My place too is simplistic and modern. There are ways you can dress up speakers to blend or not blend.
Currently right now I am running 2.1. Center is disabled and getting a phantom center. Actually running phantom you get a nice seemless front stage as most of the time a center channel is not tonally exact and having the same magnitude of sound as mains unless the speaker is exactly as the mains. I still think you should keep your sub since in your picture it seems like it is hidden away. If not use the sub as a multipurpose table. Today my sub is used a potted plant stand.
Your receiver or DVd player should have an option to downmix to 2.1 as noted by earlier posts.
Saturn
