You have very high walls so I would do a tall wainscot on the walls to create some warmth and decoration at the same time. Take everything off the walls and remove all the small little shelfs and decorations, leave only the big furniture. Then start over with the wall decor. Need some bold statements to create some balance and interest but not clutter. Add some larger shelves if you need shelves, something hefty and interesting. It's hard to see wall color and how it works with the upholstery. Do you need all that furniture in the space? I would thin it out. Remove one of the sofas and place the chairs across from the other one. Open up the space in front of the window. Add a sofa table behind a sofa along the wall and decorate it with a couple large vintage style lamps with some accent color (pull a color from the rug that you like) on each end and tablescape the middle of the table. Add a huge mirror above Bring that same accent color into the space with some bookshelf decor but not cluttery. I am not a fan of the drapes; something more neutral in a grommet panel style that can easily be opened. Hang them at the ceiling. They will look really nice because they create nice gentle folds if the fabric is a bit heavy for weight. Good luck [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=] [houzz=]

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

11' across x 14' can be a decent conversation zone. You have a nice window without too many privacy issues - good natural light, nice view of tropical foliage. The higher ceilings seem to be one of the things that will help the room feel larger - here's a completely different approach for you to consider . . I would instead make the beam a feature - wrap it in stained wood boards (that match or just a 1/2 tone darker than your entry doors) to make it seem a real beam - the small beam that comes out to meet it might be painted black and some faux black bolt heads and plates applied to get it to feel more rustic industrial / loft - afraid a fake ceiling is going to look cheap. The wood and black above will work with the off white walls. Consider instead of texturally painting the tv wall - let the "canvas" of all the walls stay uniform if you want this to feel large. The back wall is not the best for television anyway, if you want the room to feel large - the wall to the left of the door - (no window there, eh?) is the right place for a large flat screen wall mounted sort of center in the room (that appears to be the non-operable side of the double entry, typically unused) . Do a narrow console table underneath with drawers and lower shelves for the cable box. That can also be your laydown space and the rest of the room starts to live larger. I would run a large sectional in the beam recess area with the short end coming back just to become a lounge under the window (hang a stained board on angle brackets as a custom sofa shelf on the wall in the recessed end to fill it and provide a place for drinks) - the "beam" will make seating feel sort of sheltered there. It will work together . .you have a good long run nearly 8' there. If you want the room to feel big, a long sofa with a turn so many can gather for conversation is the best approach. Split the power for the television into two (easy 1 hour of electrician), patch this wall and hang wall mounted black iron sconces above the sofa back at two locations designed for the length of your sofa. Use a round iron and wood table at the sectional and a pair of great, small scale modern chairs facing the window set on the opposite wall. Consider a large scale modern abstract over the back of the sofa, and a gallery of black and white graphic photos framed in natural wood with black mats around the television on the tv wall. To the left of the window, hang some black iron hooks on a wall mounted wood board. With the wood, white and black iron, select your accent color carefully - neutrals for the main pieces - maybe some saddle leather for the chair pair. Color only in art - play off the green and white outside

Hi you can add a small section or a sheer partion screen and make a mud area for jackets umbrella shoes etc when people enter the house and so that they dont enter your living room directly. it will give you a better, more square shape for your living room. then it would become easier to design with wallpaper and textures. i suggest bringing in some air plants to hang by the windows. you can bring in some peppy paintings as well