Thanks for your thoughts. I guess the floor doesn't look so bad here but it's quite orange and looks a bit plasticy. The rug was inherited from an old flatmate and was a cheapy Ikea one but it's really helped us out!

Hi C B, What about something like this? Still a blind, but a softer look and feel:

JCPenney Custom Window Treatment Designs · More Info

I also like the rug, doesn't look like a cheapy Ikea on the pics which is nice :-)

I agree with E D that the stereo unit could be changed, maybe something white like on the opposite side of your room? But I'd go for closed doors (or opaque glass doors) to hide the wires etc.

Loving the art above the shelving too, why not more art on the TV wall to liven it up a bit?

And one more thing (sorry, I know you only asked about the window)... maybe some pillows on the couch? Btw your couch looks really comfy!

Best

Mehdia

I'd be tempted to have curtains. It's a wide window and with curtains you can have them far part or close together. If you're too worried about glare perhaps a roller blind too in a matching fabric. It will also add some texture and colour to the room.

Bouncing of Riverside's suggestion, some examples of blind + curtain combo below. The only thing that I would worry about with a curtain is which height to hang it from as the window is placed quite low and you wouldn't want to reduce the wall visually.

Blinds + curtains:

Cottage Chic Family Room · More Info

Transitional Great Room · More Info

Lakehouse Bedroom Makeover · More Info

Contemporary Living Room · More Info

Hope it helps

Mehdia

I like Venetian blinds too and a painted off white wooden one would look very smart. I must say that cheap wooden blinds are nothing like a good quality, wide slatted blind. Natural wood is a bit old fashioned, if you don’t mind me saying and they can make a room look dark and a little grim. A dressier option is curtains, or a Roman blind?

Thanks everybody, it's really good to get other opinions and see things a little differently. I didn't think curtains would work at all but those pictures are making me re-think. I love the roller AND the roman blind now but just wondering if the roller will feel a bit cold in winter. It does help make the room feel bigger though. I just found a pic of the place before we moved in which gives another angle.

Seeing this added picture, I do believe you have room for the blind / curtain combo. Using only the blind abd leaving the curtains open in the summer; closing the curtains at night in the winter?

Re the unit: I understand, love is about compromises ;-) However, hear me out: if your bf wants to showcase his stereo it's actually better to change the unit so the stereo can be the star! Something simple like this, with holes at the back for the wires and the turntable on the top, will look neater. It doesn't have to be in that style if that doesn't suit you, but it's that type of item I would go for...

Mehdia

Thank you, I'm definitely going to considor the curtains and blinds now.

Apparently sound absorbtion resonates through anything with sides!! It sits on spikes in the floor for the same reason and the columns are filled with sand!! Help me, haha!! :)

Like the blind/curtain combo suggestions above.

Are the two top middle shelves of the unit behind the sofa fixed? I was wondering if you could use that as a focus wall and put it where the tv currently sits. If the tv could then go in the middle it would be surrounded with your lamp/plants/ornaments and be a nice focal point. You could then perhaps elevate the current tv unit with some legs (hairpin or other) to make a dedicated unit for the record player/amp etc and place it on one of the side walls?

C B well... commiserations ;-)

I sympathise with your boyfriend. I was one once (or twice...) myself. :-)

But seriously, doesn't great hifi warrant storage to match?

:)

I was actually referring to the shelving unit on the left in the photo, not the TV unit with the blue doors. I don't really mind the TV unit.

I’m with Mehdia on this one!

Or split romans - like 2 or 4 which you can open all together or a different heights.

I’m with Mehdia on this one!

Or split romans - like 2 or 4 which you can open all together or a different heights.

You could paint the TV unit doors and either the uprights or the shelves of the hi fi unit the same colour to help get cohesion. You have a grey sofa and the grey uprights so colour match them. Do the same with the other shelving unit. You then are creating a neutral palette on which to build other colours.

Re the windows, the room is quite masculine, so either keep with that theme and go for wide slatted venetians, or soften the room up with long sweeping curtains with the fabric picking out your highlight colours. For privacy you could put film on the window, but it looks as if you have greenery outside so perhaps you don't need it..