Laura,
Without seeing more of the room it's hard to answer some of your questions, like if the scale of the couch is too large. But definitely paint the wall behind the couch. Right now that area of the room is just too monotone and the couch gets lost in the space and even looks a little drab. But I think adding a powerful punch of contrasting color on the wall behind the couch would help tremendously. For that wall color, play off of some other accent color or accessory in your room to really help pull things together.

A very large artwork on the wall above the sofa would dwarf it. Dark cushions/pillows (I'm British) would break it up somewhat and finally I think it needs clear space around it.

I think new furniture gives a shock sometimes, for how much space it seems to take up. The more you sit on it, live on it, enjoy it, you'll realize that an empty room is way less fun & cozy than one with comfy/inviting furniture.

I would go bold with art and/or color on the wall behind. Big canvas or large photos- something to complement the scale. How about a vibrant throw on the couch, and perhaps a sexy new lamp? You could also put a beautiful wooden tray of interesting objects on the nearest end part of the sofa- make it feel more useful and break up the vast, alaska-ness of it.

You can do it Laura. ;-) Also, drink a bottle of wine and read your favorite book on it for an hour. You'll be in love in no time.

I don't think it's too big, but I do think the mirror is too small (and too high).

I have had a large sofa in a smaller room and it's not that bad. In this month's House Beautiful there are two massive white sofas facing one another and the effect is fine.

Don't be afraid to angle it and pop a big, fat-leafed plant on a low table behind it, along with that floor lamp. A bit more color would be great on the throw pillows.

It looks good. I hope it's comfortable.

Check out that HB issue, too... there's an interview with Maxwell in there. :D

Laura,
Your sofa looks good! Just because a space is small doesn't mean the sofa has to be small. I love its simple lines, the rug also looks great. I would definately add some pop with a large piece of art behind the sofa. The mirror is way too bland and predicatable. Make sure not to hang your art too high. Also, maybe add some pillows in a popping color as well. Maybe orange (this is a biased opinion as I am partial to orange right now). Maybe an orange bowl on the coffee table. But truthfully, that's all you need.

The place looks great. I'd like to see a posting with your added pops. Thanks for sharing.

paint wall + larger mirror. it's a nice sofa.

I LOVE this R&B sectional and am considering it for my under-renovation living/dining area (16' x 30' x 16H'). The piece looks like you can sprawl in it [you can; I have], & I prefer the sleekness of the tight upholstery to floppy pillows. It's got a stronger style than most sofas, which may take some getting used to if you're not used to clean definition (that's me)!

FYI, the room is painted BM Desert Tan, & the floor is new hardwood (ash); the room faces north and needs all the warmth and brightening it can get.
I have commitment fear so thanks to Laura for going for it.

I like it. I'd put some bright pillows on it and get a larger piece of art for behind the sofa.

It's too big. You know it in your heart to be true. It's already bothering you. I've been there, done that. You could go crazy painting walls and rearranging furniture, buy a new mirror, coffee table, what have you, or you could just take the couch back (it's not crazy, a LOT of stores allow this, Crate and Barrel included) and take the time to find something more suitable. I'm not a fan of sectionals, and not a fan of chunky arms like that on couches anyway. If you were in love with a sectional, one with cleaner lines and a thinner profile, while not ultimately much smaller, would make the space seem smaller.

But I agree with you. It doesn't work. Ditch it now or it will forever drive you crazy with remorse. I know. I've done it before.

This is exactly how I end up buying an entire wardrobe to match a new pair of earrings ;-).

That being said, I think you will need to make some changes. As noted, the mirror is way too small, but hanging a second mirror isn't going to get you there. Either do a picture wall with a ton of different shapes and sizes of frames, or a single large artwork - something around as wide as a third of the length of the back of the couch. It can be hard to find something this size, so lining up identical frames with pages from a cool calendar or coffee-table art book would also work.

Throws and pillows will also break up the couch - given your color scheme, I would use a darker brown throw (a fake fur one is cozy and great, that's what I have) and then colored pillows in different sizes.

The coffee table does cause me some concern - it could be the perspective in your photo, but the chaise portion of the sofa looks much wider than the table! But you also don't have much room there to go bigger. I would go with a round table instead perhaps, to break up the square shapes.

I think hanging a pendant lamp will be a bit of a pain, but the lamp you have does look awkward sandwiched against the wall. I would move the lamp to the other side of the couch and replace the shade with something larger, or get one of those pharmacy lamps that bends over the couch instead for the current corner.

Finally, I'm not sure based on looking at your room if repainting is the best option - it's going to depend on the width of the room, the amount of light you get and how long that wall is. I would definitely try adjusting the art situation and the lamp first, and then decide about paint and the coffee table.

And Susan - one thing to think about is how prone you are to spills/stains. With a couch like this there are no pillows to flip over! Although I do love this sleek look as well too, I quickly ruled out anything like this due to my two cats and innate clutziness. Even if you're a little messy, it could work in a darker color though - one of my friends got a charcoal gray Bottoni from DWR recently and it seems to be holding its own.

Hey check this out... on AT Chicago:

Sectional, color, pop, big art (click on my name)

I think that since your couch is beige and squarish, you might want to consider one of the Target wallpapers blogged elsewhere on AT. It's small beige blocks, which a certain amount of liveliness because of the pattern. I'd probably only do it as an accent wall behind the sofa, and then paint the window wall one of the shades of it that contrasts with the sofa best.

Click on my name on this post to see the one that I'm talking about. I think that would make that sofa look SO perfectly premeditated and not in the least "bought on sale on a whim".

I made a little mock up in Illustrator. Not sure if these are the kind of colours you were thinking of, I just kind of picked stuff that went with what you already had in your room. Hope it helps, I think it is a great couch and you can definitely make it work!

Click on my name for the link.

I would play up its vastness! There's nothing like a huge, sprawly, oasis of comfort. If it were mine, I'd morocco-fy it with colorful slipcovers (that beige is what looks dead to me), the softest throws possible, and pillows you can actually prop your head and feet up on while reading Edith Wharton and sipping illegally acquired absynthe. You're lucky.

Without seeing the layout of the rest of the room it's hard to be certain, but it does feel a bit awkward in its current location/configuration. It is not necessarily too big though. Try moving it to the opposite side of the room with the chaise section against the window wall rather than jutting out into the room. Or try separating the two sections to face each other to create a conversation area. The beauty of a sectional is that it doesn't have to be configured as one solid piece. Once you've decided where to place the furniture you can think more about larger art and/or an accent color on the wall.

i have the exact same couch from room and board. i actually love it. but i think my art is too small too. i'll email you pics of my living room. email me at jiyepark@gmail.com

laura you're on the right track removing the lamp and the mirror. it's a beautiful sofa, and to make it work you gotta live large.
i suggest only large scale pieces, in a minimal style to keep the sofa from appearing too big. instead of painting the wall bright, 1 large piece of artwork over the sofa for color, eliminate the undersized rug, keep it bare or get a rug that covers the entire seating area,instead of 2 small pillows have 1 large one that breaks the line of the back of the sofa.

Keep the sofa! Imagine lying on it with a comforter when you feel bad it'll be great. However, sacrifice another piece of furniture (is that an armchair in the foreground)? You won't regret it. As Le Corbusier may, or may not, have said, 'the only luxury is space'

Without reading the the 15 +- responses north. Apartments come and go...you get to keep the sofa.

I think everyone has made v salient points about repainting the wall and removing the mirror and lamp. My contribution is that everything in the room right now looks v angular and is full of "lines" - the lines of the plant, the bookcase, the floorboards, the rug, the headrest on your armchair.

In your redecorating efforts, try to incorporate more curves in whatever you're doing, whether it's a new piece of art, or selecting a new lamp shade.

I'd suggest repainting the wall behind the couch but living with it for a while till you decide if you need something on it, behind the couch. Also maybe buy a few more cushions (in brights and circular motifs) to add to the couch and tone/contrast with the new wall colour. They help make the couch less ominiously large and will soften the angular modular lines.

Change is unsettling - I just went from an oriental rug in the living room to a contemporary geometric rug... for the first 8 hours I HATED it , now I am very happy, so its just a lot to get used to. I echo people's idea that its not neccesarily the sofa that is the problem-- for me, I feel like the rug is to small , monochromatic, and geometric for the sofa and that's throwing everything off. If it were me, I'd get a big colorful oriental or kilim rug below it or a thick large shag if oriental isnt your style, to give some curves and contrast in pattern and feeling, and make the sofa part of the room rather then vice versa. That will warm it up right away, and from that you can paint a wall, choose art, etc.
The ABC carpet clearance basement is my new favorite place, you should be able to do well there without breaking the bank.. and Id definitely say yes to larger art, or a wall shelf with plants. I just feel like the whole room needs warming up, and a curvier, more organic handmade feeling to contrast with the sofa.

it's a great sofa set so try to work with it, this looks like it's two pieces. separate them either across from each other or move the lounger forward so the corners touch and you have space for a side table in the large niche created. the colors are all great, off white, black, neutral sofa, just needs a few more things. I would stick to that color scheme, love the brown leather with it, a warm throw is great and some interesting pillows. no need to go bright, think armani and enjoy your peaceful livingroom.