Ok - currently saving money on carpet; already have pool table and lamp for this area. What about creating different seating areas in the room. You said there are built ins? Computer station? Family using this space. Here is MY suggestion: I would use MORE than one rug - each for specific areas of this room. You can have the sisal berbers made to fit - and I think ONE large one would actually end up being a little messy as this would be huge - and could get off bounds? (out of shape) You could have these bound and use them to create different areas within the larger space? Is that a gold or a taupe or beige color between the red pattern? Here is my suggestion : the opposite side of the color wheel tones down the other - since this is a red color - how about using a very soft BLUE/GREY on the ceiling? Or a very soft Grey/Blue? And a very soft taupe or mocha color on the walls - something which is within the SAME tonal family as the NON-red portion of your rug? This should go nicely with your brown sofa and the sisal or other type berbers? YES - get one larger one (RUG for the area in front of the TV . . . large enough to go from the baseboard area - to completely under your sofa? BTW - LAZYBOY makes beuatiful furniture - and you do NOT have to get the plumped and rolled ubiquitious leather chair. OR, I can personally, highly recommend FurnitureLa South, in Hickory N.C. - and they will deliver for FREE! Love that! They have a style for everyone and this is where they actually make the furniture. They sell ALL manufacturers at cost. Well not Lane or Ethan Allen. My one last thought - since this is such a very large space - I would also get a rather substantial and DARK drapery rod using finials - and extend the width of the drapes to help balance the room on the other side with the windows. Since you have built ins on the other side - this will help balance the space visually. IF you do not like the color of the fixture material on the pool table light - you can get any finish you desire in a rustoleium paint - I would consider spray painting this something in the neighborhood of a oil rubbed bronze; or something with more of a dark patina? This would also help balance out the room and bring focus into the space you are utilizing - the rest will fade away. SO - ceiling paint a must; paint the trim or add a more traditional trim - at least 5 inches in depth; TWO separate rugs - not one big one - at least one for now for the TV area; Extend your drapes and raise them almost to the ceiling to help balance the room; Darker drape rod - and double the fabric for your drapes to make them look fuller; Spray paint a darker finish on to the pool table fixture. Use a tone of paint on the wall which will go with the tone of the other color of your rug! Another thought: You consider finding an old wooden bench - or church pew ??? that would be fun; you could place facing into the space around the pool table area? This will give folks a place to sit and could help further define your separate areas?

Put in a few French drains where you dig a ditch and fill it with crushed rock to help the water drain. In low spots put in some drains [http://www.homedepot.com/p/Tuf-Tite-16-in-2-Hole-Drain-Sump-with-Grate-and-Seals-2HDS-4/203463511] with pipe running to the French drain. You might also need to bring in 10 yards of top soil along with some sand to raise your yard a bit as you're probably right at the water table level. We've had to do all this as we live in the Pacific Northwest in a reclaimed marsh [a nice word for a swamp] where we hit the water table if we dig down 3". We had to put down about 10 yards of top soil along with some sand to raise our back yard. We also dug a French drain along the back to connect to the associations drainage pipes through the neighborhood. My husband has put in at least 3 of the drains in strategic locations around the yard to help drain off the excess water. Our yard isn't perfect, but it isn't the swamp it was the first couple of years we were here. We have to apply moss killer every spring or it takes over the yard. My husband also puts down lime to soften the soil, and help the water drain easier. He and a friend rent an aerator every summer and do both our yards to help with the drainage as well.

I would use plants to brighten the space. The hardscapes are all good, they just look a bit naked and grim. It can be hard to make a space pretty but usable for the kids too, but its not impossible. You have a lovely sitting area to enjoy. Plant some lovely feature bushes in that gravel area. You don't need to completely hide the clothesline, but having something pretty and showy in front will create a boundary and the eye will be drawn to the plants instead of the washing. If you can't plant into the soil there, some large size pots will work. Maybe some medium sized (1-2metre) ornamental trees in pots, like citrus, a weeping ornamental cherry, or bay trees, moptop robinias are nice too. They will be compact. You could cluster some pots of herbs underneath or plant them and let them ramble a little. Herbs like thyme and rosemary and lavender will suit the gravel area and the heat and be hardy with kids playing around, the odd bike falling on them or crushing underfoot would be quite okay. bulbs in pots or planted around the edges of the lawn are great value low maintenance and hardy colour. You can get great seasonal variation in your view then. Online bulb stores like tesselar and garden express sell bulk landscaping bulbs at very reasonable prices. You can get hundreds of bulbs for $30-50. Bulbs are great hardy plants that won't be killed by the odd soccer ball either. The flowers may get knocked over or the leaves, but the bulb is safe under the soil. Cheap and cheerfuls like nasturtiums are good value colour that will self seed every season. Also, plant some very bright flowering shrubs behind the soccer net and against the far wall. Maybe some hibiscus? You need something to catch and entice the eye, plant some large flowering shrubs with larger or bright flowers or foliage you will be able to appreciate from a distance.

I am not sure what options I have to do a small landscaping on the front of a terraced house. There are 3 areas that can be used for landscaping beds. Each side of the house (which can be filled with some high green filling) to set a boundary. And just under the window. There is a rectangular area. I would like something that would look modern and fresh, to bring some happiness to the external wall colours. I have been searching around but not too much I found for such a small space.