Mini Living Room Makeover

During the Christmas season I got the itch to rearrange our living room.  We were given a cute little spinet piano and suddenly the room felt very crowded.  While I was taking down decorations I decided to just go for it and give our living room a mini makeover.  Here's how our living room looked before.

 You know what's funny?  I bought the rug you'll see in the next several pictures but then returned it and exchanged it for the rug above because I was afraid it was too bold and graphic for the room.  But the rug above lasted for less than 24 hours before I took it back and re-bought the original rug.  I just loved it so much!  (And now I don't think it's too bold or graphic at all.)  So that rug was only the room for one day but that is the picture of my living room that has been on my "Tour the House" links for three years!  Hope you don't feel fooled...I was not intentionally hiding our real rug :)

Anyway, here's how I rearranged:

I love how it feels more open and airy.

From the other side of the room.  You can see our new piano.  And for those that are freaking out that we have our piano by a window, just rest assured that they are pretty new energy star windows.  And remember that it was a freebie, rescued from a church piano that will be used for little kid piano lessons.

The music corner.  I'd like to find a pretty guitar stand and have our guitar out.  Maybe then I would be re-motivated to learn how to play it.  And maybe Geary would pick it up more often and serenade me like he did in the early days of our marriage.

I'm also considering curtains for the windows.  We'll see.  I've been loving the simple bamboo shades for several years but maybe curtains would give the feeling of height to the room.

 Updated to add:  The bamboo blinds would stay and I would layer the curtains over them.  These pictures were taken at night, but in the day time this room gets a fair amount of natural light and we keep the bamboo shades up.

I spray painted the lampshade.  It's a little too turquoise for me right now so I'm keeping my eyes open for a new one.  Maybe something with a graphic pattern like one of these:

I don't love how the tan slipcovers look with the wheat colored walls.  I'd like a little more contrast.  And those slipcovers are getting worn out, too.  Someday, when I have some extra money I'd like to get new slipcovers for the furniture. Maybe this Svanby brown:

Although I'm also really attracted to the Svanby gray:

What do you think? Brown?

Or gray?

I think if I went with gray I might want a more muted rug.

Here are a few more shots of the living room as it looks today.

So my wish list for this room includes:

• New slipcovers
• A guitar stand
• A new lampshade
• Maybe some additional throw pillows (which I'll probably make on my own)
• Oh, and a clock.  We really need a clock in this room.  (I am picky about my clocks, though)

But for now, I'm happy with how it looks and feels in there.  What do you think?  Is there anything you would change, take away, or add to the room?  Do you like the brown or gray better?  Do you think I should add curtains to the windows?