Really ? I have Egyptian Cotton in my lounge - with Hemnes ?! It's almost white ?!

Maybe as our room is gloomy, it looks a little darker than I'd like. I like the colour itself but need to find something a bit lighter and brighter. I'll show you some pictures of what I mean - the first pic is actually Egyptian Cotton (which does look good with the yellow) but I'm looking for something more like in the 2nd picture? Just looks brighter if you see what I mean.

i would suggest you have a look at Little Greene, Sanderson and of course the old favourite Farrow and Ball. If you have a brewers close by they will have paint colour books and swatches you can take home and then visually see the colour in your room and against your furniture. If still unsure pick the ones you like the best and get a couple of samples. Paint two coats onto paper and hold up against the different walls to see how it reacts in each area of the room and matches with the furniture. From the image something like Farrow and Ball Off white may be appropriate, Sanderson New Silver or morning Dew Lt, Little Greene French possibly Grey MId. jaimie k

Thank you for the suggestions, I will need a trip to B&Q this weekend to pick up some more samples. Before I saw your comment about painting samples onto paper (great idea!), I put these on the wall - top left is Laura Ashley Pale Dove Grey, top right is LA Dove Grey, bottom left is Dulux Polished Pebble, and bottom right is Dulux Egyptian Cotton. My favourite out of these is top left, Laura Ashley Pale Dove grey. It's a very light grey that leans (I think) to the warmer side. Do you think it looks nice next to the furniture which is in the picture, and would go with the yellow in my scheme too? I know it's hard to tell from pictures though and my camera's not the best. I've just ordered this rug too but it has yet to arrive.

Also considering these side tables... are they okay or a complete no-go with the colour of the cabinet?

Hi if that is your wallpaper it looks like there is a grey shadow line? if so try to match in with that grey. whose wallpaper is it by the way? I will try to look at it for you. it is hard to see on the colouring does it match the units you have? They will go in regard to styling. Have you got sofas in mind yet? Sorry lots of questions for you. A good idea to paint paper rather than your walls as it can get confusing and doesnt make your wall look like a patchwork until you decide. I dont think b and have sanderson or farrow and ball paper sample cards look for a brewers if possible

Hi, do you mean the rolls of wallpaper in the first picture? I am not going to use wallpaper at all for this room but had some leftover samples from a while back, they are the rolls that are seen in the 1st pic. The one at the back is Laura Ashley Lloyd in charcoal/biscuit, and the one in front is Laura Ashley Millwood in camomile. Which grey shadow line do you mean?

As for the sofa, I have one already and it is completely covered in an ivory throw. I was thinking of adding yellow scatter cushions to go with the theme.

Also considering lamps - I need 3, and I'm liking copper or glass (particularly mercury glass). What did you think of the side tables I posted above? Thanks :)

Hi SO Sorry its a rug you are showing not a wallpaper sample!! the rug is great a good statement piece. sounds great re the sofa and putting yellow cushions on to tie in with the rug try to add in maybe one other colour in as secondry accent colour. The side tables look fine and fit in with the styling of the bookcase. Out of the two lamp colouring i would go with mercury glass but maybe look for amber coloured glass that could tie in well.

Oh yeah, that's the rug! :) Hopefully it will arrive in the next couple of days and I can begin to really get a feel for the room then. It's huge and most of the furniture will be on top of it.

I will look into amber coloured glass for lamps too. They look amazing.

Here are a few more pictures of things I've been looking at - please could you advise if any of these things should not go in this room?

If you or anyone else could suggest anything else (art, accessories, curtains, etc.) for this room that would be great. Thanks so much.

Potential ottoman and art:

Mirrors on either side of sofa, behind the lamps on the side tables? (There will be a gallery photo wall in the space between the mirrors.)

And orchids just because they're pretty...

Mirrors behind the side tables always looks good . If you did want a more glamorous look get side tables that were a bit more interesting and a little less rustic especially if you are going to hi lite them with mirrors. Art work is always personal. the colours are quite bold on the ones shown, but would work colour wise.

Thanks, I actually have that first picture saved in my Pinterest! Love that look.

I am really struggling with side tables though as they need to be no more than 35 centimetres wide due to space, and I can find very few that are that narrow! I would also like them to be rectangluar, maybe about 50 cm deep, so drinks would fit on them even with the lamps. The one I posted above wouldn't be my first choice - ideally I would love ones with glass tops, but have been searching for 2 months and can't find anything that is the correct size, look, and within my budget. :(

Hi I have attached a lap top table in chrome and glass. this meets you size requirements and is only 29.99 from world stores.

Oh wow, thanks so much! It never crossed my mind to even look at laptop tables. The dimensions are pretty much perfect and the price is even better. :) In all my searching I haven't found anything better. I think I am going to get these!!

Just one thing - the glass is white glass (not clear) and the chrome adds a very modern look - do you think this will look okay with the rest of the room?

Well the rug arrived and it's hideous. :( I'm so upset, it's a really garish neon greeny-yellow. I'm going to have to return it (at huge cost, probably, as it's so heavy and was shipped from Germany). Disaster!

oh that is so disappointing, where is the rug from?

I have the LA pale dove grey in my bathroom and I can vouch that it's a lovely soft grey with a definite warm side. Beware though if your room is dark; in my living room it was much darker and there was a blue/purple undertone coming through.

It's from Benuta.co.uk Jaimie, and I didn't realise that they shipped from Germany until I got the dispatch email. Grrr!

Cavgirl - thanks for the tip, I will have to paint a larger sample area to help me make the decision. Although my colour scheme will have purple accents, so maybe a purpley undertone is not a bad thing?

not heard or used them i'm afraid. that's annoying !!! the downside of the internet. Its not faulty at all is it? or is the colour so off from your image?? really good english co's for rugs is modern rugs and rug warehouse just for future reference.

Not faulty unfortunately! But I've just been quoted the shipping which is less than I thought it would be so I've calmed down a bit.

I've browsed the 2 websites you mentioned (I've used Modern Rugs before, and found them good) but not had any luck finding another yellow rug that I like. Now I'm thinking I should keep it more classic and use a cream rug, and bring in the yellow through the cushions, art, curtains, and flowers. I have found a rug I like (and that looks much 'safer') - what do you think of this one?

I've ordered the side tables you listed too, can't wait till they arrive. :)

Hi I have added a rug from a company called joss and Main. The colours look muted and soft. With the grey shadow it can become your 2nd accent colour. The very almost white rug is lovely and but very safe.

Thank you, that rug is very pretty and exactly the kind of style I like, but unfortunately out of my price range unless I get a tiny one! I agree the white rug is very safe... I think I will order it and see if it's any good when it arrives. I hope it's okay and that I can add colour elsewhere!

Meanwhile is it okay to mix metals? I've found this gold mercury lamp (the shade is apparently ivory, but looks gold in this picture) for the TV stand, and these chrome lamps for the side tables. I can't figure out if they would all look alright in one room or not?

Also which rug size?? (Sofa throw not on at present. And please excuse my baby and non-existent photoshopping skills ;) )

Hi again - the side tables arrived today and they're perfect! Thanks. :) Here is a rubbish photo of them with the sofa, throw (which needs straightening!), & purple cushions (still waiting for the yellow cushions). The green tape on the wall marks the approx placement of 2 long mirrors either side of sofa, and gallery photo wall in the middle.

I have now realised that you are right about the white rug above - it is too safe and will be very boring. I think I need a grey rug. (Can you tell I change my mind a lot?!?)

I love this rug... but does it go??

Ooh I'm actually liking this rug too... maybe this is better?

Where is the ottoman from in the picture above please?It's lovely and just what I'm looking for. Sorry to butt in btw your room is going to look lovely, I love the grey and yellow together if really pops

Check out crispy crumble (dulux endurance) I swapped Egyptian cotton to the above and I'm much happier with it

Hi Helen, the ottoman is from an eBay shop called ahfurnishings2000. I can't vouch for the quality but just saved the picture as I liked it too. :)

Just updating as the new rug has arrived, and I like it (it's the last one I attached with the grey circles design). Unfortunately the largest size they had was a little small (none of the furniture fits on it, as originally planned), but still hoping it looks okay... I'll upload pictures soon. Still struggling for lamps though. :/

Okay here is the room in progress......

I kind of feel like everything is falling apart a little bit and I need some feedback.

The wall colour will be the very pale grey tester patch just above the sofa. Those standing lamps are going and will be replaced by table lamps on the side tables. The 2 mirrors you can see leaning on the floor either side of the sofa will be hung symmetrically on either side of sofa after the room is painted.

Where I feel disappointed: the rug is smaller than I'd like but I think it's pretty. The sparkly throw is also smaller than I'd like. The yellow cushions arrived today and the colour is different to what I expected. I'm not sure if the colours are working, are they?? Help please!

Finally, I've ordered the below lamps for the side tables but they've not arrived yet. Do you think they will work or not? Panicking a bit now.

I see this was back in January and wonder whether you have finished the room now? I would love to see pics if you have. Love the rug BTW.

Thanks for asking moorlikeit - yes the room is finished now! Here are some pictures of it finished. Turned out quite differently to how I expected as I changed things as I went along... a lot of things! Ended up with a new sofa and quite a few different ideas, but I'm happy with where it's ended up now. (And went for Laura Ashley pale dove grey paint in the end.)

Yes, quite an evolutionary process! Looks like a very comfortable, homely room. What happened to the laptop tables? I think the present arrangement is less fussy with a greater sense of space. If I were to add anything it would be a cushion or two in pinks to pick up the hues in the artwork; it could be that yours do and the colour is just not showing up in the pics. I hope you have a sense of achievement.

Hi. Referring back to your original post about not being able to get Benjamin Moore in the UK, I just wanted to let you know that Benjamin Moore paints will be available throughout the UK from September 1st 2015. Check out benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk or email us directly on info@shawpaints.co.uk

Benjamin Moore UK website now live.

Hi Mishmashe! I've enjoyed reading through your living room decorating journey and how it evolved . It turned out really lovely. I wonder if you'd mind telling me where you bought your new sofa and the name of it? Thanks ever so much!