New house, how to make it a cosy home?

8 years ago

Hi,

I've just moved into a new Victorian house with has 2 bedrooms, a separate lounge with space for fireplace, and a dining room with open kitchen. There is also an attic.
It's small and very white at the moment.
I'm looking for inspiration:
- how to decorate the lounge to make it chic and cosy? I plan to have there a small tan leather sofa, and a eames rocking chair.
- how to fill the space in the dining room? I will have a wood table with a bench and 2 chairs
- how to decorate the spare bedroom? I would like it to be an office and a guest room
-how to make the bathroom have more personality?
- how to fill the attic? I wanted to put the TV there and make it a spare bedroom if possible

Any ideas would be welcome!!
I also included the floorplan.

Thank you!!
Elodie

Featured Answer

minnie101

8 years ago

Hi Elodie. Your new house looks really lovely, I actually like some of the White! I think I would spend some time looking through houzz and interior magazines and create an Ideabook for each room. It's also good to pick 3 or 4 colours that complement each other and use throughout the house in different shades so it flows well. You can then use accent colours for each room if wanted. Unless you want to adopt a dark, cosy feel, look at the light in each room for paint colours as its best to work with it. For the dining room I would keep it neutral, have a look at a paint colour like just walnut by Dulux which is a warm neutral ( bear in mind if you do paint you'll need to take it up the stairs too). Is the bureau staying there? I think I would just add a console over the radiator so you can add a couple of table lamps and a mirror over the top. I wouldn't worry about filling the room. Is there a central pendant light? If so would add a feature one, vase of flowers for the table and a couple of pieces of art with some splashes of colour in. Will the chairs have any colour? I'd keep the worktops relatively uncluttered ( have a look at deVOL website's galleries for inspiration but include some potted herbs and/or plant and use different materials for texture). For the bathroom, I would just add some colour in towels, pop either a plant or orchid on the vanity. Consider buying a vintage style little wooden stool ( like the oriental ones) and popping it at the end of the bath. Do you need 2 spare rooms? Just a thought but maybe leave the bedroom as a guest room and use the attic for your tv and office? Did the living room cabinets have doors originally? Are you keeping the shelves? I would be tempted to remove them and wallpaper the alcoves to add some pattern or use a textured paper but not in a dark or bright colour as it will bring the walls in. If you have the budget I would reinstate a fire. If not, I'd buy a cheap wooden surround that can be painted and fill the fire with logs. To get a cosy feel I would add different textures for cushions, a throw and some roman blinds. If you want a rug choose something similar in tone to the floor else it will make the floor space seem smaller. If you wanted to make the room feel bigger you could add a floor mirror. Adding table lamps will also give the cosy feel. If you give a little more info about what styles you like and colours then hopefully people can give more specific ideas. It would also help if you know which way the rooms face in terms of light.

Comments (28)

Elodie Radier
Original Author
8 years ago
These are the 2nd bedroom, the bathroom and the attic
bluelulubell
8 years ago
You know, I have never found a leather sofa that is cosy. Any throws slip off in winter, and in summer they are sticky to sit on with hot bare legs and arms.
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Bio Fires
8 years ago
You have a beautiful house and a great canvas to make it feel homely. An easy way to create a cosy home is to go for rustic style furniture. Personalise your space with snug fur throws, blankets and cushions for the cosy touch. You're lucky to have a great fireplace hole that could easily be transformed into a cosy fire with a traditional style bio ethanol fireplace basket or insert with minimal DIY work.

Good look! And if you're in need of more inspiration, please view our profile!
Jonathan
8 years ago
It was obviously painted neutral to sell and this trick works- the same colour throughout makes a space feel larger and gives continuity.
Personally I would choose a warmer wall colour and put it everywhere downstairs. I think it will really make your lovely kitchen stand out.
I might have the dining room at the front of the house as the back room feels larger with no chimney breast and at the back is more private.
Thick curtains will add a touch of luxury.
To have an extra TV area why not put a sofa bed in one of the bedrooms?
Elodie Radier thanked Jonathan
Amanda Robinson
8 years ago
A quick fix - buyers and renters alike, is to buy (cheap!) art work from eBay, just fill those walls with colour. Snuggle on the leather sofa with a throw and squashy cushions plus a couple of table lamps and lamp tables, all can be bought on a budget if you look in the right places (eBay, gumtree, Ikea, local streetlife etc).
Elodie Radier thanked Amanda Robinson
Bella Tanner
8 years ago
I agree. Some sheepskin rugs, fleecy throws cushions with some texture all work. I'd download the dulux visualiser app as you can pick a colour and see what colours work on the walls. A quick fix is to buy some cheap frames and fill them with wrapping paper! Look at the cavallini wrapping paper on Amazon for 2/3 quid you can have a gorgeous print!
Elodie Radier thanked Bella Tanner
pinkdisney40
8 years ago
I would suggest you love in it for about three months without doing anything and get the feel of the house and how you use it and then make changes, but personally I would use the attic as the master bedroom
Elodie Radier thanked pinkdisney40
Louise Catterall
8 years ago
I think lighting is so important when trying to make a home feel cosy, lots of lovely lamps, main lights on dimmer switches. Candles in main sitting room with a log burner/open fire.
Elodie Radier
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all so much!!! I've taken lots of your comments on board!
I like the idea of a fireplace but this will have to be next when I have the budget! So far it's the place for my wine rack! The lounge is a bit more cosy now, I'm looking for a pair of dark blue high curtains instead of blinds, a small Persian rug blue or red tones? And I'm still indecisive for a mirror above the fireplace... Round or square?
I've decided to set up my office in the spare bedroom as it's just more practical than in the attic! There will be a small sofa bed added, and as you can see I repainted the walls in light grey and the floorboards in light grey cream.
That's progress but more is to come!
PRO
Bakhtiyar
8 years ago
Hi Elodie,

A Persian rug would be a great way to add warmth to a room and with the neutral colours in your room you will not have any trouble finding the perfect piece.

We always suggest trying a rug in situ before purchasing as they can look completely different in your home than they do in a store!
Elodie Radier
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm desperately looking for a Persian rug but haven't found THE one yet...
Thanks for your advice!
PRO
Bakhtiyar
8 years ago
I'm sure we can help you with that, we hold just over 6,000 rugs in stock in our warehouse and would be more than happy to help you find the right one!
Elodie Radier thanked Bakhtiyar
PRO
GuigsART
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
www.guigsart.co.ukHi.

Have you ever considered a real interesting eye catching piece of art work to really brighten up your living area I think a select piece of art would really make the room stand out, add interest 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
tezz4
6 years ago
A pretty day bed can serve as a seating and easily sorted into a comfy bed. Ikea have some nice ones.
Elodie Radier
Original Author
6 years ago

Updates on the house deco since I started the discussion !
Carolina
6 years ago
Love it!
Elodie Radier thanked Carolina
Dundrum 16
6 years ago
Fabulous! Before I read the text accompanying the last three pictures I thought it was more suggestions from professionals. You must be very happy in your home.
Elodie Radier thanked Dundrum 16
Elodie Radier
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks @dundrum16 ;) yes I do very much like the house now, feels like a proper home :)
tezz4
6 years ago
Gorgeous!
Brid Farnan
6 years ago
Fantastic!
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
I would put area rug in room with brown leather sofa.Some kind from IKEA or geometry, or kilim. Add some throw.
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Picture on the seating launch is too high. The center of picture has to be in eye level.
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In dining room cover the radiator and turn it into side console/board
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tezz4
6 years ago
I love how you've kept the character alive in a tasteful eclectic mix. I think you may like a splash of colour in the bathroom by adding a canvas roman blind in a bold teal with a coordinating runner rug and some luxurious towels. A wall mounted rack for folded towels above the loo, will interrupt the monotone of the wall as may a plant or some. Also some woven floor baskets or quirky toiletpaper or magazine container to add interest.
Elodie Radier
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks @tezz4 ! I like your suggestions in the bathroom, I had added a woven floor basket next to the loo and was also thinking of adding a shelf above it and some plant hangers! Luxurious towels would also be a good addition, I'm always struggling to find good ones!
Elodie Radier
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks @celerygirl ! I am still trying to find a perfect rug to match with the brown sofa as you spotted :) I thought about the radiator cover as well but my partner doesn't like it.. and for the picture above the seating it's actually a big mirror and it's quite highly set because we wouldn't sit comfortably otherwise.. but it doesn't look too strange when you're in the room ;) thanks again, appreciate your ideas :)
susanglascoed
6 years ago
Make it cosy? Don't grey on the walls except perhaps a very pale shade - Little Greene does a good one. Grey leaches warmth, flattening the light and deadening the room.