apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

First off: Get the furniture away from the walls - it looks like you're ready for a dance in there.

Secondly: Flor tiles were made for families like yours who have small children and need something that's easy to clean. Whatever you get, just make sure its enough to cover most of the floor - such as a 9x12.

Finally - Get some color on those walls, some curtains on those windows, some art on the walls and some more end tables, lamps and a fabric covered chair Whatever you do - make sure it's in anything other than brown, black, beige, yellow or white.

First off - get yourself a colorful rug or something other than brown. You've got a lot of brown right now. Then, move the armchair perpendicular to the sofa. Change the curtains or remove the curtains. It looks a little odd that one set of windows uses curtains and the other uses blinds. If you can find a nice big framed mirror at a flea market it will make the room look bigger. Get some art on the wall. Get a couple of colorful bins to put in a corner for your kid's toys. Try mixing different styles that complement each other - it will make the room more interesting. Agree with the other commenter on getting a different armchair in a fabric pattern. Swap the cream colored pillows for different patterns in other colors other than neutrals.

1. Get a copy of Apartment Therapy. This book provides excellent giudance for arranging your existing furnishings in a space. Your room really needs to have the couch/chair in a more comfortable, conversational grouping and it needs better flow. Right now, all the engery in the room is focused on that TV... IMO, it should be part of the function of the space, but not the focus. Get the book. For under $20, you're going to get $2,000 worth of practical advice in this area.

2. Start collecting photos of rooms you like that also have a cognac leather couch. Start a "design tray" where you gather ideas, colors, swatches, etc. Pick a color palette, using your neutral brown couches and black/wood casegoods as a starting point. You've got lots of dark colors -- now start thinking about how you can contrast so that your nice pieces are highlighted. Light/bright Flor Tiles (as bepsf suggested) would be a great start. They'e got some wonderful colors and texture in the Martha Stewart collection (try not to cringe, if her name makes you wrankle as it does me).

3. Remember the 80/20 rule when it comes to bold pattern and color (addressed in the book). Less is more. Figure out your lights, and then add the pop with some art and throw pillows.

Start with a large rug in the center of the room and use it to anchor the furniture. Pull the sofa away from the wall and turn the chair so that it makes an L with the sofa.

I would recommend a rug with a busy pattern because you are sure to have spills. The rug will establish your color pallet, so choose something that has a variety of colors. Based on what you have, I'd say a traditional rug with some neuterals and jewel tones would work well.

Then take some of those colors and look for artwork. Or better yet make your own. A two year old could make a great painting on a big pre-stretched canvas from an art supply store. You might be really surprised at what kids can do.

After the rug and artwork, select a paint color that will support your color scheme. Then it should be much easier to add additional furniture and lighting as needed.

Drapes on both windows should match and hang them higher up. Hang them wider on the smaller window to match the larger one.

Put the clock somewhere else...it's in a weird place and too high.

Television to the corner between the windows. Right now it's in the path of traffic.

Put the desk on the wall to the left of the smaller window.
Then place the sofa facing the large window. This will create an office/play space behind the sofa. Also the person at the desk can watch tv.

Place the trunk behind the back of the sofa. It's too chunky for a coffee table with your big sofa/chair. Get something with longer legs. Metal and glass might look good.

Put a large mirror on the wall where the desk is now. It will reflect the drapes and also light.

Place the chair between the sofa and large window, facing the tv. Leave room on both sides to access the patio door and the sofa area. Hopefully you'll have room for a small but sturdy side table.

The small lamp is too short to be of any use. Get a vintage looking floor lamp.

Don't use big square pillows on the sofa and chair because they're already big and square. Use smaller rectangular or cylinder-shaped pillows. Also use throws.

Get a LARGE rug for the entire sofa area.The furniture should at least have the front legs on the rug.

JCPenny's online outlet is a GREAT source for drapes and rugs.

If your condo is on top of another condo then please get wall to wall carpet with heavy padding. A two year old child could start a war between you and your below condo owners! Start with the carpet and then work towards the rest at this point.

it wouldn't hurt to throw away all of your furniture.

then you can get some big pillows and throw them all around.

pretend you are on a big wooden bed.