Attractive baskets in a hallway can do double duty as both decor and storage for those extra guest linens and pillows. 

A cozy chair and side table tucked away in a corner becomes a "Room of One's Own" for reading and regrouping.  A three-way bulb in your lamp will provide a variety of atmospheres to suit your needs.  (Make sure it goes up to 100 watts for reading).

Bring fresh flowers into your home every week, year round... even if it's just a single carnation from a grocery store.  Flowers bring life and color into your home. They are a divine detail that enrich your daily experience.

Living room furniture arranged around a coffee table and facing one another encourages conversation, sociability and comfort. This is called a sociopetal seating arrangement. Keep tables within reach of all chairs, so everyone has a place to set down a drink.

Stop fighting your actual lifestyle and implement design solutions that bring relief from clutter.  If children's toys in the living room are a constant problem, create kiddy corner shelving units to contain the mess. They grow up faster than you can imagine and soon that shelving can hold your collection of classic books.