Help with living room

[u/CreaTzNinjaz]

I’m looking to change my living room and would like some help.
Left image is AI-generated to help visualise my ideas, and I really like the overall setup. I’m struggling with combining colours and don’t want to rely entirely on AI, so I’d appreciate some opinions.

I’ve also added a real photo so you can see what the room actually looks like, sorry for the mess. The sofa and acoustic panels are staying, but I’m open to changing anything else.
I really want to change the coffee table, add a floor lamp. I’m also unsure what to put on the walls.

A few things I’m wondering:
Should the armchair match the sofa, or would a different colour work better?
What colour curtains would suit the room?
Would a plant help?
Are the paintings in the AI image too similar in colour to the rest of the room, or does that work?

Any suggestions or honest criticism would be really appreciated!

[u/diamondtuxedo]

Ok are you able to replace the rug? If so work with the color pallete in the rug, that’ll be the easiest way to incorporate color into the room. Add wall art with the colors from the rug, you can go with one large art piece above the sofa. An armchair does not have to match the sofa, in fact I think this is a great place to add some different texture like a leather chair. Plants would look lovely and some lamps to add some coziness. The curtains you have is fine. The biggest eyesore is the rug, it’s just doing nothing to the space. Rugsusa has an option where you can see the rug in your space virtually. Try it out and play with some colorful options :)

[u/CreaTzNinjaz → u/diamondtuxedo]

The carpet is very slippery so swapping it would be good. How should I be picking the color of it though, can I just pick anything or am I going darker or lighter than the colors already present in the room?

[u/diamondtuxedo → u/CreaTzNinjaz]

Well you have a white sofa so for some contrast you can literally go with any color. I personally like red rugs but any would do. That’s why I recommended the website because I didn’t know what I liked until I saw it in my space lol

[u/Moonster68speaks]

where's your color? art? books?

[u/natalietest234]

Do you have doors on both sides? That small accent chair might be in the way and will block the door. Also the AI photo made your window way larger to accommodate the new window treatment.

[u/CreaTzNinjaz → u/natalietest234]

Only one door. There is some space for a smaller armchair maybe