Does Dolly Decorator read this??

Alright ladies, I need some decorating advice.

Before we even bought our new house I imagined decorating it like a little cottage. Cute, right? Well, for the most part I think it looks "cottagey", but it is a work in progress. Before we bought the house I also thought that it would be a great idea to get a white couch. I had found the perfect one at Ikea and it had a slipcover so it could come off easily to be washed/bleached. It was brilliant...I would have my cake and it eat it too.

Everyone told me it was a bad idea since we had a dog and eventually with kids it just didn't seem reasonable. Well, I convinced everyone I was so smart and I would just bleach it and wash it and it would be fine. I even went out and bought a clorox bleach pen to tidy up everyday. Well, I get the couch and what does the slipcover say? DO NOT BLEACH. Shoot!  I'm still ok with this thinking I'll just wash it every couple of weeks. Oh, and did I mention I thought I could keep my cute Walter bear off the couch and I would be really stern about it? HA! He has the cutest face ever and every time he is up there he just looks so happy. 

 Well, Hubs and I were in Chicago and we decided to stop by Ikea on the way back home to pick up an extra white slipcover so we had two. All along I just keep telling myself that this white couch is my dream and it WILL look good. It has now been 3 months since that white couch made its debut in our home and the conclusion.....

BAD IDEA!!!!

I hate it, just hate it. Yes, it looks good but it does not work for our lifestyle. Maybe when I'm 60 and the kids are grown and we still have Walter, of course, but he is just too old to jump on the couch. Now, I'm in a little bit of a debacle. You see, I already bought a new couch, so Hubs will not go for me trying to go out and by another new couch. The only option I do have is to order a new slipcover for the couch we already have. The problem is, I've already painted around the couch and other things in the house to match white. Guess what? Ikea has slim pickins for what will match my current decor. There are two options that could possible work and this is what I need YOUR opinion on..

(keep in mind that our walls our yellow, drapes are green and coffee table and tv stand are white)

This is what we have now

This is the one that I am thinking I want..

The problem with the floral? A. Hubs says it looks like a grandma couch. I told him Ikea would not sell a grandma couch. B. I don't know what kind/color area rug to get.

This is what might have to be the option

It is a beige color. I'm a little worried it will still be too light. Ikea has one on their website that is darker but I'm not sure it is still available. I need to call.

If I went with the light or darker beige I would go with this area rug...

So.. that's my issue. If anyone has any opinions or ideas I'm ready to hear them. Thanks!!


Ok.. I found this picture of our room. It might help imagine the colors. It is looking from our dining room into our living room