Thank you everyone for your great ideas! Actually, the room is not as dark as you think - the window is east facing, and we do get a good deal of sunshine through it... I think the pictures don't do the room justice. I do agree, dark furniture does make it seem very dull though. OK, here is what I am thinking at the moment... Unfortunately, the sofa does not fit quite right againt the opposite wall, neither does the love seat by the window (I've measured everything up and the sofas are of the wrong sizes). I'd like to replace the love seat with a couple of chairs (as the love seat is quite chunky, and does dominate the room as you walk in), but I can't justify spending the money on that just yet :( I am planning to buy a bigger rug (thank you for the suggestion, ren2513), I do love the white/cream as we have now, but will go for something with a bit more colour through it, and definitely replace the coffee table with a bright ottoman (thinking something along these lines at the moment http://www.marksandspencer.com/oval-button-footstool/p/p22344378001 colour Measham,Ochre)... And I'd like to move the existing rug behind the love seat. I'd also like to either match the wall paper or a few pictures on the wall to the ottoman (colour-wise) for some continuation. The ceiling lamp shade will be replaced with something a bit more original (this was fitted in a rush when we moved in, with no thought behind it!) All the speakers will go, as I don't think they look right in the room, and will be replaced with more descrete ones :) We are keen to replace the TV stand with Skovby TV unit and a display cabinet (in white oak), so a similar idea to what was suggested by Sauve :) thank you! Haven't decided on the 'behind the love seat' arrangement just yet. Thanks again for the suggestions everyone :)

I think you are playing too safe - it all looks too bland even with the cushions. You need another pop of colour - cushions on the natural sofa. Maybe a throw on the leather one. Definitely need a rug in the middle - looks like you are going for green, so perhaps pick out that colour for a rug. Also maybe a painting/print on the wall behind the natural sofa.

I agree with Red80 re furniture layout. There are lots of good things in this room, I just personally find the cushions and blinds clash with the chandelier and wallpaper. I would swap the 2 geometric cushions for softer patterns in lighter grey/white/duck egg. I'd get something with different textures as the cushions fabrics look the same atm? Add accessories to your coffee table, maybe just a pile of books, a vase of flowers, and an "ornament" in wood/ceramic/pewter etc again for texture. When budget allows swap the blinds for Roman blinds. Try blinds 2 go or Tuiss which is their sister company if you're in the UK. I can't remember the exact price but I got pure silk Roman blinds for 2 really large windows for c£450 which sounds a bargain to me although not yet up:) I agree the mirror is a little high. If you can, without leaving a hole on show in the wallpaper, I'd lower it as long as it doesn't reflect the tv! I'm not sure the pics to the left of the window work as they're obscured by the curtains. Perhaps also a taller vase/pot in the blue for the tv cabinet to detract from the tv a little more? Alternatively you could change the wallpaper and the mirror to give the room a contemporary rather than classical feel

You should consider how you place every single item in the room, not just the large pieces. For example, placing the rug so that it runs across the floorboards, as opposed to along the length of them, will improve the flow of space. I think that a larger rug would actually work better too! A large rug really helps bring any room together....Here are my top tips for placing furniture in a room...