i'm not sure how functional it is to your lifestyle, but i really like the aesthetic of the books stacked up. i think it lends to the "personality" and "color" you say you are looking for. i also think it helps to not look so...well, cookie-cutter.

Love the cream couch against the white walls. I'd think about hanging something on the wall above the couch. A cluster of frames or a large pieces of art. Looks like you could use a comfy chair as well.

if you can't/don't want to paint your walls or can't find the right art to go behind the sofa - then a big colorful tapestry might look nice hanging there and draping down low behind the couch :)

a large piece of art (or mirror) above the sofa, a large area rug, and some potted plants would do wonders for your place in the short term.

i'd also think about moving that bookshelf. perhaps on the opposite side of the sofa?

finally, i'd refrain from loading up on furniture until you really figure out how you're going to use the space.

I don't really have any furniture suggestions, but definitely put a rug and some art in the shopping list...

And yes, the more vintage items you have, the less cookie-cuttery it will look in there.

i think before you purchase any more furniture, you should purchase a rug. that will ground the room.

my media console is actually a mid-century mod dresser. i'm abble to put the tv on top & all the ugly dvds/cds/cords/etc inside the drawers & out of sight. not sure what your media set up is, but i'd propose that as an idea.

i would add some color & texture with some throw blankets on the couch or something.

No more glass and metal: Your room is verging on the cold and characterless - more glass/chrome/steel/boxy furniture will push you over the edge.

You need warmth, texture and curves to balance out the cold/slick/square features you already have in place:

A large handmade wool rug
Wooden furniture (Credenza/end tables, etc)
2-3 Upholstered arm chairs (consider vintage and/or tufted pieces) and an ottoman.
Pottery/ceramic table lamps
Paintings on the wall (as opposed to photographs or posters)
A round mirror in an ornate frame.
Handwoven throws & pillows.
You might also consider window coverings if you're in a South or East facing room - Otherwise, you could go without.

The color of the items you choose is up to you: Do you want to stick w/ a Monochromatic neutral scheme, or do you want to inject color?

If you decide on a neutral scheme - stick to beiges, browns and grey/black along with the existing white, silver and orange (floor color)...
...but if you decide on color, choose two or three colors and stick with them along with the tones already in place for all your additional pieces - Personally, I'd lean towards adding Navy, Green and Rust.

Since you have so much that's square, soothe the space with circles, such as a camel pouf or round ottoman with a tray on top to use as the coffee or end table.

A statement lamp could be an arc lamp curving from the floor over your reading area(s). It would also break up the squareness.

Then, add some color. Some "hot" colors right now that I actually find calming are turquoise and burnt orange. They would both give a fun pop of color when purchased in a vase, photo frames, an ottoman, or some throw pillows.

Also, purples and yellows look very nice together and would fit well with your grayish-ivory neutrals.

For wall art, the web site art.com has all kinds of prints to look at (I've spent days on end sorting through them).

For texture, I'd add a sisal or flokati rug, and a bold black and white graphic something...it could be anything from a zebra figurine to a chess set.

I love the books on the floor, leave them. They add so much to the room. Like the readers before me said...add furniture to the room slowly and get things you really, really want. Don't put anything on the walls until you are really sure that you LOVE the piece! You have such a wonderful blank slate (i can identify, I just moved 6 weeks ago with nothing but my shoes, clothes, dishes and pictures...oh, and my husband) :-)

I agree - it needs some more texture in the form of wood furniture. A nice credenza to also use as an entertainment center. I see something in a mid-tone brown - something mid-century-ish.

Then identify the accent colors you want to use and add a rug and pillows. rug -
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=6049

I see turquoise or lime/apple green in this space. Maybe with some splashes of orange. A large piece of artwork above the sofa.

A floor lamp to the right of the magazine rack. Add a side table to put down your drink. Tripod table - in white or dark -
http://www.westelm.com/products/g123/?pkey=cside-accent-coffee-tables

Add some comfy, inviting seating to both sides of the coffee table and maybe some baskets or poufs under the coffee table for more seating/storage options.

Curate the bookshelf and add some accent colors and white vases there, too.

It can be hard to start with neutrals and classics because literally anything is possible. It might be easy if you start with a collection of small, inexpensive decorative items that catch your eye - looking to see what shapes, colors, materials, designs, graphics, and words catch your eye. Or find the one piece that you would truly splurge for and use that as your inspiration.

With your room as it stands now, you could use any one of the pillows on this site and make it work:

http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/RugsPillowsWindows/RugsPillowsWindows/tabid/514/CategoryID/144/List/0/Level/a/catpagesize/25/Default.aspx

Whatever you do, resist the urge to stick with a single aesthetic. Your room will end up looking like a catalog page instead of a home. To keep things from looking too stark, try to find balance - clean lines and soft fabrics, color and neutrals, new and old - and you'll create an interesting room regardless of what direction you head in.

Please go to an antique store/thrift store/junk store to get some stuff that is not brand new and that you don't know the "name" of. Your space will be more individual that way. Now it looks almost like the beginning of a hotel room. Also, please take your time, so you don't have to discard stuff later on. Make your apartment really you.

"No more glass and metal"

Agree completely. a wool rug or cream cowskin rug would do a lot to soften things up. as much as i love m-shelving, which we use, i wouldn't suggest it here unless you add other warm elements (like wood end tables & accessories, etc.). I also agree that circles would look nice here, esp. a large vintage circular mirror distressed over your couch (check craigslist!) and/or a circular poof/ottoman.

get some colorful pillowcases stat!

I love what you have so far -- the room itself looks beautiful. I'm basically going to echo everything said above: art, rug, lamps, and plants. Put something, preferably large, over the sofa. I really like the suggestion of a painting to add some texture and warmth. If you want something less stark/modern, add a patterned rug such as a handmade oriental carpet, or even a colorful modern rug. Rugs are a great way to add color and texture, though of course you could go with something neutral and minimally patterned too if you really want to keep a minimal look. Add at least three points of light - that makes such a huge difference in any space. I like the idea of an arc lamp, but any floor lamps or table lamps on end tables could work. Since you have so much light, it would be nice to put some plants in the room, too. If you do get a bookshelf to put under the window, you could even have a small herb garden sitting on top. I hope you send in pictures when you're finished, there is so much potential here!

"we'd also like to add some personality to it"

seems like the answers would depend on whose personality you want to add...

The books should be more protected and placed off the floor. They will attract dust, dirt, insects, rodents, and be ruined if you have any water problems.

You need some sort of protection from the sun, which will bleach the books and furniture. Either have the glass protected or buy draperies/shades. You may also want some sort of protection against people looking in.

Assess how much seating you want. I have always preferred ottomans, but an extra chair or two (or 3) might be useful.

Also useful is a mirror, clock, throw (if you plan on impromptu naps on the couch), and if this room dubs as an entryway, a place to dump your keys and the mail.

Ditto lemonadefish: a rug to add some warmth to the space, and BIG BOLD artwork to go over the sofa (as in, almost the full width of the sofa and hung high enough that you won't bump your head on it, but also extending to about the same height as the air register in the wall).

I'd consider an end table - possibly one in a bright lacquered color, if you like the Jonathan Adler look. It's usually easier to sit your drink down next to you than it is to lean across to the coffee table.

And ditto the "no more glass or metal" comment - you need some more wood (not in the same color as the floor - darker or painted) to give the room some more character. And I'd consider buying colored pillow covers for those throw pillows, or adding a throw to the back of the sofa, which would serve the dual purpose of facilitating snuggling.

No more metal! I'd go with a cowskin rug which softens the straight lines. Remove your bookshelf to some other corner, instead hang three small round mirrors verticaly. Mix warmer colors like bronze and gold with say a tourquois armchair or ottoman. good luck to you!

Your space is gorgeous. I would replace the bookcase and magazine rack with some big old tropical plants in terra cotta pots and add a kilim pattern rug! Maybe it's the angle of the photo, but if you wanted you could paint the recessed space behind the sofa a warm color to bring it in a bit.

Assuming your sofa is facing your eventual media solution, a long, low pale wood console.

But don't feel pressured to add deeper, or brighter colors. You have a lovely "paleness" going on here that (in today's heat) is HIGHLY appealing.

My next purchase, after the non-metal, non linear storage piece, would be two upholstered/occasional chairs to add to the seating group... and either similar in shape to the sofa, but different in material, or different in shape and a similar color.

If you want to move toward eclectic, here's your first real chance... they can be wood, vintage, Bergeres, cowhide, Louis, Louis Ghost, leather, zebra...

And lamps (for function first) should be high on your list. But equally high, a rug.

So I guess your list needs two columns. :)

some case study-inspired shelving that's a little cheaper:
http://www.modernwoodworks.com/

also if you like the more industrial look (and want to customize your storage):
http://loadbearing.com/

first off, you need to figure out your decorating style.

Modern? Eclectic? Retro? Traditional? French?

When you figure out what your interior style is (mine is a combo of Retro, Eclectic Mod), you can start with a color scheme and get to painting the wall and maybe trim.

I suggest shopping at flea markets and antique stores for unique one-of-a-kind items that will make your room impressive.

Think a large area rug, canvas art, vintage vases and glass items, large colorful pillows, drapes for the windows, and some mood lighting.

You should start researching color schemes and style tastes in books and on the internet.

But whatever you do, please...please go shopping at antique stores and flea markets. Not only do you get unique items, but you have the chance to be environmentally friendly! Re-use, Reduce and Recycle :)

a rug with some color!

I love the idea of shelving under the window, and if it were my place, I'd go for something deep enough so that it could double as seating. I'd also add some cushions to make the spot more inviting and comfortable to sit on.

But if that's not for you, then I'd consider either cubitec shelving from DWR (which is now on sale!)

http://www.dwr.com/product/living/storage/shelving-bookcases/cubitec-shelving-10.do?sortby=ourPicks

or ladoro shelving from the Container Store
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/shelving/ladoroShelving?N=78066&mybuyscid=11690306554&rpp=10000

Both offer flexibility in the way they can be configured and give you the frosted glass look without adding more glass.

If you're thinking about adding color, begin by adding a rug or painting you absolutely love and then base your color scheme on that.

So many ways to go.

I like what you have started with and in keeping it pale start to add some textures and richness.

Think of weaves in light and dark neutrals, use pale silver blues, greys and add some leather in a chestnut brown in a wing chair or butterfly chairs into the space, see below. I think a big neutral sisal rug would be nice or fade

Maybe a Moroccan silver mirror. Knitted cream and pale grey pillows.

You can go with a low table bench and stack the books underneath- something like this as another basic piece-
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=11021&f=5316

or something like this-
http://www.ohiodesign.com/products/tables/natural-table-bench/

Color palette inspiration-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55397648@N00/4578445672/

see yarn use as color palette
http://style-files.com/2010/03/11/news/

mix with ethnic pieces
http://www.soukshop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_13&products_id=72

knit pouf great color
http://www.soukshop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_12&products_id=135

then go two leather butterfly chairs with a wooden stool in between- Urban Outfitters has something similar
http://www.soukshop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_12&products_id=173

see white built in cabinet with reclaimed med wood top
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55397648@N00/4431084107/

For weaves look at a vessel and then add sea glass in pale blues and greens
http://www.wshome.com/products/p9122/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C24%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cvase&cm%5Fsrc=SCH

This one- store magazines or throws
http://brookfarmgeneralstore.bigcartel.com/product/laundry-basket

small accessories with a bit of black for contrast but keeping textures in mind-
http://www.westelm.com/products/a829/?pkey=croom-wall-decor-new
more baskets
http://www.westelm.com/products/a830/?pkey=cstorage-organization-baskets

maybe one ethnic print for a pillow or two
http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer fabrics for the home/shop fabrics by color/blue/kalah blue.do?search=basic&keyword=kalah&sortby=priceAscend&page=1

I also really like what you start off with. Here is my advice:

1. No more metal/glass as bepsf et al. have said.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO paint the walls. White is classic and showcases art beautifully.
3. Not everybody has to shop at flea markets and second hand. It's just not for everybody. If that's not you, don't force it.
4. A good quality rug (I get the max I'm willing to spend when it comes to rugs). I really like Brink and Campman. I'd stay away from cowhides, they're EVERYWHERE now, I think soon enough they'll be the next 'keep calm' etc.
5. Take it slow, one piece at a time.
6. One, large piece of original art over the couch--not many little ones or posters.
7. I probably say this on every 'good question' involving a living room, but pull the couch a bit away from the wall (I know it slides on the hardwood, yet another reason to get a rug).

Good luck!

The books under the window sills? LOVE IT! Keep them just like that and if you have enough books, keep the bottoms of the windows with them.

Do you have carte blanche on the budget??