Help!!!! How do I make this Living Room wonderful??

9 years ago

Please help me design my Living room. Always hated my Lounge and now my husband has agreed to decorate I dont know what to do. We are rubbish at this kind of thing! My husband has painted the walls grey and the sofas are dark brown leather. He loves the grey but to me it's just dull. We are looking for a new floor but just dont know where to start. Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated! x

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OnePlan

9 years ago

Perhaps try and match the flooring that's visible in the next room ?
I'm not a colour guru - more of a planning geek - but hopefully some of the other clever folks will come on and help !

Have you tried pulling the sofa out from under the window nearer the chimney stack and putting a narrow table at the back of that sofa - will maybe create more of a cosy feel to the lounge and provide a table for hall type things or to sit at with the laptop?! Maybe edge to other sofa out a little way too - not too much to impede the walkway - but a bit to make it not seem so squished under the stairs ? Both of these sofas, anchored on a rug will define the seating space well !

Over to the others for colours etc etc !!!

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Comments (13)

PRO
Iron Rose Home
9 years ago
grey on the walls can be fab, if used correctly. Not sure if the pine cabinet works with the grey though. And the rug.. I would change it ,like, yesterday. Brown or beige + grey = no no. If the walls are grey, the rest needs to be in similar tone - calm, not warm. I knw that changing the sofas will not be viable, but why not add grey / printed cushions, ivory sofa throws, black rug and some grey & black striped curtains? Move the pine sideboard to other room, or paint it light grey!
netteboo thanked Iron Rose Home
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I think you could put the tv in the opposite corner on the other side of the window, then put the two chairs (if they'll fit) side by side on that wall (with the door) with the table in between. If these are a bit too snug, you could always angle them into the centre of the room. Then the sofa could go opposite the window at right angles to the door, but a little over towards the fireplace wall. This will give you clearly defined "square" sitting room area, which you can further delineate with a rug in your chosen accent colour and then add coordinating or matching cushions and throws. I would then move what I think is a glass cabinet (in the corner of the dining part of the room) to the left hand side of the radiator cabinet. I would then try to move the dining table more towards the kitchen and the now empty corner. For the dining table I would look at getting something like a table runner or a big bowl/vase/ornament with reflects your chosen accent colour which will visually join up the two areas. I would also be tempted to replace one of the pictures with a large mirror. And also perhaps think about getting different wall art.
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If this is a short term fix, I'd try to find a fabric to tie in those terracotta ties with the off white paint you're using elsewhere and just put a simple roman blind (it doesn't need to work) at the window. Something like this will tie in and has the grey of the floor. We moved last year and I'm sorting out building work - in the meantime I've added nice curtains and blinds and it's meant I don't mind living with it. And I think the open shelves alongside the window will make an enormous difference in taking the eye away from the tiles.
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I would go for Rinq's last option but have a longer sofa facing the fire and swap the other sofa for a low back chair. I'm not sure the room lends itself to a corner sofa with a tv, garden doors, fire etc. instead of a coffee table have an upholstered footstool plus the side tables Rinq put in
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Agree about injecting colours - at the moment it is a bland room without any focal point. From your photo the picture - whilst it looks interesting - seems to be far too large for this room, or at least on this wall. Swap it for a smaller one, and place it level with the top of the windows. Replace the curtains with colour, match the same colour or similar to cushions on the settee, and a comfortable (but not too big) chair in the corner. There looks to be some sort of chair there, which seems out of place. If finances allow it, I would also replace the coffee table, as whilst glass tables seem a good idea, they take up space but do not add to the atmosphere of the room. Good luck, and let us see what you do.
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netteboo
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you One Plan. Yes I really like your idea of pulling the sofa in to make it cosier.

Thank you Cherrie Hub. Definately going to get new floor and rug and I had actually thought about painting the cupboard, not sure if I can pull it off though lol.

Your comments are greatly appreciated :)
Gabriela Gurova
9 years ago
What about adding some colourful pictures, cushions or curtains?
0
jacquihealey
9 years ago
I would go with the sample wallpaper on the chimney stack with darker grey either side and around the rest of the room (the darker grey is more dramatic and interesting and looks great with white coving and skirting boards. I would paint the pine cabinet either a bright colour (orange?). I would move the cabinet to the corner and wall mount the tv above it on a swivel bracket so you can still have it at this angle. I would either add accessories in a bright colour (such as the orange of the cabinet) such as cushions or paint the cabinet white and accessories with different shades and textures of grey cushions and throws on the sofa. Pay attention to great lighting either a big statement chandelier (large drum shade is fashionable) or and/or spotlights tilted towards the wall either side of the fireplace and lamps (black, white or bright coloured shades). A more textured rug would make it look cosier in either white or grey. The wall next to the sofa I would hang either one or two large pictures or four in a square with white frames (this looks sophisticated with the dark grey wall). Lastly if you can afford it I would definitely install a fire (some don't need a flu if the stack is not suitable).
Dawn Rimmer
8 years ago
Can't tell exactly from the pics but could the two sofas be brought closer together positioned facing each other with a coffee table inbetween and the tv then put underneath the stairs? Would there be enough room to walk from the door through to the back room? It would make a nice seating area on the rug which you could change to a bold geometric monotone one if budget allows. Then some bold complimentary cushions also in monotones for the sofas and I agree with the pops of orange. I don't think it would matter if the sofas went right up to the present tv wall. At the moment everything seems to be pushed to the furthest extremes. Then you could have a table/desk or the pine cabinet under the window. I would paint it with Annie Sloan chalk paint which is very easy because you do not have to sand or undercoat and you can finish it with just a wipe of her wax which gives a nice finish. Paris grey is a good neutral colour. You could paint the wall with it also. (Sorry but I don't like the wallpaper sample. It looks too bedroomy to me.)

If you are ever in a position to do so I would have the chimney breast removed because it has no purpose, takes up valuable space and is off centre as well.

The wall facing the stairs would look nice a medium grey and needs a wow factor with a collection of some colourful or big art. I don't think the mirror works there. It just accentuates how the chimney breast is off centre. I would put pictures above the whole seating area on both the chimney breast and the wall to the right of it to centre the whole look.

Not sure what you curtains are or whether they need to stay. Something to consider..... :)
0
klgreaves
8 years ago
Hi, I would recommend Annie Sloan paint for the cabinet. It's so easy once you get a feel for the paint consistency add water if you want it a little less thick, leave the lid off if you want it thicker. It's around £18 for a tin but it lasts forever. I painted my Ikea pine chest of drawers without any prep and I've got loads left. Also, although you think they are up selling with the brush they suggest I'd get it,tried it with a normal paint brush and it was so much easier with Annie Sloan one. I now am addicted and paint almost everything that doesn't move...I'll post a picture later when the light is better.
0
PRO
GuigsART
8 years ago
Hi.

Have you ever considered a real interesting eye catching piece of art work to really brighten up an area I think a select piece of art would really make the space stand out, add interest, colour, texture and add a great talking point to the room....

Please check out my website if like the idea and please get in contact, commission work is also welcomed so if you like a particular style I can do in a select colour palette and size but with this it can only be done as a original piece and not a print.....but all prints i can do to the same size or smaller than my original paintings, so lots of options.

Www.GuigsART.co.uk
0
Laraine Clarke
8 years ago
Find your own style by looking at the Houzz galleries and ask yourself what you like or dislike about each picture, it really works.
PRO
StairBox
8 years ago
You could always update the staircase to add a little something new to the room. There are a massive number of options, even if you just update the balustrade.

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PRO
GuigsART
8 years ago
Hi.

Have you ever considered a real interesting eye catching piece of art work to really brighten up an area, I think a select piece of art would really make the space stand out, add interest, colour, texture and add a great talking point to the room....

Please check out my website if like the idea and please get in contact, commission work is also welcomed so if you like a particular style I can do in a select colour palette and size but with this it can only be done as a original piece and not a print.....but all prints i can do to the same size or smaller than my original paintings, so lots of options.

www.GuigsART.co.uk
0
mattdodds
8 years ago
@guigsart...that's not that helpful seeing as you posted it a week ago is it...I think you made your point!
PRO
GuigsART
8 years ago
Or yes.... just must of missed it, my mistake, my apologies
0

Help!!!! How do I make this Living Room wonderful??

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Help!!!! How do I make this Living Room wonderful??

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