I think that getting some more colorful pillows, hanging some art on the wall behind the chairs, moving the awkwardly placed deerhead, and maybe swapping out the neutral curtains for a color could bring a little more life to the room. I don't think its even as big of a job as reupholstering sofas as much as bringing in some lively details.

Art and curtains would go a looooong way here. I agree with Meg Zandi, the deer head need s to be moved. It's too high and may fit the small patch of wall to the left of the curtains a bit better. Then add art to the right of the curtains to balance it out.

I actually really like your space - it looks like you would get a lot of natural light with the curtains open. Enjoy!

With the hide rug and the deer head, maybe a nice gun rack in the corner?

ITA about art, curtains and throw pillows -- you can add a LOT of color and vitality that way without spending a load of cash (probably not worth it to buy larger pieces overseas -- if they're nice you'd want to ship them back, which is pricey, and if they're cheap, you're still sort of throwing the money away) or doing anything you'd have to take back/undo when you move out. I've also seen some home tours here that have used colorful quilts or fabric as throws over sofas or chairs; would that work here? Fabric, art and curtains can also travel with you when the time comes to move on or return home.

The furniture does look a bit large for the space, but I'd think if you could move or store one of the chairs, and perhaps switch to have the sofa against the wall and the remaining chair in front of the window that would work better. (Can't tell whether they'd fit from the pics.)

Agreed on the previous comments, the curtains are about the most formal thing. Replace them with something colorful and graphic, and add some bright and impactful artwork to make a big difference. Also, I think maybe the deer head is hung too high in the room so it's not making much impact, especially for it's smaller size. I like the coffee table, and I do like the rug, but maybe something with color and pattern on the floor would add some informal fun to the space.

I agree with the previous posters, and also suggest adding some more color/interest with a couple of ottomans/footstools to fill up the middle space a little better. A floor or table lamp (in addition to art & moving the deer head) would help fill the vertical space, and you could find/make a fun patterned drum shade.

Completely agree with previous suggestions, e.g. lower/move deer head, colorful pillows & curtains, ottomans and lamps. But also I think the chairs need to be separated, maybe arranged more at a diagonal to sofa if it's convenient. Their current placement makes it look to me sort of like a waiting room.

Throw the deerhide over the couch, and put a really bright rug on the floor so that the table pops out.

I dont know how you would feel about painting the coffee table a bright color to go along with the throw pillow ideas, but that would add a splash to your space. I agree with art on the walls, and new updated curtains as well. I am never one to put furniture up against the wall, so you can of course take this or leave it...but what about putting your tv stand in the corner where the plant stand is, and putting your couch looking in the direction of the window (not up against) and your chair to the left of that in it's "own space" with a small little side table? That way you are walking INTO your living room instead of PASSING through. A side table lamp with some attitude might also perk up your furnished space. Have fun!

I'm with Duane Hill. The cow rug and deer head are offensive.

they aren't even real. the deer head is cardboard. the rug is probably fake.

change the curtains. take the throws off the chairs and put them over the sofa. add wall art that draws on a color in the pillows, and add a mirror to reflect the light from the balcony. voila! lighter, breezier, cheerier.

@Rural, I only find it offensive because it looks too "theme bar."

It seems like you may be a few floors up. If it were me I would ditch the window treatments all together. If it were just the two of you or just you then I would also get rid of the chairs and get a bigger coffee table. Some colorful art, a bright colored throw, and pillows will definitely bring the dark couch down. make it bright and airy in there by opening up those windows and let the light reflect off the white walls. A big mirror would open the room up a lot too. The coffee table and deer head are not to scale with the size of the furniture. Goodluck!!

you can put the couch along the wall without the window (move that strange lighting) some serious art behind it, and some mood lighting to the sides of the couch and the chairs/tables. I agree that deer head is in a SUPER weird location, and would not be nearly so strange if there was ANYTHING else on the walls. It still needs to be lowered and probably placed on one of the smaller walls or among some other things. Curtains are an easy switch with a huge impact.

Your large plant should probably be on the floor and you can use a bit of the table top to add lighting. it looks like there is a strange light fixture on the wall behind the chairs.. . Maybe that could be moved/removed to a better location.Sure, the natural light looks great, but this room must be a tad sad in the evening without proper lighting.

Brighter pillows, interesting textures and accessories!!

flowers, plants--

This here is something one rarely thinks about in interior design — genius!

Couch on the wall with a large mirror over it, the chairs opposite side in front of the sliding glass door facing the couch. Bamboo blinds. Plants by the sliding door. How about putting some canister up lights in the corners. Have fun but keep it simple Not everything has to be focused on the TV.

I live in different cities all the time for 3 month contracts and always travel with some rolled up batik wall hangings and some amazing quilts. The quilts transform the corporate furniture into something colorful and homey, while the batiks go up on the wall with thumbtacks and dont' leave me with giant holes to patch when I move to the next city. Pillows are bulky to travel with, but I carry a few of my favorite pillow covers and stuff the boring and usually brown sofa pillows into them to make it more like MY place.

And I agree with the one who said have the sofa face the window. You have some great light there! When I have a space like that, I get a few little plants and group them on the patio or balcony and put a few inside to make it seem like one garden. Neighbors are always happy to get a few plants when I move.

The first thing that struck me when I saw the picture was that the coffee table was dwarfed by the rug and seating around it. I would consider a larger one if possible. (there is nothing otherwise wrong with the table)

maybe some ideas here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/quick-easy-designer-pickmeupsa-155436

For the sofa, you could try covering just the cushions in some fabric that goes with the existing leather color, but adds some life to the room. Just safety-pin it on if you can't sew.

Get a huge, colorful print and hang it under that light fixture behind your chairs. Maybe also take the throws off your chairs and wrap the bottom cushions of the sofa in them so that the patterns don't quite match up? There was a spread in Marie Claire Maison that had sofas slipcovered with mismatched fabrics and it looked much nicer than it sounds.

The cow hide is very nice but I am not loving the deer. Besides, it's hanging way too high.
I would remove the sheets from the armchairs.
Get colourful pillow (mix up colours and patterns) and hanging either some crazy ethnic fabric on the wall or maybe photos in old frames that you can get cheaply at a second hand store.
Personally, I would replace the coffee table - somehow it does not go with the rest of the stuff (you may save it as an occasional table when you have a company over or cover it with something (tons of books) to hide it.
Sorry that I am being honest.

Ok, what's going on here for me are a few things:

The coffee table is very small on a big rug with a big sofa, so it's out of proportion. Maybe have it as a side table instead.

I agree that the throw covers on the chairs aren't so good. They feel college to me.

If you don't want to replace the curtains, at least keep them open, they won't be so noticeable then.

Dark brown looks good with some unexpected colors: lime green, baby blue, periwinkle. Pick one accent color and hit it hard, make the new art for the wall and the accent pillows highlight your accent color.

I could see a big old-fashioned movie poster looking cool above the chairs, framed if you can afford it, or unframed if you don't want the hassle. Get something unique. Don't buy art from Ikea.

Take the plants off the side table (move them to the other side of the sofa). Put a small lamp there instead.

Try another arrangement of furniture. Make the two chairs face the sofa for a more conversational area. This looks focused on a TV instead of social time. I agree with the above comment to put the sofa where the chairs are and make the chairs face them, perhaps a slight angles, so everything isn't so boxy?

Have fun and enjoy your time abroad!

"We were just transferred overseas and moved into a furnished rental apartment."

"Overseas". Well, that narrows it down.

It would HELP if we knew where the hell you'd gone. If it's Thailand, you could get some colourful wallhangings for virtually nothing. If it's France, then you can hit the markets. If its Singapore, then go crazy with the tropical plants. Different countries do things differently, and where you are determines how hard and expensive it will be to find certain things or do things certain ways.

It doesn't look too bad. just like everyone else, I think the deerhead is hung too high. What about pictures of your family or friends in colorful frames to remind you of home or a flag from your country.

Move the sofa to the big wall and load up with pillows. Find local wall hanging to fill the wall. Split the chairs and put them facing the sofa, slip cover them if the upholstery is ugly or find nicer throws. Get a bigger coffee table. Ditch the curtains. Locally sourced wall hangings or table clothes can make nice bright curtains with clip rings. Spend more money on a rug.

-If you can, replace the curtains with some cheap fabric.
-Find pillows that match the couch but yet more your style - maybe even toss in throw blanket. The pillows right now stick out like a sore thumb.
-Hang some photos or art.
-Add some of your lamps with low-watt bulbs so you can control the lighting.
-Don't be afraid to rearrange furniture.
-Ditch the rug and deer-head - it's causing the brown leather couch to stick out more.

At least you are working with neutrals, not some color like pink (I detest pink!) that you can't bear to look at!!!

Pick your favorite bright color. (Orange, chartreuse, even hot pink!) Buy a sofa throw to fold over the arm of the sofa, two plain pillows for the sofa and one pillow with that color in a pattern, and an accessory or two (vase, box, picture frame...) in that color.

Get rid of the cowhide (more neutrals you don't want) and the deerhead (sorry, it looks cheap), and the coffee table (too small for the rest of the furniture.) (Maybe you can use it in another room or outside?) Also put away the throws on the chairs, unless the chairs are in terrible condition. Maybe give the chairs throw pillows in the pattern used on the sofa.

Get an area rug in colors that work with both the neutrals and the favorite color -- maybe a cream natural background with some designs that include your color.

Hang a large fabric item on the wall -- an ethnic textile or something colorful.

Flowers.

It can be wonderful!

There just isn't any cohesion with the things you bought to complement the room. The cow rug is neutral, which isn't what you want, the deer head is neutral and adds whimsy that you didn't add with anything else you purchased, and the table is too small and more suited to be a side table.

Also, what would be the point of buying cheap furniture to reupholster? It could cost much more to reupholster than to just buy pieces you enjoy for less money. If you were already set on buying furniture that was cheap, you should at least be able to find cheap furniture that you like as it is without having it reupholstered. There are lots of stores that ship internationally now.

In a word, Textiles!
The only way to minimize how dark and formal the furniture feels is to put something else in the room that will carry equal weight. Add a large, colorful area rug (make sure it's big enough that at least the front legs of the couch and chairs can rest on it) and hang a large, brightly colored, ethnic tapestry or wall hanging on the main wall (you mentioned being able to shop at a bazaar). Remove the throws you're using to hide the chairs and put a cozy pillow on each one and maybe drape a small, folded throw over either the arm or back of one or both chairs. Add some colorful pillows to the couch (in colors that complement the rug). Put a couple of pillows in one corner and 2 or 3 in the other corner. Don't get matching pillows. You could also throw some sort of bright quilt/afghan/blanket over the back or arm of the sofa. Since you don't want it formal, I'd suggest NOT picking a single accent color and using it everywhere. Instead, use your favorite colors liberally! Also, mix up the furniture styles and it will feel more casual.

It looks like you have awesome light so move the sofa to the solid wall, not blocking the window. Move the chairs to float in the area in front of the glass door, but angled slightly toward one another. As others have said, the coffee table is too small--out of proportion with the rest of your furniture. It's cute, though. What if you put it in front of the window (where the sofa currently is) and put the plants on it? Even if you never open those drapes (too public? ugly view?) the plants should get plenty of diffused light. Use the current plant table between the two chairs. Try a clear glass or plastic coffee table so you don't block out any of the new rug. If you want to spend some more money, swap out the drapes. You could even hang unfinished lengths of bright fabric by using clip rings. Add some fresh flowers, and you're good to go!

Do you know what brand your coffee table is? I'm looking for something similar for my own apartment. It's so cute!