throw pillows is cheaper than replacing and could bring so much warmth/texture into the room. My couch is crazy ugly and I just drape like four blankets over it all the time so it mostly doesn't show. But on the other hand if you did that you wouldn't have the awesome pop of color.

Sorry for rambling, hope it helps.

Definitely agree with the lighting - its pretty crucial. Some side lamps giving off a glow will cozy up any space. Look into some floating wall shelves for that big wall, it would give you more space for plants, photos, books, candles, knick-knacky things. Layer in some prints and different textiles with throw pillows and an afghan.

Find some cool printed fabric an wrap some canvases it is a cheap way to add drama and color I've done alot. You should also invest in a lamp and Maybe some "floating"bookshelves. Orange, gray,and white look great with shots of navy or teal,and also green.good luck!

I had grey walls in my last apartment and LOVED them. Maybe they seem dull at first, but grey is a really versatile and modern neutral.

I say keep the couch and find some great throw pillows on etsy or something.

I completely agree with the art comments. White looks great against grey so white frames are a really good idea. Light wood looks good as well, so maybe you could consider a large art piece you make yourself on some light lumber.

If you want some inspiration, here are pictures of my old place with the grey walls. (I had colorful couches too!)

http://www.insideways.com/2011/09/today-tim-and-i-will-move-in-to-our-new.html

Different sized mirrors might help.

I like a lot of the ideas others have said -- pillows, mirrors, some BIG fabric pieces or artwork ("posters" may be sort of grad-school-y but some Japanese-themed museum posters in inexpensive frames might work well on that big wall.) And definitely try the "angle" tip -- do you have enough room to angle the whole set up? TV console across the corner with rug and loveseat at an angle across from it? Replace the little white table with a darker, bulkier table/ottoman set up and maybe squeeze in another small scale chair (black?) I bet it wouldn't take more than $100 to make it look great!

Maybe something like this:
(sorry about the length, but I wanted to get to the exact print)
http://www.art.com/products/p10090984-sa-i793672/ando-hiroshige-plum-garden-over-shin-ohashi-bridge.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=207150&ui=53a1561e72be44f9876a60d20fc7c5e2&rfid=054402&domain=com&kwid=866109004&gclid=cj78hsqs5qscfybt7qodg0f-hg&ctid=1321924855

Rather than switch the couch, I would switch the rug, for something with more colors. Adding lighting, mirrors and pictures on the wall (but not lots of small pictures--at least one good sized, as large as you can manage).
Mount the TV if you can, if not maybe put together some kind of wall unit to use that space better. And def pillows and throws on the couch.

You definitely need some artwork or posters. I'd recommend something with vibrant colors to pick up the orange in that sofa. Look at things by Kandinsky, Matisse, Andre Derain, Chagall, David Hockney, maybe Paul Klee.

Holy cow, get rid of that radioactive couch! Replace it with something you like, and hang up a couple prints from somebody like Zach Johnsen or Max Neutra that you can get for next to nothing. I am getting 8th or 10th in line on the white frames bandwagon - all my prints are in white frames at my place

Definitely get some artwork to tie in the orange. Love the bright couch next to the neutral walls. Or if you don't like the couch then get a new one.

If you're working with a small budget, and can't afford to both replace the couch and get some art and textiles into the space, then I say keep the couch (if you use all your funds on upgrading the couch, it will still look like a barren room, just with a nicer couch.) As others have mentioned, create a gallery wall of colorful art framed in white (etsy, pages from old books, cool pictures from magazines/calendars, fabric, and DIY art are all options), and add some pillows and a throw to the couch. Make sure your textiles aren't too frufru; keeping them relatively clean and modern will help integrate your sofa into the space.

and focus on creating a gallery wall with white frames, and softening up the couch with a throw and some fun pillows.

^^^ Whoa, I don't even know where that last random sentence came from. Editing fail, to say the least!

I would tone down the sofa with some white pillows and a fluffy throw.

It looks really harsh because there is no softness in the room.

Something textured will do a world of good. Maybe something like this: http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cable-knit-throw/?pkey=cdecorative-throws

Or some textured white pillows.

No need to start over with the design. You've invested time and money! You can make it work. Bring in texture with a throw and pillows, and perhaps some warmth with a wooden coffee table or side table.

Definitely add some dark blue (pillows, artwork, etc) to soften the impact of the orange, and some small task lighting to bring a little softness/warmth to the area. Good luck!

I love your couch! I suggest you visit Eastern Market for artwork and textiles.

I think you should switch the rug. It not only adds more greyness into the room (as much as I love gray), it doesn't really seem like the right gray. And it only cost you $20, anyway. :p Or you might just want to skip the rug entirely. If you have a proper coffee table/ottoman it won't look bare. Use the tray-table as a side table.

Since your couch is so angular, I don't like how the media console is also all angles (and black-brown. Because now it's halloween.) I also think you should mount it... otherwise, I really like the peekaboo media console. (Well, I am projecting, but it's what I want. XD) Granted, it costs 5x more than a benno new....

Also, some pillows, of course.

You've already had tonnes of great advice. Get art, as the couch is a nice size, and a great colour versus the grey. Like your rug, so look for something that perhaps combines some of the elements your already have, with some of the deeper grey, some orange, some white (definitely the frame) and a little bit of dark brown perhaps to tie in the media centre. Something graphic, perhaps with a few leaves in it like the rug, blocks of colour, not bitsy shapes in the art. Perhaps a side table with a lamp at the non-wall end of the couch would add a bit more ambience, and I definitely think a leafy green plant would help. You keep the place uber-tidy, which is great, but perhaps a few more things that show your personality would make it a little less sterile. Perhaps a small bank of same sized art above the tv space would help give the walls some depth. Good luck!

Spend your money on art. Even if you replace the orange loveseat (which I actually like), you'll still end up with a cold, un-homey vibe. Art and textiles are what make a place feel comfortable.

get rid of that ikea rug. i used to have it and it did nothing but drain the life out of a room.

i would also suggest that you introduce unglazed wood, bright textiles, and plants.

I like it as it is - ready for personal touches. I wouldn't change anything, just add.

The couch is cool. Accentuate it with pillows with strong graphics. I like the combination of the rug, the couch and that little white table.

To reduce the prison cell aesthetic, use several lamps rather than a single ceiling light source. Replace that generic TV console with something vintage and/or made from actual wood rather than foil-wrapped chipboard. Add touches of whimsy or humour in accessories, art or fabric. Use natural materials wherever you can - raw linen, natural wood etc - to dispel the sense of artifice and oppression.

While the sofa is kind of cool, the color is a huge contrast to the grey walls, thereby bringing out both the grey and the orange. I think it gets much to hard for such a small space.

There are two ways to go:
1. Add lots of colors: Add brigtly colored pillows, artwork (doesnt have to be expensive), rugs, wases etc to create a room that will be colorful, but probably not look big or serene.

2. Or add white. Get rid of the sofa and add a lot of white and neutral tones. Complement with a touch of a warm color - burgundy in winter, dark pink in summer?. This will make the room look bigger and more cozy, but you must remember to add more textile and art (as these are the antidotes of "prison feeling").

And add mirrors!

Good luck!

I love the orange couch but that much unbroken orange can be hard to take. I think black-and-white cushions, different patterns on each (striped, checked, flowered, whatever, just black-and-white) look terrific against a strong coloured sofa like this. The black and white would also tie in with the grey of the walls, and by keeping to two colours only you don't overwhelm the small space.

You definitely need some pictures on that wall. I think black frames and strong coloured pictures would work best, and you should have a lot of small to medium sized ones, rather than one big one, to make that wall seem bigger. But don't cluster them all in the centre of the wall (which will make it look smaller), use them to draw the eye the extremities of the wall.

And I agree that a plant or two (or even good artificial ones, if you don't have enough natural light) would soften all the angles as well as bringing in a complementary colour (green plants go with everything).

One last thing - that grey rug, is it yours? It looks like an attempt to pull the furniture together with the grey of the walls, but I think the above would be a better way of doing this.

There are two major things that make an apartment a home:
books
plants
Even if you have no time for a plant, get something that's hardy like a spider plant and it'll make a world of difference.
Plus: the orange rocks.

Marimenko fabric, if it is affordable, either stretched over canvas stetcher strips from an art supply store, hung from a rod or ??? It can be vertical or horizontal, a single panel or a repeat. Judy make sure the size fits the space.

IfI had a bright orange sofa, I'd embrace it. I could envision all sorts of bright things in addition to pillows and throws, e.g. http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10451&langId=-1&categoryId=11551&parent_category_rn=26663&productId=68181&keyWord=Ultra-Flat%20Multicolor%20Wall%20Clock&purpose=crawl

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_Colorful%20Rings%20Cutting%20Board_10451_10001_17610_-1_26669_26670_17611

You could even get one for the great calendars MOMA or any other museum sells as long as the size is big enough and the images strong enough and frame them all and do a wall, maybe the way they do walls with the covers of record albums.

Play with color, play with texture, show your personality and give it time.

THANK YOU everyone for your ideas! The biggest change is that I bit the bullet and bought a new sofa. I got the Morgan in charcoal from World Market:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11654305

It went on sale for $450 and I ordered one. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Wish I had gotten it sooner. It's so comfy and I can nap on it. I recycled some old silk pillows I had from West Elm and I had inherited a couple of pillows with orange accents along with big orange that look great on the new sofa. I have the Ofelia throw from Ikea to add some texture. My sister gave me her old sofa table and coffee table in an espresso color. I added an old curtain that I folded up to use as a table runner to lighten up the feeling of the dark wood coffee table, and it looks great. I got a lamp for the sofa table and some candles.

I tried angling the run a couple of different ways, but with the kitchen island so close (just to the left of the shot above), it looked odd. With the new furnishings, though, the rug as pictured doesn't look too rigid. The softness of the other things takes the focus off of it.

I got an orchid plant to put by the TV but I still have yet to tackle the walls. Baby steps! Wish I had a way to upload this photo I have of my living room. I think you all would enjoy seeing what we all came up with!