Need help in my dining room/living room!!!

11 years ago

I need to add some color to my diningroom/ living room. The two rooms are connected so I would like to continue the color in both. Its very "blah" and is basically cream and brown and some silver. I have dark brown buffet and table in the dining room, and brown couches in the living room. Please help!!! The rest of my house is neutral as well so I really need some "pop" of color but not sure which direction to go....

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Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

11 years ago

I'd probably leave the wall colors alone and add some VERY large art to the dining room, of the size you have in the living room. You're evidently not afraid of large and bold art, but you ARE shying away from color. So bring on the colorful art. Add pillows in the living room of the colors in the art. I'd be more inclined to add a colorful rug to the living room than to the dining room. Then I'd add floor to ceiling draperies in a color on the dining room window.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

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Comments (18)

lauraa99
11 years ago
First off, you have a beautiful table and chairs! I would put a rug under the table for a pop of color and perhaps paint the walls. I think even a light khaki would stand out against your white chairs, but it all depends on how bold you want to go. I also think a blue like this:
Smoky Blue Dining Room with Brown and Black accents · More Info
would be nice. Good luck!
Becky Drury
11 years ago
Window treatments in the DR and paint the ceiling a different color
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Have you thought of rearranging the furniture so the tv isn't the focal point? Furniture against walls can make a room appear smaller. If the budget permits I would add a coffee table to bring furniture into the middle of the room. I would also add a mirror to the dining area to bounce light and maybe install a low hanging pendant light over the table. I would also choose a neutral coloured rug as using a single colour for an item becomes the focal point. Grey is a good modern neutral for walls. If you want to use paper on a smaller wall choose a small pattern that won't date unless you don't mind repapering to keep it up to date. There are some really fantastic papers around at the moment such as chinoiserie, bold contemporary and typography but it depends on your preferred style? Maybe use plain (not patterned as this may date or your taste will change) velvet or silk curtains to soften the room. Use different colours and textures for the accessories to avoid block colours as per comment above. Pattern/interest can also be added in the form of wall art.
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dcer
11 years ago
I would add colorful, large art, decorative pillows, patterned drapery, and throw rugs to define the living and dining spaces. You are off to a great start!
Darzy
11 years ago
I like everybody's suggestion of colorful art and pops in accessories. But, I also like a monochromatic space and it looks like you do too! It can work beautifully. Subtle patterns, "silk" drapes, glass coffee table, "sparkly" and textural items make a monochromatic room stunning.
Shari Misturak of IN Studio & Co. Interiors · More Info
anniebmw7
11 years ago
A colorful rug,drapes or paint on walls is the way to go with the color of your furniture and items, I suggest you go with an orange color wall with the browns,grays and creams you have going on that would be really nice. Or instead a green rug or nice green color drapes would look nice. Hope this helps.
GOOD LUCK
eckjunebug
11 years ago
I like the neutral color palate. First thing I would do is add window treatments. I like the idea of keeping them somewhat neutral too, but with a pattern or texture for interest. I'd try moving your living room furniture off the walls, adding a coffee table and then adding a color splash with accessories (in those pretty glass vases on dining table) and on the coffee table as well.
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The Lady Decorator
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
if art isn't your thing why not use a statement wall paper on only two walls, one in the dinning area and one in the sitting room ( same side)
and pick out the colours for your accessories ie cushions,curtains, vases etc. Your sitting area looks very dark, maybe you could consider a large mirror to reflect some light back into the room
inkwitch
11 years ago
Don't feel that you have to have color if you love your monochromatic scheme. YOU are the jewel in this setting (and I"m assumng you're a woman), so if you wear color when you entertain, you will provide all the color that room needs. Remember: rooms are just cluttered spaces until you add people. This space is incredilbe, and your taste and choices are dead-on.

Having said that, I can see a mostly black and cream rug under the table which would anchor it and the cream chairs. (Another one in the living room would pull all that furniture together as well. Not the same pattern, and perhaps mostly cream.) All your windows are bare, possibly by choice, but patterned draperies in the dining area would be attactive. THe same thing doesn't have to repeat in the living room. I can see plantation shutters there. The table would appear more "dressed" with a table runner, something you can change with the seasons, as well as the table decorations.

Remember: sometimes more is just more. (I think that' a line from a movie!)
inkwitch
11 years ago
If you get a rug for the dning room, make sure it's big enough. There are guidelines somewhere on houzz (or some designer will chime in) which indicate what they are.
feeny
11 years ago
Here it is, I think:
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-choose-a-rug-for-your-dining-room-stsetivw-vs~534512
Patricia MacDonald
11 years ago
You have lovely furniture and all is arranged so it looks comfortable and inviting - but - your rooms look like store showrooms, waiting for something to happen. Sorry, but anyone can do monochromatic beige. Try some bold colour on the end wall of your dining room (with the window). It's the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to liven up the space and add some fun. Life is too short for boring. I would paint it a deep coral or cherry red, and then add some small accessories in the same colours (like candles, flowers, pillows) to visually connect the two spaces and underscore the drama. I have lived with bold colours for years - and find it wonderful. Good luck!
trc59
11 years ago
Love what you have done here. Just need some drapries hung to the ceiling in a silk duponi to had another layer of texture. Then maybe some candles added to the table. Even tone on tone walpaper in the dining room one or two walls.
anitajoyce
11 years ago
Lovely rooms. Love the dining and livingroom set. You have lots of contrast in the space. The chairs look so comfy. In the living room, move the loveseat and have it face the sofa. Move the chair and small table beside the window (on the right) . . A nice rug with beige, tan brown (And maybe a third color like light blue, orange or rust in it) would be nice accent. Add a coffee table and place a big coffee table book on top along with candles or a small plant and book. Place another end table on the left of the sofa and add lamps with white shades. Switch the white round pillow with the zebra print for the sofa. The white stands out too much on the sofa. The white round pillow is better suited for the chair. . Both rooms could use panels or drapery with brown, beige or tan, (panels in rust, orange or blue would be a ncie pop of color also).

THE dining carpet makes the space feel warm without adding a rug. Remove the glassware from the table and add a vase of flowers and a group of candles or a small plant and candles. Remove the tall white thing from the side table and place the glassware from the dining table there or place a small plant or a colorful vase there instead. On the left wall add a big picture of abstract art or a big flower picture. Place a snake plant in each corner by the window in dining room also. You could also move the mirror and side table to the other side of the room and add the big picture on the right side of the table to be in line with the living room picture.
arklein
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I think a rug in the dining room would define the separate area without closing anything off, so even if you stay neutral, I think a rug will help things tie together. I also agree with a lot of the comments above about deciding if you want to stay neutral in general and just add removable color, or invest in a great statement piece of art that would help you decide what other colors to throw in. You can use pillows and other table decor (like floral on dining table or other accent pieces) to inject small doses of color that can be changed out as you like. You have done a beautiful job, so just decide how much "pop" you want and either a large rug or piece of art will tell you which colors to go with. Floor length panels on the windows in whatever color you want to add would finish it off nicely. (Sage, plum, rusty oranges, or maybe turquoise, are the colors that come to mind as a possible accent choice)
Sara Parker
11 years ago
Keep it neutral and just add accessories in colours as you or the seasons change. Lovely rooms.
Lady
9 years ago
I think a few pops of teal blue and orange would give the two rooms some energy. love the chair in the living room!

Need help in my dining room/living room!!!

Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Comments (18)

lauraa99

Becky Drury

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